The Problem
New NFC tags come blank and need to be programmed (encoded) before use. Without proper setup, tags will not work or may behave unexpectedly. The right encoding ensures reliable scans every time.
Who This Is For
- Anyone who just received their NFC tags
- Businesses setting up NFC for marketing or operations
- Developers testing NFC implementations
- Users wanting to program custom content
Quick Decision Rules
- 1Simple URL redirectUse any NFC writer app
- 2vCard/contact sharingUse vCard NDEF format
- 3Wi-Fi sharingUse Wi-Fi NDEF format
- 4App launchUse Android Application Record (AAR)
- 5Multiple recordsEnsure total size fits chip memory
- 6Want to prevent changesLock the tag after writing
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not testing the tag immediately after encoding
- Using HTTP instead of HTTPS (browsers may warn)
- Encoding URLs that are too long for the chip memory
- Locking tags before verifying the content is correct
- Not accounting for URL redirects eating into memory
Frequently Asked Questions
On Android, we recommend NFC Tools (free) or NFC TagWriter by NXP. On iPhone, use NFC Tools or NFC for iPhone. All of these support URL, vCard, and Wi-Fi encoding.