Have You Tried NFC Yet? 12+ Cool Things You Could Do with It

NFC (near field communication) tags have become increasingly popular these last few years and for a good reason. Being able to control your smart home and so much more, just by touching your iPhone to an NFC tag feels like magic.

That being said, near-field communication technology, also known as NFC, isn't that new at all. NFC has existed since the 80s, but now it's easier than ever to use, thanks to our smartphones.

Even if you don't own any NFC tags, you've probably used this technology before. A clear example is when you use Apple Pay, but that's just a fraction of what the NFC technology can do. You can use an NFC tag for virtually anything.

Are you not convinced yet? Continue reading to learn 12 cool things you can do with NFC Tags.

Launch Custom Shortcuts

The iPhone's Shortcuts app already makes tasks as easy as a single tap, but with an NFC tag, you won't even have to unlock your iPhone to trigger your shortcuts! You can program your NFC tags to run any iPhone shortcut you have. If you've created a shortcut to use in your day-to-day life (like the following ideas in this list), you can easily trigger it with a tap on an NFC tag to save you time and effort.

Set Timers and Alarms with Just a Tap

With NFC, you don't have to worry about overcooking your food. You can use a tag to activate commonly used timers in your kitchen, like for example, 30 minutes, and your iPhone will alert you when the food is ready. You can also use it for any other activities around the house when you need to put on a timer. Or put an NFC tag on your nightstand, and program it to set your alarm clock to 7 am, for example, with just a tap!

Launch Apps without Getting Distracted

With a single tap, you could launch the Music app in your car or while driving without getting distracted! Not only that but also you could set up a tag to launch Google Maps or the Maps app making it easier and safer to use it while you're driving.

Upgrade Your Business Cards

Using your NFC tags as a virtual business card is an easy way to share your business or personal brand with anyone. Not to mention it will also make you stand out from the crowd at any conference or event. You can easily customize your NFC tag and add your contact info, which social media platforms you're on, and the details of your website. With an NFC tag, you can share more information about yourself than you would with a regular business card.

Make Your Home Smarter

If you're into technology and smart homes, NFC tags would be a great addition. If you're looking to simplify things, you could program an NFC tag near your doorway to turn your lights on and off with just a tap. No need to ask Siri or Alexa. You could also turn other devices like gaming systems or smart plugs! The possibilities are endless.

Quickly Launch Any Website

You can program your NFC tag to open any website on your browser instantly. This will not only save you the time you would otherwise spend typing the long addresses on the search bar, but it's also a quick and clever way to share your own personal website with clients. Or, you can access your favorite Apple news website with a single tap. Just program your NFC tag to do the work for you.

Lock or Unlock Your Doors with a Tap

You can use an NFC tag to unlock or lock your door. What's even cooler is that you don't have to use it just for yourself. If you're planning an event or inviting people over, they could enter your event or home with an NFC tag. Granted, if you try to do this, make sure you follow the necessary precautions and revoke their access for future use if desired.

Extend Your iPhone's Battery Life

Believe it or not, NFC tags could help you reduce your battery consumption. By this point, you already know that forgetting to turn off your Bluetooth or Wi-Fi can drain your cell phone's battery. The same goes for when you leave some apps running in the background. Fortunately, an NFC tag can be programmed to turn off all the battery-draining features on your iPhone. And you can turn them on just as quickly when you need them with another tap.

Make Payments

As mentioned before, this is possibly the most common example of NFC technology. You can use your iPhone to make a payment when you're out and about. That way, you can keep your credit card information secure, and you won't risk losing it by taking it out. Just tap your phone, and you're good to go.

Turn on Your iPhone's Hotspot

Does your broadband internet connection cut out frequently? You could tap your iPhone on an NFC tag and let it automatically turn on your phone's hotspot. NFC makes it more accessible when you are busy working, but you need to share your data connection quickly with your MacBook or iPad.

Send Automatic Messages with a Single Tap

If you're the type of person who likes to send messages to your friends and family constantly, maybe wishing them a great day or just asking how they're doing, you can automate your first message with an NFC tag. Also, as you drive down the street, a tag could help you quickly respond to incoming messages. You can simply program your tag to automatically send replies to messages, such as "Text you later, I'm driving." This gives you peace and time to focus on driving. That could literally save your life.

Use NFC Tags to Boost Your Focus

You can create use an NFC tag to focus on your workouts or other daily tasks. By tapping on a tag, you could turn on Do Not Disturb mode or even Airplane Mode. Not only that, but you could also start playing that playlist that always helps you concentrate, like Classical music. The best part is that, once you're done, you can tap the tag again and get back to the real world.