What Does It Mean When Your Phone Says “NFC Tag Detected”?

Reasons you're seeing an NFC notification on your phone & how to make it go away

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: April 16, 2025 Fact Checked

Are you wondering why your phone is showing you an "NFC Tag Detected" notification? While NFC tag detection notifications sometimes show up on Android phones, iPhone users will most often notice the unknown "NFC Tag Detected" alert. This wikiHow article teaches you what it means when you see the notification, if it's trustworthy, and how to respond.

What "NFC Tag Detected" Means

Your phone will show an "NFC Tag Detected" if it detects a nearby AirTag, credit or debit card, NFC advertisement, or App Clip. While you can swipe away most "NFC Tag Detected" messages that are annoying, don't tap notifications you don't recognize.

1

There may be an AirTag nearby.

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AirTags have NFC tags that your phone can pick up. If the notification lists "found.apple.com," you may have discovered a lost AirTag. This can happen if you have an iPhone or Android.
- You can safely tap the notification to see more information about the AirTag and use the associated email or phone number to return the AirTag to its owner.^{[1]
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2

It could be your debit card or credit card.

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Your phone may have picked up your credit or debit card. If they are both hanging out in your pocket, or if you have your card pressing against your phone, you might get an "NFC tag detected" notification.
- Swipe to get rid of this notification and move your phone away from your card so you don't continually get alerted.

3

Your phone can be grabbing an advertisement.

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Marketers and retailers use NFC tags for traffic and marketing purposes. For example, if you're sitting at a bus stop and your phone gives you an NFC alert, it may be picking up a tag in an advertisement on the back of the bench. Simply move your phone to your front pocket so it isn't resting against the bench in your back pocket.^{[2]
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- Even some things like gym workout equipment are known to have NFC tags that send notifications to your phone. The only way to permanently get rid of these notifications is to contact the company that made the gym equipment to see if they can disable the NFC tags.
- You can't disable these notifications on iPhone, but since NFC only works within 2 inches, you can easily move your phone to another location.
- You can toggle NFC on and off with Android. Disable the NFC feature on Android by swiping down on your screen to display the Quick Menu, then tap the NFC icon to turn it off (the icon will be grey if it's off).^{[3]
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- If you don't recognize the app or website that the NFC notification is prompting you to open, don't tap on it. Anyone can create an NFC tag, and not all links are from harmless advertisers.

4

A nearby retailer or restaurant has an App Clip.

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App Clips are smaller versions of their apps that some retailers use to entice customers. App Clips can be discovered in multiple ways, one of which includes NFC. So if you're sitting at a restaurant with your phone touching the menu, you can get an "NFC Tag Detected" notification with a link to the restaurant's App Clip.^{[4]
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- You can disable these in iPhone by going to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > App Clips > Don't Allow.^{[5]
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Could this be by a scammer

Darlene Antonelli, MA
wikiHow Technology Writer
Darlene has been writing and editing tech content at wikiHow since 2019. She previously worked for AppleCare, served as a writing tutor, volunteered in IT at an animal rescue, and taught as an adjunct professor for EN101 and EN102. Darlene has completed Coursera courses on technology, writing, and language. She holds both a BA (2011) and an MA (2012) from Rowan University in Writing, with a focus on workplace communication. With her extensive experience, academic background, and ongoing learning, Darlene has become the go-to grammar expert for her friends and family, as well as a skilled wordsmith for anyone in need.

Darlene Antonelli, MA

wikiHow Technology Writer

Expert Answer

It could be, but you have to be very close to the source of the NFC signal.

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