
Basics: Creating short commands and triggering them with NFC tags
From simply switching the alarm on/off to creating notes, reminders, playing music or sharing a photo or video on social platforms: Almost every small-step activity can be summarised and carried out automatically as a whole.
Our NFC-enabled smartphone makes it possible to carry out a wide range of activities directly from one device. Some of them are simple and quick, others are more time-consuming and complex. In order to keep the handling of the smartphone fast and effective, operating steps can be shortened by NFC by executing them automatically.
An NFC chip can serve as the trigger for this automation if it is described accordingly beforehand. The automation only needs to be created once and can then be executed in future simply by contact with the smartphone and the NFC chip.
Prerequisite for this tutorial: Empty NFC tags, such as those available in our NFC starter kits. Afterwards, it is best to use the NFC tags only for short commands to ensure error-free use.
This How2 first explains some basic concepts of the Apple shortcuts app. This is followed by an example of how an action can be started automatically using an NFC tag.
Content:
- Short commands and automations - What are they?
- First steps - create new automation
- NFC chip as trigger for automation
- Add an action to an automation
- Overview of automation
Short commands and automations - What are they?
The iOS app Shortcuts was developed by Apple to summarise complex sequences of actions into a single command. With each new version, the possibilities of the application have been further expanded. Some basic terms are explained below.
Actions
Operating steps on the smartphone are called actions. Actions are, for example, opening the camera, opening an app or activating flight mode. Normally, the actions are executed by us as users one after the other.
Shortcuts & automations
In a shortcut, several actions are linked and executed together when the user starts the shortcut. If the shortcut is not triggered manually, but automatically by an event (e.g. contact with your NFC chip), it is referred to as an automation.
A typical trigger for an automation on an iPhone can be, for example, reaching a certain time, arriving at a certain location or, as in our application example, contact with an NFC tag.
First steps - create new automation
We will now explain how a short command can be triggered by an NFC tag and thus become an automation. If an NFC tag is scanned, a voice message should be recorded. An automation must be created for this.
First open the Shortcuts app on your Apple iPhone. The Shortcuts app is pre-installed on your iPhone like other standard apps.
Then switch to the Automation tab at the bottom right. Then go to New automation. In the new Personal Automation window, scroll down and then select NFC.




NFC chip as trigger for automation
In the following, the empty NFC chip can be scanned and named by tapping on Scan. For our application example, we name the scanned NFC chip with Test-Tag.
Then we tap on Ok.
You can now decide whether you want to confirm that the automation will be executed after the scan or whether it should be executed immediately. Here you can decide as you wish. Execute after confirmation is selected by default. For a faster sequence, we recommend Immediately.
Then tap on Next.
The NFC tag is now ready to be linked to an action.




Add an action to an automation
A new window When test tag is detected now opens. In this step, an action is to be added to the NFC tag. By scrolling down the list, you can select some actions directly. However, we are looking for a specific action and therefore go to New empty automation and tap Add action in the next window. Now scroll down further to the Voice memos category and tap on the small arrow >.
The window for this category then opens, from which you can select various actions. We select Create recording so that our test tag creates a voice memo when triggered.
You can now add further parameters such as If to the shortcut or tap Done directly. You can also name the recording as you wish. For our example, however, we will dispense with further shortcut options and select Done directly.





Overview of automation
As a result, an action has been added to our automation that automatically starts an audio recording on contact with the NFC chip Test Tag.
The current screen shows our current iPhone automation via NFC tag very clearly: When the NFC chip Test Tag is recognised, an audio recording is started. If you tap on the recording after the scan, the window with all recordings opens. You can also stop your recording there by tapping the rectangular Stop button. The recording is then saved.
If you want to delete your new iPhone automation from your NFC tag, for example to create another automation, swipe the automation to the left and a red box will appear. Then tap on Delete.




Summary
In this iOS guide, a new NFC automation has been created that starts an audio recording when the corresponding NFC tag is touched.
In the article Executing multiple actions in succession using an automation, we explain how further logical steps can be added to these actions to expand our Apple Automation in a meaningful way. The recording should be saved in the iCloud after the voice memo is finished.
Associated operating systems
iOSFirst published: 25.07.2023 / Updated: 24.07.2024 2023-07-25 2024-07-24