Smart Home Automation with NFC
Transform your home into a smart home by using NFC tags to control lights, thermostats, scenes, and more. With iPhone Shortcuts and NFC tags, you can automate your entire home with a simple tap.
What You Can Automate
- Lights & Scenes: Turn on/off lights, adjust brightness, or activate scenes
- Climate Control: Adjust thermostat, turn on fans or AC
- Entertainment: Play music, control TV, start podcasts
- Routines: "Good Morning", "Leaving Home", "Bedtime" routines
- Custom Actions: Send notifications, log data, trigger webhooks
What You'll Need
Step-by-Step Guide
Open the Shortcuts App
Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. This app comes pre-installed on iOS 13 and later. If you don't see it, download it from the App Store.
The Shortcuts app is Apple's automation tool that allows you to create custom workflows and automations.
Create a New Automation
Tap the "Automation" tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap the "+" button in the top right corner. Select "Create Personal Automation".
Select NFC as the Trigger
Scroll down and select "NFC" from the list of triggers. This will allow you to use an NFC tag to trigger your automation.
Scan Your NFC Tag
Tap "Scan" and hold your iPhone near a blank NFC tag. Once detected, give your tag a name (e.g., "Bedroom Lights", "Good Morning", "Movie Mode").
You can use any blank NFC tag. The tag doesn't need to have any data written to it beforehand.
Add Actions to Control Devices
Tap "Add Action" and search for the actions you want to perform. You can control HomeKit devices, adjust settings, play music, send messages, and more.
Example:
For a "Good Morning" routine: Turn on bedroom lights → Set brightness to 50% → Start playing your favorite playlist → Read the weather forecast
Configure Action Settings
For each action, tap on it to configure the specific settings. For example, if controlling lights, select which lights to control and set the brightness level.
You can add multiple actions to create complex automations. Actions run in the order you add them.
Disable "Ask Before Running" (Optional)
By default, iOS will ask for confirmation before running the automation. Toggle off "Ask Before Running" if you want the automation to run immediately when you tap the tag.
For security reasons, some actions (like sending messages or making purchases) will always require confirmation.
Test Your Automation
Tap "Done" to save your automation. Now tap your NFC tag with your iPhone to test it. Your smart home devices should respond according to your configured actions.
Popular Use Cases
Good Morning Routine
Start your day right with an NFC tag on your nightstand
Actions:
- •Turn on bedroom lights to 30% brightness
- •Start playing your morning playlist
- •Read today's weather forecast
- •Turn on the coffee maker (if smart-enabled)
Bedtime Routine
Wind down for the night with a single tap
Actions:
- •Turn off all lights except bedroom
- •Set bedroom lights to warm, dim lighting
- •Set thermostat to sleep temperature
- •Enable Do Not Disturb mode
- •Play sleep sounds or white noise
Movie Mode
Create the perfect cinema experience at home
Actions:
- •Dim living room lights to 10%
- •Turn off all other lights
- •Close smart blinds
- •Turn on TV and sound system
Leaving Home
Secure your home when you leave
Actions:
- •Turn off all lights
- •Set thermostat to away mode
- •Lock smart locks
- •Enable security cameras
- •Send notification when complete
Arriving Home
Welcome yourself home with comfort
Actions:
- •Turn on entrance and living room lights
- •Set thermostat to comfortable temperature
- •Unlock front door
- •Play welcome music
Troubleshooting
NFC tag not triggering automation
Make sure NFC is enabled on your iPhone (it's always on for iPhone XR and later). Try re-scanning the tag in the Shortcuts app. Also ensure the automation is enabled in the Automation tab.
Automation asks for confirmation every time
Edit the automation and toggle off "Ask Before Running". Note that some actions (like sending messages) will always require confirmation for security reasons.
Smart home devices not responding
Verify that your smart home devices are online and working in their native apps (Home app, Hue app, etc.). Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same WiFi network as your smart home hub.
Automation runs but devices don't change
Check that you've selected the correct devices in each action. Some devices may have delays - wait a few seconds to see if they respond. Also verify that the devices support the actions you're trying to perform.
Can't find my smart home devices in Shortcuts
Make sure your devices are added to the Home app first (for HomeKit devices). For non-HomeKit devices, check if their app has Shortcuts integration. Not all smart home devices support Shortcuts.
Best Practices & Tips
Label your NFC tags clearly so you know which automation each tag triggers
Place tags in convenient locations: nightstand, front door, car dashboard, office desk
Start with simple automations (1-2 actions) and gradually add more complexity
Test your automations during the day before relying on them for bedtime or morning routines
Use different colored NFC tags or stickers to distinguish between different automations
Consider creating "undo" tags that reverse an automation (e.g., "Movie Mode Off")
Combine NFC automations with time-based or location-based triggers for more flexibility
Keep a backup list of your automations in case you need to recreate them