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No Supported App for this NFC Tag — What Does it Mean?

No Supported App for this NFC Tag — What Does it Mean?

If you are presented with the pop-up, “No supported app for this NFC tag” while you’re using your Android device, you might be as annoyed as you are confused.

This pop-up occurs only on some devices, usually some Samsung Galaxy devices, and sometimes even the Google Pixel.

Here is an overview of what “No supported app for this NFC tag” means as well as how to prevent the message from popping up again.

 

No Supported App for this NFC Tag — What Does it Mean?

If you receive this pop-up, then you are likely carrying your phone in a case where you are also carrying your credit cards. The NFC feature on your phone attempts to read the credit cards, as well as library, gift, and even bus cards that are nearby, which is why this message might randomly pop up.

No Supported App for this NFC Tag — What Does it Mean?
No Supported App for this NFC Tag — What Does it Mean?

 

What Exactly Does NFC Do

NFC is a very convenient and useful technology that many Android phone users utilize on a regular basis.

NFC stands for Near-Field Communication and easily and conveniently enables compatible phones, tablets, computers, and other devices to share and receive data.

Many consumers with this technology on their phones will use their phones to pay for items at stores, completely eliminating the need to pull out a physical credit or debit card in order to pay for groceries and other goods and services.

NFC, or Near Field Communication, is commonly used to pay for what you bought using their mobile phones
NFC, or Near Field Communication, is commonly used to pay for what you bought using their mobile phones

In order to use NFC, two devices must be within very close proximity of one another, which is why you will tap your phone at stores or at airports in order to transfer payment or other information.

 

The Benefits of Using NFC Technology

Since NFC technology enables users to transfer contact information, payments, videos, photos, and other important data, it increases the security of credit cards and other private information.

NFC enables consumers to save time, as it’s so much quicker and easier to tap a mobile device against another NFC-enabled device in order to make a payment.

NFC saves time in making payments as you only need to tap your phone against an NFC-enabled device
NFC saves time in making payments as you only need to tap your phone against an NFC-enabled device

 

How to Prevent Future Pop-ups from Occurring

There are four possible solutions to this problem, and the first one requires you to register any debit or credit cards with Samsung Pay.

NFC saves time in making payments as you only need to tap your phone against an NFC-enabled device

“No supported app for this NFC tag” doesn’t pop up when your Android device comes into contact with registered debit or credit cards.

But it will continue to display this message on your device if your NFC attempts to read bus, library, and any other type of card that isn’t a registered credit or debit card.

Your phone will display the No app supported for this NFC tag pop-up if it's near registered debit or credit cards
Your phone will display the No app supported for this NFC tag pop-up if it’s near registered debit or credit cards

A second solution to the problem of “No supported app for this NFC tag” popping up on the screen of your device is to turn off the NFC capability on your phone or other devices.

This solution is very effective, but you will need to remember to turn NFC back on when you’re ready to use it.

To turn off NFC, go to “Settings” in the app drawer, and then open “Connections.” You will then see “NFC.”

If you have a non-Samsung device, then you may find “Connections” under “Bluetooth Connections.” Once you’re on the “NFC” screen, you can easily toggle the button to turn it off – as well as back on – when you need to.

A third solution to the annoying popup, “No supported app for this NFC tag,” is to invest in a special RFID wallet that renders your cards electromagnetically opaque so that the NFC reader is unable to detect them.

RFID, or Radio-frequency Identification, is where the NFC technology was derived from.

By opting for this solution, you don’t have to worry about turning off NFC, and it also prevents RFID skimming, which is when a criminal uses a special device to intercept your personal information while it’s being transmitted and gaining access to your credit card and other personal information.

You can invest in a special RFID wallet that renders your cards electromagnetically opaque and avoid having NFC pop-ups
You can invest in a special RFID wallet that renders your cards electromagnetically opaque and avoid having NFC pop-ups

By switching to this type of wallet, you will never have to worry about the annoying “No supported app for this NFC tag” popping up again.

The final solution to the problem of the annoying popup “No supported app for this NFC tag,” is to obtain pieces of aluminum paper of at least 1.2mm thickness.

You can place this paper between your phone and all your cards, and this will hopefully prevent the message from ever popping up again.

If you don’t have access to the aluminum sheets, an alternate option is to wrap your cards in aluminum foil, which should work just as effectively.

If you don't have access to aluminum sheets, you can wrap your cards in aluminum foil to prevent NFC tag pop-ups
If you don’t have access to aluminum sheets, you can wrap your cards in aluminum foil to prevent NFC tag pop-ups

 

Frequently Asked Questions about No Supported App for this NFC Tag Meaning

 

Does using the NFC technology use a great deal of a phone’s battery?

It’s not necessary for you to worry about the NFC technology doing anything but providing you with convenient features. NFC uses very little of your battery, so you don’t have to contend with keeping your phone charged if you use this capability frequently.

 

Why aren’t more people familiar with the NFC technology?

Many people are unfamiliar with NFC technology because, up until recently, it wasn’t available on many phones. However, more and more devices are now offering this convenience to consumers, and 73% of Android phones offer this technology.

 

If a phone doesn’t come with NFC technology, can a consumer have it installed?

Depending on a person’s specific phone, it is possible to use the NFC technology by downloading an app called “NFC Easy Connect.” This app isn’t available in all countries, so if you’re interested in adding it to yours, you’ll need to ensure that your country makes it available.


 

Conclusion

Not all phones have NFC capability, and the ones that do can sometimes display the message “No supported app for this NFC tag”.

Fortunately, there is usually an easy solution to the issue that can prevent it from popping up again in the future, so you can use your phone -and your credit cards – without having to deal with this annoying pop-up.

Travis Author Givemegadget

My name is Travis and I am a gadget fan. It started when I received my first Nintendo Entertainment system with 6 years old and never ended. I made it my mission to answer all your gadget questions.