NFC card not working? Fix it in a minute

You hold your phone against your NFC card, wait, and nothing opens. Before you assume the card is broken, most tap failures come down to a phone setting, a case, or how the link was written onto the chip — all fixable in under a minute.

Check NFC is switched on

On most Android phones, NFC is a setting that can be off by default or get switched off by accident. Go to Settings > Connected devices (or Settings > NFC, wording varies by brand) and turn NFC on. Recent iPhones read NFC tags automatically whenever the screen is on and unlocked — there is no separate NFC toggle to check, but the screen must be awake.

Hold it in the right spot, for longer

The NFC chip sits in a specific part of the card or stand, usually near the centre or one edge, not evenly across the whole surface. Move the phone slowly over different spots on the card for two to three seconds each, rather than one quick tap. On many phones the NFC antenna is near the top back of the phone, just below the camera — that is the part to line up with the chip.

Remove thick cases and metal

A thick phone case, a metal ring holder, or a metal wallet card sleeve can block the signal completely. Metal is the biggest culprit: a metal-backed case or a card sitting behind a metal ID will often stop a tap from working even when everything else is set up correctly. Take the phone out of its case for a test tap — if that fixes it, you have your answer.

Confirm the card was written correctly

If NFC is on and nothing blocks the signal, the chip itself may not hold a working link. This happens most often with a tag written at home with a free app, where a typo in the address or writing the wrong record type stops phones from opening it. Test the same card with a second phone. If it fails on both, the chip needs to be rewritten with your correct card address (starting with https://) — see program an NFC card for the exact steps, or ask a MyInfo partner to check it for you.

Test on both Android and iPhone

A card that works on one platform but not the other usually points to how it was written, not a phone problem. Some inexpensive tags only support the format one type of phone expects. Testing on both before you rely on a card at an event catches this early.

When it is genuinely a dead chip

NFC chips are simple and reliable, but a card that has been bent, soaked, or run through a card printer roller many times can fail permanently. If a card that used to work stops responding on every phone after physical damage, treat it as worn out and get a replacement through a MyInfo partner — your MyInfo card itself is unaffected, since the chip only ever stored a link to it.

Always keep a QR code ready

Because NFC depends on the visitor's phone, settings and case, keep your QR code one tap away as a backup — see keeping your QR code on your lock screen. If a tap fails in the moment, offering the QR code instead keeps the meeting moving without any awkwardness.

Frequently asked questions

Does a failed tap mean my MyInfo card is broken?

No. The chip only stores a web link; your card itself lives on MyInfo and is unaffected by a tap failure. Check your phone's NFC setting, remove any case, and confirm the chip was written correctly using program an NFC card.

Do I need to buy a new card every time a tap fails?

Not usually. Most failures are a phone setting or a case blocking the signal, not the card itself. Only replace the card if it fails on multiple phones after ruling out settings and interference, or if it has visible physical damage.

Compare your options in NFC vs QR code business cards, learn more about NFC business cards, or create your free card today.