How to Use NFC

How to Use Your NFC Frame

Tap your phone on the frame. Your content opens in the browser. That’s the whole thing — no app to install, no QR code to aim at, nothing to charge. This page covers everything else: what the frame can hold, how to change it, and what to do if the tag won’t read.

The 30-Second Version

  1. Unlock your phone. NFC reads best when the screen is on and unlocked.
  2. Hold the top of your phone against the tag area on the frame. On most phones the NFC reader is near the top of the back — the camera area on an iPhone, or the upper middle on most Androids.
  3. Hold it there for a second or two. You’ll feel a small vibration and a notification will appear at the top of the screen.
  4. Tap the notification. Your page opens in your browser.

That’s it. If nothing happens, jump to If the tag won’t read.

What the Frame Holds — and What It Doesn’t

There are two different things on an NFC frame, and it helps to keep them separate:

The frame itself

The frame displays a real, physical piece — a printed photo, a finished jigsaw, a drawing, pressed flowers. It has no screen, no battery, and no cable. It is not a digital photo frame and it will never play a video on your wall.

The NFC chip

The chip is a small tag built into the frame. It stores one permanent web link — nothing else. When you tap your phone, that link opens a page, and that page is where your content lives.

This design is on purpose. Because the tag holds a link rather than a file, you can change what the frame opens as often as you like and the tag never needs to be re-programmed. The frame you bought today can hold one thing this year and something completely different next year.

What You Can Put On It

Your page can display any of these, and you can switch between them whenever you want:

Video: A puzzle time-lapse, a birthday message, a wedding clip, a trip you took together
Audio: Your own voice, a song, a recording of someone who matters
Photo albums: The whole set, swipeable — not just the one photo you printed
Images: A single photo, a scan, a drawing
Text : A letter, a date, a few words that need to be said
Links: A playlist, a shared folder, a social page, a coupon or product page

There’s no length limit on video. The tag links to a page, so a 30-second clip and a 10-minute film work exactly the same way.

How to Change What It Opens

  1. Tap your phone on the frame to open your page.
  2. Choose the manage option on the page.
  3. Sign in with your email and password.
  4. Edit the content and save.

Your next tap shows the new version. Nothing to re-program, nothing to send back to us, and the frame doesn’t need to come off the wall.

Reading vs. editing — who needs an account

Anyone who taps the frame sees the content straight away — no account, no login. An account is only needed to edit it. That’s why the frame works perfectly as a gift: the person receiving it just taps and watches; the person who set it up keeps the login.

Phone Compatibility

Any modern phone that can read NFC will work — iPhone and Android.

  • iPhone — the reader is at the top of the phone. Hold the top edge against the tag.
  • Android — the reader is usually in the upper middle of the back. Some models need NFC switched on in Settings.
  • Phone cases — thin cases are fine. Thick cases and metal-backed cases (including magnetic car mounts and some wallet cases) can block the signal. If nothing happens, try removing the case.

The frame itself needs no power, no Wi-Fi, and no pairing. It works wherever you put it.

If the Tag Won’t Read

Work through these in order — it’s almost always one of the first three:

  1. Hold it longer and closer. This is the most common cause. Press the phone flat against the frame and hold for a full two seconds. Don’t tap and pull away.
  2. Unlock the screen first. NFC reads are far more reliable with the screen on and unlocked. On iPhone you can also tap straight from the lock screen, but hold it against the very top of the phone.
  3. Try a different spot on the phone. People usually aim with the middle of the phone. The reader is at the top. Move it up.
  4. Remove the phone case — especially metal, magnetic, or thick wallet cases.
  5. Android: check NFC is on. Settings → Connected devices → NFC. Some phones turn it off to save battery.
  6. Try another phone. If a second phone reads it fine, the issue is the first phone’s NFC, not the frame.
  7. Check you’re tapping the right area. .

Still nothing? Email us at [email protected] with your order number and a photo of the frame, and we’ll sort it out. If the tag is genuinely faulty, we replace it — you don’t need to send anything back.

Common Questions

Do I need to install an app?

No. Everything opens in your phone’s browser.

Does the frame need batteries or Wi-Fi?

No. The NFC chip has no battery and needs no connection. It works anywhere.

Do I need an account?

No to read it — anyone who taps the frame sees the content immediately. Yes to edit it: you sign in with your email and password.

Can I change the content after the frame arrives?

Yes, as often as you like. The tag holds a permanent link, so it never needs re-programming. See How to change what it opens.

Can I make the content private?

Your page has a password-protection option if you’d rather it wasn’t public.

What happens if I lose or change my phone?

Nothing. Your content lives on your page, not on your phone. Any phone that taps the frame opens the same content.

How long will the tag last?

The chip is passive — no battery to run down, nothing to wear out. Treat the frame normally and it keeps working.

Is the content visible to anyone who taps it?

Yes, unless you turn on password protection. If you’re putting something personal on it, we’d suggest using the password option.