What is NFC Android and what is it for?

It is increasingly common to find within the specifications of our terminal, a call Android-NFC. We are talking about a functionality that is becoming common in any mobile phone, regardless of its range. The reason? The great possibilities offered by a technology on the rise and that aims to be one of the best alternatives to Bluetooth.

You may have heard of this technology, but have never used the NFC chip of your Android. Surely, it is because you have a total ignorance about its possible uses.

But don't worry, because in this guide I am going to explain you in a very simple way what it is and how you can get the most out of it.

NFC Android logo

What is the NFC?

To begin with, we are talking about a technology that has been with us for a few years. In addition, it is most likely that you have used it on more than one occasion without realizing it. Do you have an electronic bus pass? Well, you know that the vast majority use this system. Do you make payments with your mobile phone? Congratulations, you are using your Android NFC.

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The first thing you have to know is that, the term NFC stands for Near Field Communication in English. Such a translation would be something like "near field communication." And, as its name suggests, we are facing a wireless high-frequency technology that uses the 13.56 MHz band. An evolution of the typical RFID tags used by transport tickets.

Say that this platform is open and was initially created for mobile devices. The objective? Being able to send data from one device to another quickly and accurately. Its big problem is that the NFC Android's range of action is quite limited. In this way, you have to be at a distance of about 10 or 15 centimeters maximum from the device with which you want to communicate in order to use this technology.

And the thing is, the Android NFC works in a somewhat complex way: by means of an electromagnetic field created by an induction process, a data exchange is generated between two devices, allowing a transfer rate that reaches 434 Kbps without problems. ideal for identifying and validating human devices. Yes, it is faster than a bluetooth, but it is better to use it for this type of process.

Mainly because offers unrivaled communication speed. To give you the idea, two devices with NFC technology can be linked instantly. The best? They do not need to be previously paired to work. All you have to do is bring your NFC Android phone closer to a distance of at least 20 centimeters from the receiver. It couldn't be easier! Of course, the problem is that it does not work for remote communications.

The Android NFC works in a somewhat complex way: by means of an electromagnetic field created by the induction process, a data exchange is generated between two devices, allowing a transfer rate that reaches 434 Kbps without problems.

This technology has two modes to operate: active or passive

Keep in mind that the NFC Android has two different modes when it comes to working. To get started, can work in active mode. In this way, both compatible devices generate an electromagnetic field and exchange data. There is also a second mode, called passive, in which only one of the two devices is active, while the other takes advantage of that field to exchange information.

At the security level, it must be said that, as with any communication made by radio frequency, there is always some possibility that someone can get a reading of our transmission. But NFC technology has a great advantage: the short distance at which you have to use it. In this way, the theft of information is quite difficult., although the possibility that the codes of our compatible chip are copied cannot be ruled out….

Mobile making NFC payment

What uses can I make of NFC technology?

All the possibilities of using the NFC Android they are quite spacious. To begin with, we are talking about a technology developed in 2004. When the first phones with this chip began to arrive, large companies began to enable services through this platform. And yes, in Spain it took us a long time to adopt its use, but The Caixa was one of the first to create a mobile payment system compatible with this system. And it was in 2010.

It has rained a lot, a lot, since then, so you can get used to the idea that NFC is already being used in more places than you think. To begin with, and as we have told you, to use your mobile phone as if it were a credit card, so you can make payments in a much more comfortable way. On the other hand, it also works in many workplaces so that you can identify yourself with credentials.

Not to mention the NFC tags to automate actions. Yes, you can configure different cards so that, when you pass your mobile through them, they perform certain actions. For example, you can put one at the entrance of your house to connect to WiFi, on the nightstand to activate Do Not Disturb mode ... And yes, you can also use it to transfer data from one phone to another.

Continuing with the uses of NFC, say that Google combines the RFID tags with this system, allowing us to mark our position, receive information about an event or establishment ... And instant synchronization between devices is a joy. Especially if you have to set up a phone from scratch. If your smartphone has NFC and Android, things will be much easier.

OnePlus 7 with NFC functionality

How to know if you have NFC available on your Android device

But How can you tell if your Android phone has NFC? It should be taken into account that the vast majority of current devices, especially within the mid-range and high-end of the sector, they already have this technology. But, on the other hand, until a year ago the vast majority of Xiaomi terminals that did not exceed 300 euros, did not have the corresponding chip.

So it's best to do a quick Google search to see if you have this technology. As a second option, you can go to the Your phone settings. In section Device connection, you will see that the options of the Bluetooth and NFC. Can't activate this feature? We are very afraid that you will not have it enabled

Luckily, you have a solution that will save you, in part, the ballot if your device lacks this technology. More than anything because most banks offer NFC tags that you can clip onto the back of your phone. With them you can make mobile paymentss. Obviously, this solution is limited to this service, but less is nothing, right?

How to activate NFC on Android

How to activate the Android NFC functionality

Finally, we are going to see the process to activate the NFC Android functionality on our device. As usual in Android, each brand uses its own personalized interface, so it is possible that it varies from one terminal to another. But, as the operation is quite similar, let's see the two available options.

To begin with, most likely, swiping down on the main screen, you can access quick shortcuts from the notification panel. All you have to do is click on the icon with the NFC Android symbol to activate or deactivate it depending on your needs.

Can't find it in quick shortcuts?

In the event that your phone has NFC Android but you do not see this option within the notification panel of the terminal screen, do not worry. You can also access it through the terminal settings. To do this, the first thing you should do is slide the notification bar down, exactly the same as in the first option. But, in this case you must click on the gear icon to enter the System Settings menu.

Finally, you will have to look for the option Wireless connections and networks and click on the More category. Once inside, among the different options available there should be one that says NFC. Keep in mind that, as we have told you before, each interface is a world. If it does not appear in this menu but you know that your phone has this chip built in, you will have to go to the Connected Devices section.

As you may have seen, the NFC Android uses they are much wider than they appear. So what are you waiting for to start using this technology?


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