1. Learn
  2. Using NFC
  3. How to share Wi-Fi with an NFC tag
Get started with an NFC Starter Pack !

How to share Wi-Fi with an NFC tag

26 June 2023 (Updated: 03 August 2023)  |   Using NFC

Connecting to the nearest WiFi network is the first thing most people think of when they arrive at a new location. Normally when you are at a hotel they provide this to you on a piece of paper but when you are visiting a friend’s home, you will often see them rummage through their old notes or as a worst case scenario they would pick up their modem and read out loud the password from there. 

Now there are much easier ways to share your WiFi password. On iPhones, if one person is already connected to the Wi-Fi they will receive a notification asking if they would like share their password to another nearby iPhone user who is not connected. With just a  click of the button ‘share password’ the other device is able to be instantly recieve a 'want to connect' notification on their phone and with this one click they are able to be instantly connected. 

Android users have a different method, if a device is already connected to the Wi-Fi they will have a built in QR code in the settings section under Wi-Fi network, this is able to be scanned by any other device and they can be automatically connected to the Wi-Fi network.

Using NFC tags to share WiFi with iPhones 

Let's get straight to it - sadly, at this stage, using an NFC tag to share a Wi-Fi connection doesn't work natively (without an app) on iPhones. Basically, the iOS platform doesn't natively recognise this type of data configuration. 

One solution to this problem is to encode both the Wi-Fi data and a link onto the NFC tag. The Wi-Fi data will launch in Android and the link can be used to present the password (and possibly a few instructions) from a webpage which users can simply cut and paste. 

So here's two options. One for Android only and one for the Wi-Fi and Link option :  

Option 1. Encoding Wi-Fi to an NFC tag with Android device to be read by Android only 

Step 1:

Open the NXP Tag Writer App on your Android phone.

NXP Tag Writer App
NXP Tag Writer App

Step 2:

Select Write Tags, New Data Set, Wi-Fi.

Write Tags
Write Tags

 

New Dataset
New Dataset

Step 3:

Select the Wi-Fi network. (the near by Wi-Fi networks should be listed)

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Step 4:

Make sure that the ‘Network SSID’ is the correct network name that you want to be connected to.

For Password - enter your Wi-Fi password.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Step 5:

Click save and write.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Step 6:

Bring the tag to the middle back of the phone and then select write.

Step 7:

Come out of the application and scan the tag again. A pop up should appear asking ‘Would like to connect to this network’.

Android
Android

Step 8:

Select connect.

Option 2. Encoding Wi-Fi and a link to the NFC tag – For iPhone and Android 

Before you start the encoding, make sure you have created a page on the internet to display the Wi-Fi SSID and password. This might be on Google Drive or perhaps as simple as using the Notes app on iPhone. You need the URL to that page. 

Encoding with an Android phone

Step 1:

Open the NXP Tag Writer App on your Android phone.

NXP Tag Writer App
NXP Tag Writer App

Step 2:

Select Write Tags, New Data Set, Wi-Fi

Write Tags
Write Tags

 

New Dataset
New Dataset

Step 3:

Select the Wi-Fi network that you would like to connect to.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Step 4:

Make sure that the ‘Network SSID’ is the correct network name that you would like to be connected to.

For Password - enter your Wi-Fi password.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Step 5:

Click save and write. 

Step 6:

At the bottom of the page there is an option in orange ‘add more record’ click this.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Step 7:

Select Link.

New Dataset
New Dataset

Step 8:

Paste your shared page link in here. Make sure that the https:// is in the URI type section and removed from the link.

 

Link
Link

Step 9:

If the above is correct select save and write.

Step 10:

On the next page you should see the link first, then below it the Wi-Fi.

Write Multiple Records
Write Multiple Records

Step 11:

If this is correct bring the phone to the tag and write the data on to the tag. 

With this method, what should happen is that when the iPhone reads the tag, the URL link will automatically activate and the user can view the Wi-Fi password and network SSID. For Android users, they would see a ' would you like to connect to the Wi-Fi' pop up and can automatically connect this way.

Android
Android

 

iPhone
iPhone

 

what is an nfc tag
What is an NFC Tag ?
A quick intro to NFC tags - what they are, how they are used and the different types of tags
options price list
Options price list
Pricing for our encoding, scanning, ID printing and batching services.
encoding services
NFC Tag encoding
Details of our NFC tag encoding services.
id print services
ID printing
How to order ID / QR code printing on your NFC tags.
uid scan service
UID scan
How you can order a UID scan of your NFC tags.

Latest Articles

Industry News
What is a Digital Product Passport ?
Discover the fundamentals of Digital Product Passports: their definition, implementation process, and their compatibility with your products.
Opinion
STMicroelectronics Launches ST25TA-E Authentication NFC Tag
Will STMicroelectronics launch of the ST25TA-E take the crown from NXP's NTAG424 ?
NHS Hangtag connected to ixkio
Seritag News
NHS chooses ixkio to support mental wellbeing of their staff
NFC hangtags powered by ixkio are being used by NHS trust to help wellbeing amongst staff.
Buying Advice
NFC Authentication Pack - Getting Started
Introduction to the Authentication Start Pack
trade show stand
Using NFC
NFC for Events & Trade Shows
What are the best NFC products to use at trade shows, how they work and why are they gaining popularity?
NFC Marketing Starter Pack
Seritag News
New Marketing NFC Starter Pack
New Marketing NFC Starter Pack Available to purchase now!
NFC & QR Code Management
Contact
©Copyright 2024 Seritag.
Seritag is a trading name of TabDesk Ltd, a UK Registered company 10474154. VAT Registration Number GB256328005.
Seritag
£