NFC Not Working

iPad has no NFC

NFC tag reading is an iPhone-only feature. iPad does not have an NFC antenna. If you are trying to use NFC on an iPad, switch to QR code or facial recognition instead. These methods work on both iPhone and iPad.

Entitlements and TestFlight builds

NFC requires the correct entitlements in the app. For TestFlight (beta) and App Store builds, the correct entitlement is Near Field Communication Tag Reading. The NDEF format declaration should not be included in Info.plist or the entitlements file for App Store builds — Apple restricts this entitlement to specific use cases and will reject the build.

If you are running a development build from Xcode on iOS 26 or later, you need both NFC Reading and NFC Scanning capabilities enabled in Xcode. Only the beta version of Xcode exposes both options.

Tag not scanning

If the NFC screen appears (the wave animation and "Hold Near Reader" prompt) but the tag does not scan:

• Hold the tag to the top of the iPhone, not the middle or bottom. The NFC antenna is at the top edge of most iPhone models.
• Hold the tag flat against the back of the phone. An angled approach reduces read reliability.
• Move slowly — do not swipe the badge past the phone. Hold it still for 1–2 seconds.
• Try the tag on a different iPhone to rule out a device-specific issue.
• Verify the tag was written correctly using an NFC reading app (many free ones are available).

Phone case interference

Thick or metallic phone cases can block NFC signals. If a tag works without a case but not with one, the case is the problem. Options:

• Remove the case when scanning badges
• Use a thinner case (leather or thin silicone cases typically do not interfere)
• Avoid cases with built-in metal plates or RFID blocking material