NFC rings are one of the most cool-looking gadgets you’ll see these days. While they don’t have the most ground-breaking or innovative technology, they can perform many magical tasks. If you’re new to the NFC ring world, you might be wondering how to use it!
To use an NFC ring, start by preparing your smartphone to read NFC tags. Then, you need an app to write your intended routine, such as unlocking your phone and sharing data, files, URLs, social media profiles, contacts, and texts. Find the “sweet spot” on your phone to activate it.
This post will outline how to use your NFC ring and what you can do with it.
How To Set Up Your NFC Ring?
NFC rings look like any other ring you wear on your fingers with no buttons on them. All you can see is a black or colored strip on the ring, which is the chip. It activates the ring and lets you transmit commands using an app on your smartphone.
In other words, the ring won’t do much by itself. Instead, it works with your phone, which powers it and synchronizes data with it.
That’s why the first step in using your NFC ring is to install an app on your phone. Some rings come with their own official apps, but there are generic options available too. So, choose an app that matches your needs and preferences, download it from Google Play or the Apple Store, and install it on your phone.
Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your ring with the app and write your desired tasks into it.
Finding the Sweet Spot
Before installing the app, it’s better to find the sweet spot on your phone. This spot has your phone’s NFC tag reader, and it’s where the ring touches the phone to activate. You can do it with or without the app.
If you don’t use the app:
- Go to your phone’s settings, Wireless and Networks, and turn on NFC.
- Turn up the volume on your phone to hear the beeping sound.
- Move the colored part on the ring along the back of your phone.
- When the ring touches the sweet spot, you’ll hear a beeping noise.
To find the sweet spot using the app:
- Open the app
- The app asks you to hold the ring against the phone’s back.
- Ensure you have an internet connection so that your phone can download the location data for the sweet spot.
- The app shows you a heat map while you hold the colored strip on the back of the phone.
- When the app finds the sweet spot, you’ll hear a beep sound, and your phone will ask you to store the location.
What Can You Do With an NFC Ring?
Now, it’s time to add routines. These tasks depend on the type of ring you have. Apart from payments (your ring has to be payment-enabled), you can use apps to write a wide array of functions to your ring.
For example, if you’re connected to your car’s Bluetooth, and it’s 8 a.m., Monday-Friday, when you tap the back of your phone with the ring, it’ll open the music app and play music for you.
Here a few common things you can do with your NFC ring:
Share Phone Contacts and Texts
These are the most basic tasks that most applications offer. They also allow you to read the written tasks and change or delete the ones you don’t like. After receiving the contact information, the other device automatically saves it in its phone book. You can save memo texts and share them with your friends or loved ones.
Unlock Your Device
You can set your phone to unlock automatically and stay unlocked by tapping your ring. To enable this option, turn on NFC and go to settings, security, smart lock. Then locate “Trusted Devices.” Under “Add Trusted Device,” choose NFC. Next, the phone will prompt you to scan your ring by tapping it on the phone, making it a trusted device to unlock your phone.
Share Social Media Profiles
After creating the task and giving the URL to the app, you can share the link with anyone by holding your ring against their NFC-enabled smartphone. The ring can’t share the webpage or the social media profile itself. It sends the URL to the other device, requiring you to tap on the link to visit the page.
Unlock NFC-Enabled Digital Door Locks
Most digital locks come with an app that lets you open the lock using your ring. The point is you can’t program your ring to open the digital door using its app. Only the door’s app can do it for you—many rings working at the 13.56MHZ band support this function, including many Samsung smart door locks.
Replace Access Cards
NFC rings are replacing access cards just like cards did with badges. You can use these rings to authenticate access at your workplace, gym, or school. You’ll receive the app from the access provider and write the task to your ring. Then enter the facility after tapping the ring on the card reader.
Travel Pass or Ticket
NFC ring owners can use their rings instead of contactless travel passes or tickets while commuting. This way, you don’t need to rummage about your pocket or bag to find your travel pass or smartphone. Simply tap your ring on the card reader, and the terminal will rewrite the new value after subtracting the ticket’s value from your account.
You need to make sure that the travel company and the ring manufacturer support this. It’ll be a while before all travel service providers integrate this functionality.
Contactless Payments
NFC rings let you make payments without a payment card or PIN. This way, you don’t have to carry a card or remember your password. You can pay for even small purchases that are below floor limits.
To make a payment using an NFC ring, you need a terminal that supports contactless payments. Your ring must also have payment capabilities. It has to be compatible with EMV standards, with an agreement between the ring maker and financial service providers, such as Visa or Mastercard.
Closing Thoughts
NFC rings are exciting gadgets with limitless possibilities. They allow you to share files, URLs, social media profiles, and texts, open apps, set alarms, and make payments, among other things.
To get your NFC ring up and running, you need to:
- Enable NFC on your phone.
- Install the ring’s accompanying app or any app you prefer.
- Write the tasks you want into the ring using the app.
Whenever you tap your phone with the ring, it’ll perform the specified task for you based on the conditions.
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