NFC or Near Field Communication is a wireless communication standard that allows the devices that support it to transfer data between them over a distance of 4 cm or less. If you have an Android smartphone, you can use NFC to connect your smartphone to a wireless speaker, to make contactless payments, or to share data with other devices. Regardless of how you plan to use it, here's how to check if NFC is available on your Android and how to enable it:

NOTE: This guide applies to Android 10, and it was created on a Nokia 5.3 smartphone. If you do not know your Android version, read How to check the Android version on your smartphone or tablet. The procedures are similar on all Android-powered devices, although you might come across some small differences, depending on your device's manufacturer.

How to check if an Android is NFC compatible

There are several ways to check if an Android smartphone has NFC. You can try looking for it on this list of NFC-enabled mobile devices, but the info there does not seem to be up to date - for instance, our Nokia 5.3 is not listed.

The fastest and easiest method is to open Settings and then search for "nfc" in the field at the top. If Android returns a search result like NFC or Near Field Communication, then NFC is available on your Android smartphone or tablet.

You can also manually look for NFC in your Android's Settings.

First, access Connected devices or More connections (on smartphones from Huawei and other brands).

On the next screen, tap on Connection preferences.

In the list of settings, you should see the NFC or Near Field Communication entry.

How to enable NFC on your Android smartphone or tablet

As you might have figured out by now, once you find the NFC option on your smartphone, you just need to tap on it to activate it. The switch next to it reflects that the feature is now enabled.

To disable NFC, tap the switch again. However, if you're using it often, it's better to just leave it on, as it doesn't drain your battery in any noticeable way.

Does your device have NFC? What do you use it for?

NFC is popular nowadays, as more devices with it become available and it is also starting to be used in new areas, like public transport. We make contactless payments with it on our Android smartphone, but not much else so far. What about you? Is your device NFC compatible? If it is, what do you want to use it for? Let us know in the comments below.