Do you get frustrated by the “NFC Tag Detected” notifications that pop up on your phone? You’re not alone. Many iPhone and Android users experience this issue, especially when they are near AirTags, cards, ads, or App Clips that have NFC tags.
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What is NFC?
NFC stands for Near Field Communication, a technology that allows devices to communicate wirelessly over a short distance. This article explains what causes these notifications, how to avoid them, and how to deal with them.
Why You See NFC Tag Detected Notifications?
Your phone has an NFC reader that can detect NFC tags in your surroundings. NFC tags are small chips that store information and can trigger actions on your phone, such as opening a website or an app. Some common sources of NFC tags are:
- AirTags: These are Apple’s tracking devices that help you find your lost items. They have NFC tags that can show you the owner’s contact details if you tap on them with your phone.
- Cards: Some credit or debit cards have NFC tags that enable contactless payments. If your card is too close to your phone, your phone may pick up the NFC tag and show you a notification.
- Ads: Some marketers and retailers use NFC tags to attract customers and increase traffic. For example, you may see an NFC notification when you are near a bus stop ad or a gym equipment that has an NFC tag embedded in it.
- App Clips: These are mini versions of apps that you can use without downloading them. They have NFC tags that can launch the app clip on your phone when you tap on them.
How to Avoid NFC Tag Detected Notifications?
The easiest way to avoid these notifications is to keep your phone away from NFC tags. Since NFC only works within 2 inches, you can prevent your phone from detecting NFC tags by moving it to a different location. For example, if you have your card in your back pocket and your phone in your front pocket, you won’t get any NFC notifications.
Another way to avoid these notifications is to disable NFC on your phone. However, this option is only available for Android phones. You can turn off NFC on Android by swiping down on your screen to open the Quick Menu, then tapping the NFC icon to turn it off. The icon will be grey when NFC is off. You can turn it back on when you need to use NFC features, such as contactless payments or file sharing.
How to Deal with NFC Tag Detected Notifications?
If you see an NFC notification on your phone, you have two options: swipe it away or tap on it. Swiping it away will dismiss the notification and stop any action from happening. Tapping on it will open the link or the app associated with the NFC tag.
However, before you tap on any NFC notification, you should be careful and make sure you trust the source. Not all NFC tags are safe and harmless. Some of them may contain malicious links or apps that can harm your phone or your privacy. Therefore, you should only tap on NFC notifications that you recognize and expect, such as:
- AirTags: If the notification says “found.apple.com,” it means you have found a lost AirTag. You can tap on it to see the owner’s information and contact them to return the AirTag. This is a safe and helpful action that can make someone’s day.
- Cards: If the notification says “NFC Tag Type 4,” it means your phone has detected your own card. You can swipe it away and move your phone away from your card to avoid getting more notifications. This is a harmless but annoying action that can interrupt your phone usage.
- Ads: If the notification says the name of a brand or a product that you are interested in, it means your phone has detected an NFC tag from an advertisement. You can tap on it to see more details or offers from the advertiser. This is a risky but potentially beneficial action that can give you some information or discounts.
- App Clips: If the notification says the name of an app that you want to try, it means your phone has detected an NFC tag from an app clip. You can tap on it to launch the app clip and use its features without downloading the full app. This is a safe and convenient action that can save you some time and space.
How to Stop App Clips from Sending You NFC Notifications?
App Clips are mini apps that let you access some features of a full app without downloading it. For example, you can use an App Clip to order food, pay for parking, or rent a bike. Some retailers and restaurants use App Clips to attract customers and offer them a convenient way to use their services. You can find App Clips by scanning QR codes, tapping NFC tags, or browsing Safari.
However, if you don’t want to use App Clips, you may find them annoying and intrusive. Especially if you get NFC notifications from App Clips that you don’t recognize or trust. To prevent this, you can disable App Clips on your iPhone by following these steps:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Tap on Content Restrictions and enter your Screen Time passcode if you have one.
- Scroll down and tap on App Clips.
- Select Don’t Allow to block all App Clips from launching on your phone.
By doing this, you will stop getting NFC notifications from App Clips and protect your privacy and security.