Programming NFC stickers on cards, packages, posters, or key chains is easy. With just your smartphone and an app, you can set them up in a few minutes.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to program NFC tags with your Android phone, iPhone, PC, or Mac. We’ll also look at different ways to use NFC tags, what equipment you need, and how to fix common errors.

Can You Program NFC Tags?

Yes, many NFC tags can indeed be written by a smartphone.

When we talk about programming, we refer to writing data into the chip on the tag. This data may include:

Website address
Contact info
WiFi credentials
Text
Shortcut/automation trigger

The app takes care of all the technicalities, while you get to select what needs to be written, tap the phone against the tag, and have the data stored on the chip.

As a beginner in NFC technology, you can begin by trying out an easy task such as writing a URL to the tag. This will give you a taste of how fast the process can be.

What You Need Before You Start

Programming an NFC tag requires:

A blank NFC tag
An NFC-enabled smartphone
NFC writing software

Almost all current Android devices have NFC capability. Most iPhones are equipped with NFC, but mostly starting from iPhone 7 and latest.

For Android, look into the Settings menu, typically under Connections, Network, or Connected devices, and enable NFC.

For iPhones, NFC scanning is usually built-in in newer models, while NFC writing requires downloading special software.

Selecting the Proper NFC Tag

For most basic applications, NTAG213 tags are a safe, cheap choice for:

website URLs
short text
simple triggers

Other types include:

card (useful as business card or access tag)
keychain (for personal day-to-day applications)
label (useful for packaging purposes)
on-metal tag (in case the tag needs to be placed on a metallic surface)

If the tag needs to be attached to a metallic surface, on-metal NFC tags are a must. Regular tags won’t work properly due to interference.

How to Program an NFC Tag

This is how you do it on an Android, iPhone, or even PC:

Launch the NFC tag writing application.
Select what you’d like to write (website, text, Wi-Fi network, contacts, etc.).
Input the information
Tap Write.
Put the phone close to the tag.
Wait for confirmation.
Re-scan the tag to see if everything went well.

That’s all!

Popular NFC tag operations may include:

opening a URL link,
sharing Wi-Fi password,
saving contact information,
navigating to a place on a map,
launching a shortcut/automation script
triggering smart home scenarios.

Do You Need to Code NFC Tags?

No, in most cases, programming NFC tags is not required at all. By “programming,” people usually refer to configuring a tag to perform an action.

How to Program NFC Tags on Android, iPhone, and Computers

How to Program NFC Tags on Android

Turn on NFC in your phone settings.
Download an NFC writer application (for example, NFC Tools).
Open the application and click Write.
Select the type of data you want to put (for example, URL) and fill in the necessary details.
Click Write and put your phone on the tag.

Check if the link is opened (or other action executed). If yes, your tag works!

How to Program NFC Tags on iPhone

To program NFC tags on iPhone, you will need the following:

iPhone 7 or latest one
iOS 13 or above
an appropriate NFC writing application (NFC Tools, NXP TagWriter, etc.)

Steps:

Launch the NFC writing application.
Specify the type of content and enter the information.
Press
Put the upper part of your iPhone next to the tag.
Wait for the confirmation message.
Launch the same app and scan the tag to check its work.

Additional note: starting from iPhone XS, NFC scanning on iPhone works in the background. If you have earlier models, you might need to open a corresponding NFC app beforehand. As for completely empty NFC tags, they won’t be detected without prior writing.

How to Program NFC Tags on a PC or Mac

Not all computers can read/write NFC tags. For programming NFC tags on a PC or Mac, you will need:

external NFC reader/writer device (for example, ACR122U)
corresponding software (NFC tools by the manufacturer or third-party applications)

Connect the reader, put the tag on it, enter the information and write the tag.

How to Use Programmable NFC Tags

After programming, attach the tag to a location where you can easily tap it.

Personal Use

Attach the tag to your desk, nightstand, car dashboard, or headphones to:

play music
navigate to a destination
set reminders
perform shortcuts

Business Use

NFC tags may be used for:

packaging products
posters/signage
menus
business cards
display stands

The customers will then tap to access the page with product information, video, reviews, contact page, or promotional content.

Home Use

Place the tags near:

the router to share Wi-Fi
the front door to activate routines
lights or smart devices to initiate automation scenes

Troubleshooting and Security Tips

Tag Won’t Write

Make sure NFC is enabled.
Keep the phone steady when writing.
Move the phone a little bit, as antenna placement differs across devices.

Tag Isn’t Reading

Ensure the information was written properly.
Try using another device.
Remember, blank tags don’t read on iPhones in the background.

App Crashes While Writing

Close the app and try again.
Use another tag to see if it’s the same problem.
Check to make sure the tag is not locked; otherwise, it won’t allow rewriting.

Tag Only Works Sometimes

Avoid placing standard tags on metal surfaces. Use on-metal tags instead.
Avoid putting too many tags next to each other.

Keep Your NFC Tags Safe

Do not write any sensitive information in plain text.
In business settings, consider locking the tags once the information is written to prevent editing.
Enable password protection where available for business tags.
Test business tags periodically to make sure the link works.

Conclusion

Programming NFC tags is fast and easy. All you need is a blank tag, a smartphone with NFC capabilities, and a writer application. After programming the first tag, you will be able to discover many other uses for them. Begin with a basic website link and move on to try out Wi-Fi sharing, shortcuts, smart home automation, and business applications.