NFC technology is actively used for contactless payments in stores, restaurants, etc. Thanks to this technology, dozens of bank cards, discount and bonus cards can be stored in the phone. From the article you know what NFC is and how to enable NFC in Android phones.
What is NFC?
NFC is short for Near Field Communication and is a wireless technology for short-range communication. The effective range of NFC is 1.5-2.5 inches. Therefore, in order to transfer data, you have to hold your phone close to a data reader. NFC technology is free of charge.
NFC-technology is the most demanded when paying for the goods through a mobile terminal. NFC is widely used in public transport payments. NFC can also be used for other purposes:
- Exchange of data between users: contacts, links, media content.
- Money transfer.
- Quick connection of peripheral devices.
- NFC tag reading and programming.
- Personal identification.
How to enable NFC on Android?
NFC is turned on in a phone’s system settings. To activate NFC, the technology must be supported by the phone. If your phone does not support NFC technology, then you cannot activate it. Since NFC requires an additional data antenna in the phone.
How to enable NFC on Motorola and Google Pixel phones on Android 12 and 13
Procedure:
1. Open the phone’s system settings.
2. Next, select “Connected Devices”.
3. From the new menu, select “Connection preferences”.
4. Select the “NFC” menu.
5. Press the “Use NFC” button to enable NFC.
6. Optionally, you can set up two additional functions:
- Request device unlock to use NFC. If active, then the screen must be unlocked to use NFC.
- NFC icon. If active, then an NFC enabled icon will appear on the status bar.
You can also set the default contactless payment application under “Contactless Payments”.
How to enable NFC in Samsung phones?
Procedure:
- Open the phone settings.
- In the settings menu, select “Connections”.
- In the next menu, select “NFC and contactless payments”.
- In the new menu, activate the NFC switch.
- After enabling NFC function, you can open “Contactless payments” menu and choose your preferred service for payment: G Pay or Samsung Pay.
How to enable NFC in Xiaomi phones?
Procedure:
- Select your phone settings.
- Scroll the page and select the item “Connectivity and sharing”.
- In the new menu, scroll to the “NFC” menu. Press the switch to activate NFC.
- Below, you can configure contactless payment operation and select the default payment method.
How do I turn on NFC in the Quick Settings menu?
You can quickly enable or disable NFC on all manufacturers’ phones in the Quick Settings menu.
Procedure for Android 12-13:
1. Open the quick settings menu.
2. Find the NFC tile.
3. A single tap will enable or disable NFC operation. A long tap will open the NFC menu in settings.
4. If there is no NFC tile, then tap the pencil button. In the Edit Quick Settings menu, drag and drop the tile responsible for enabling and disabling NFC.
Conclusion
This article describes in detail what NFC is and how to enable NFC in Android phones. NFC technology is a convenient way for contactless payment for goods and services, rapid exchange of small amounts of data, etc. At the same time to use NFC it is necessary to have the physical support of the technology in the phone. For this purpose an additional antenna for data exchange should be installed in the phone. Without such an antenna, NFC technology cannot be used.
Do you use NFC technology? Share your opinion in comments below the article.
FAQ
Do I have NFC on my phone?
You can find out if your phone supports NFC in the following ways:
1. From the specifications on the phone’s box.
2. In the phone settings.
3. On manufacturer’s official site.
How do I turn on NFC on Android 12?
You can quickly turn on or off NFC on the settings panel. This way is suitable for phones on all versions of Android, with NFC support.
What is NFC on Android phone?
NFC or Near Field Communication is a short-range wireless transmission technology. This technology allows exchanging data with other devices over a short distance, usually up to 5 cm. For example, NFC technology can be used to pay for travel on public transport or to pay for goods in stores. Due to the limited range of coverage, NFC cannot be used to remotely hack the phone or steal data.
How do I add NFC to my phone?
NFC requires a physical antenna inside the phone. Therefore, you cannot add NFC to your phone unless the manufacturer has designed the phone to support NFC. In some phones, the NFC antenna is attached to the battery. Non-original batteries often lack an NFC antenna. Therefore, after replacing the battery, the NFC stops working.
Why my phone can’t use NFC?
NFC requires an antenna inside the phone. If your phone supports NFC but the module is not working, then the main reason for the problem is a software glitch or broken antenna. It is recommended to reboot the OS and enable NFC again. Strong vibrations or replacing the battery can cause the antenna to break or the physical absence of the antenna inside the phone. Since the antenna is often located on the battery. Non-original batteries often do not have an NFC antenna. Therefore, the absence of an NFC antenna can be considered an additional indication of a poor quality battery.
Which phone has NFC function?
The NFC function is present in most Android phones. The exception is phones with a solid metal cover. Also NFC is installed less frequently in models for the Asian market. As in Asian countries, QR-code is used as an alternative to NFC. You can find NFC support on the web site of the phone manufacturer or on the phone’s box.
Can I add NFC to a non NFC phone?
NFC technology cannot be added to the phone. As the phone’s motherboard must have a connector for the antenna.
Can you use Google Pay without NFC?
You can use Google Pay without NFC. You can pay for goods and services online or by scanning a QR code.
Can I pay with NFC without Wi-Fi?
You don’t need a mobile or wireless internet connection to pay with NFC.
Can NFC be used to pay?
NFC can be used to pay for goods and services contactless. In order to pay for goods or services, it is necessary to add the card data of any bank to the payment application: G Pay or Samsung Pay.
Does NFC drain battery?
NFC requires power to operate. However, power is only consumed when NFC is in use, for example, when paying through a terminal. The power consumption of NFC is so small that it is not visible in the general power consumption graph. Therefore, switching off the NFC module has no influence on the power savings.
How to do NFC payment?
To make an NFC payment, it is necessary to add the bank’s card data to the payment application: Google Pay or Samsung Pay. Google Pay is the default service on Android. Owners of Samsung phones can use Google Pay or Samsung Pay. Owners of Apple phones can use the Apple Pay branded payment application. Next, before paying, you need to turn on the NFC module and unlock the screen of your phone. Then bring your phone to the terminal to read the data and confirm the payment.
Does Android 12 have NFC?
NFC technology is not tied to the version of Android. The main requirement for NFC to work is the presence of an NFC antenna inside the phone.
Is Bluetooth or NFC better?
Bluetooth has a greater range and data transfer speed. It takes longer to sync and connect. NFC has a shorter range, making it more difficult to connect to the phone remotely. Also, NFC works almost instantaneously. Therefore, there are different usage scenarios for Bluetooth and NFC. Bluetooth technology is mainly used to connect wireless devices: headphones, smart watches, fitness bracelets, etc. NFC technology is primarily used to pay for goods and services through a mobile terminal.
How do I turn off NFC on my Android?
You can turn off NFC on the quick settings panel or in the menu of phone settings.
Can I use NFC without SIM?
NFC does not require a SIM card, mobile or wireless internet in your phone.
Do NFC tags work with all phones?
NFC tags work with all NFC-enabled phones.
Why do some phones have NFC?
Some phones are not designed to support NFC. For example, the signal won’t work in the phones with full-metal covers. Also in some countries NFC technology is not demanded in the phones. For example in China the use of QR codes is widespread. So the NFC module will only increase the cost of the phone production.
How do I pay if I don’t have NFC?
You can use QR-code payment or pay for goods and services online.
Which phones are not compatible with Google Pay?
Google Pay is not compatible with phones on Android 5.0 or lower.
Does Bluetooth have to be on to use NFC?
You do not need to have Bluetooth turned on to use NFC. The system will automatically turn Bluetooth on when needed. For example, when sending large files via NFC, the system uses Bluetooth to speed up the transfer.
What is the range of NFC?
The effective range of NFC is up to 1.5-2.5 inches.
