NFC cards: how they work, and which phones read them

The idea

NFC stands for Near Field Communication. The card holds a small chip and an antenna, with no battery. When a phone comes within a few centimetres, it powers the chip wirelessly and reads the link stored in it: the page opens in the browser.

It's the same family of technology as contactless payment, but a card like this only holds a link: no bank details, no personal data.

Which phones read it?

• iPhone: the iPhone XS and newer read NFC cards on their own, with the screen on and no app. Hold the top of the phone to the card.
• Android: most phones have NFC, which must be switched on (in Settings, often under "Connections" or "Connected devices", or in the quick menu). Hold the back of the phone, around the middle.

Phones without NFC can scan the QR code printed on the card with the camera.

Why there's nothing to install

Phones read an NFC link on their own: they show a notification or open the page straight away. Customers need no app, no account and no Bluetooth. They only need internet (mobile data or Wi-Fi) to load the page.

The phone doesn't react: what to do?

• Screen on and unlocked.
• The right spot: the top for an iPhone, the middle of the back for an Android. Hold it for a second or two.
• Thick or metal case: take it off or use the QR code.
• Metal under the card: on a metal surface, the card may stop responding. Prefer wood, plastic or glass.
• NFC switched off on Android: turn it on in Settings.

Either way, the QR code printed on the card opens the same page.

And the Lemsa card?

The Lemsa card holds an NFC chip and a QR code that open the same thing: your Google review page, your menu, your Wi-Fi, your Instagram or your Lemsa page. The printed link never changes: what the card opens can be changed at any time, without reprinting. To place it well, read how to get more Google reviews.