This article explains how NFC tags can be used with the iPhone and which iOS devices can read/write NFC tags. You’ll also discover where you can buy NFC tags that are compatible with iPhone / iOS devices.
Do iPhones work with NFC tags?
Yes! Since the release of iOS 11, Apple’s iPhone 7 and newer can read nearly all types of NFC tags that are NDEF encoded with certain requirements.
With the release of iOS 13, the iPhone 7 and newer can also write NDEF encoded data to NFC tags with certain requirements.
Which iPhone models support NFC?
The iPhone 6 / 6S / 7 / 8 / X / XS / XR / 11 / 11 Pro support NFC functionality. With that said, the NFC capabilities of these iPhone models are not uniform. To clarify, GoToTags has broken down each device’s NFC-related abilities when running iOS 13 or newer below:
iPhone 6 / 6S
- Apple Pay only
iPhone 7 / 8 / X
- Apple Pay
- Read NFC tags w/ requires third-party app
- Write NFC tags w/ requires third-party app
iPhone XS / XR / 11 / 11 Pro
- Apple Pay
- Read NFC tags
- Write NFC tags w/ third-party app
Which NFC Tags are compatible with iPhone / iOS?
For iPhone users to leverage the power of NFC tags — whether for personal use or commercial use — it’s important to choose a NDEF encoded chip to ensure iOS compatibility.
There are ultimately two options:
The GoToTags Store can encode NFC tags for customers; we can also provide the ability to remotely change the action of the tag and gather interaction analytics via the GoToTags Platform.
How to Write NFC Tags with iPhone / iOS?
Note: To write an NFC tag is to encode it.
Learn more about writing NFC tags with an iPhone.
How to Read NFC Tags with iPhone / iOS?
Learn more about reading NFC tags with an iPhone.