Does my phone have NFC?
This guide walks you through how to test whether your phone has NFC. You can also try asking MOBI, our help bot!
Android
iPhone
How to Use NFC
Android Phones
On Android phones, the NFC reader can be anywhere on the top, middle, or bottom of the phone. Most manufacturers don’t show the exact location so you’ll need to use some trial and error the first time.
The good news is that most Android phones do have NFC functionality capable of background scanning, which is what you’ll need to read chromastones + chromaportals. Try the following to check if your phone has NFC or to turn NFC on/off:
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Open the Settings app
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Search for NFC
It’s easiest to search because depending on your phone model, it might be in any of these sections: “Bluetooth & Devices,” “Connected Devices,” “Connection & Sharing”, or others. -
Does an “NFC” option come up?
If results show up, your phone can read + write NFC tags! Toggle the button “on” if it’s not already.
A small number of phones include NFC in their quick menu at the top of the screen. If yours does, it will likely appear as the following symbol. But don’t worry if you don’t see this icon. Many phones have NFC capability even if they don’t show this shortcut. The best way to check if your phone has NFC is through the Settings as described above.
As long as NFC is turned on, you can scan NFC tags, including chromastones and chromaportals. If it’s your first time, try touching the back of your phone to an NFC tag and slide it in various locations to find out exactly where your NFC reader is located. Once you’ve identified the position, this is where you should always aim to scan NFC objects.
How to Use NFC
Apple iPhones
Does my iPhone have NFC?
All iPhones released since 2018 have NFC capabilities, including the ability to read NFC chips “in the background” without needing to first open a special application. That means you can use NFC if you have an iPhone XR, or iPhone XS, as well as any device since iPhone 11.
A few earlier phones including the iPhone 7 do have an NFC reader but it can only be used by first opening a dedicated application. That means it’s not very useful for creating the personal rituals and shareable moments for which chromastones and chromaportals were designed.
No iPad currently has NFC functionality.
How to scan NFC tags
As long as NFC is turned on, you can scan NFC tags, including chromastones and chromaportals. The scanning area for iPhones is along the back top edge of the phone. The exact location (left, right, or center) can vary. If it’s your first time, try touching the very top back of the phone to the center of the NFC tag, and slide it in various locations to find out exactly where your NFC reader is located.
