Does an NFC business card work on my phone? Compatibility guide
Almost certainly, yes. iPhone XS, XR and every later model read NFC cards in the background on iOS 13 and later with nothing to set up. iPhone 7, 8 and X read cards using the NFC Tag Reader in Control Centre. Android phones with NFC read cards once NFC is switched on and the screen is awake. Any phone with a camera can use the printed QR code instead.
Written by Arun Babu Veeranki, Co-Founder & CEO · Last checked: 10 September 2026
Phone compatibility table
| Make | Model family | OS version | Reads NFC cards | Antenna position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone XS, XR and later (including SE 2nd generation and later) | iOS 13 and later | Yes | Top edge, near the rear camera | Reads NFC tags in the background when the screen is on and unlocked. No app needed. |
| Apple | iPhone 7, 8 and X | iOS 11–iOS 16 | Needs setting | Top edge, near the rear camera | No background reading. Use the NFC Tag Reader in Control Centre, or a free NFC reader app. |
| Apple | iPhone 6, 6s and earlier | Any | No | Not applicable | These models cannot read NFC tags. Use the printed QR code instead. |
| Samsung | Galaxy S, Galaxy A (NFC models), Galaxy Z Fold and Flip | Android 8 and later | Needs setting | Centre to upper area of the back | Check NFC is enabled in Settings → Connections → NFC and contactless payments. |
| Pixel series | Android 8 and later | Needs setting | Upper area of the back | Check NFC is enabled in Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → NFC. | |
| OnePlus | OnePlus number and Nord series with NFC | Android 9 and later | Needs setting | Upper area of the back | Some Nord models ship without NFC in certain regions — check the specification. |
| Xiaomi | Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with NFC | Android 9 and later | Needs setting | Upper area of the back | NFC is not fitted to every model or region — check the specification, then enable NFC in Settings. |
| Motorola | Edge, G and Razr series with NFC | Android 9 and later | Needs setting | Centre to upper area of the back | Check NFC is enabled in Settings → Connected devices. |
| Huawei | P and Mate series with NFC | Android 9 / EMUI and later | Needs setting | Upper area of the back | Check NFC is enabled in Settings → More connections → NFC. |
| Any make | Any phone with a camera | Any | Yes | Not applicable — QR fallback | Every card can carry a printed QR code, so a phone without NFC still opens your profile. |
How to enable NFC
iPhone
- Check your model: iPhone XS, XR or later reads NFC cards with no setup at all.
- Wake the phone and unlock it — the screen must be on.
- On iPhone 7, 8 or X, open Control Centre and tap the NFC Tag Reader button first. Add it in Settings → Control Centre if it is not there.
- Hold the top edge of the phone against the card for one to two seconds.
Android
- Open Settings.
- Go to Connections, or Connected devices, depending on the make.
- Turn on NFC (it may be called "NFC and contactless payments").
- Wake the phone and unlock it, then hold the middle to upper back of the phone against the card.
Where to hold the card
Picture the back of the phone as three horizontal bands. On an iPhone, the antenna sits in the top band, level with the rear camera — so touch the top edge of the phone to the middle of the card. On most Android phones the antenna sits in the middle or upper-middle band, roughly where your index finger rests when you hold the phone — so lay the card flat against the centre of the back.
If the first attempt does nothing, keep the card against the phone and move it slowly upward by a couple of centimetres. Hold still for one to two seconds rather than tapping quickly. Thick cases, metal cases and bank cards sitting between the card and the phone can all block the read.
Frequently asked questions
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