NFC issues with iPhone 13 iOS 18.4.1

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NFC issues with iPhone 13 iOS 18.4.1

I got a new iPhone 13 yesterday. To quickly test it was all working I set it up as a new phone without copying anything from my old phone. Then downloaded the Freestyle Libre and NFC Tools apps to test the NFC reader, everything worked fine.

Then to save time (Hah! I've lost eight hours so far as a result) I factory reset the phone, then set it up again this time copying everything from my old phone. I let the phone update to iOS 18.4.1 (not sure what it was on initially) Later I tested the NFC apps and they couldn't scan anything. I deleted them and re-downloaded, still broken.

I checked NFC was on, reset the network settings, reset all settings, tried various AirPlay and AirDrop settings, rebooting the phone between each change. Still broken.

I wiped the phone again and set it up as I had done the first time, copying nothing from my old phone, installed the NFC apps and they still can't scan.

Also tried NFC Checker app, it says "Great! Your device supports NFC, and it's activated", but it can't read any tags either.

So I know the hardware works, but apart from that very first time I can't get the NFC reader to work. Any ideas?

iPhone 8 Plus, iOS 16

Posted on May 11, 2025 4:16 AM

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Answer 1

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Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,448 points

May 11, 2025 5:05 AM in response to tokabix

Is it working for Apple Pay (Tap-To-Pay)? NFC isn’t serviceable by the user. If Apple Pay isn’t working your iPhone needs to be serviced.

You’ll need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call 1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Explore Service Locations

Official Apple Support

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Answer 2

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,448 points

May 11, 2025 12:30 PM in response to JustinOlsson

You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call 1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Explore Service Locations

Official Apple Support

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Answer 3

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,448 points

May 11, 2025 7:41 AM in response to tokabix

But it shouldn’t be there. Have you enabled a developer mode on your device? Here’s what US version shows. Noticeably missing is NFC off/on feature. I wonder if this is a recent addition just for U.K.? I’ve contacted a friend in U.K. to confirm it’s on her iPhone. Have you contacted Apple Support in U.K.? They may be aware of an issue that hasn’t previously been reported here.

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Answer 4

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,448 points

May 11, 2025 8:10 AM in response to tokabix

Try contacting Apple Support in U.K. If you learn anything new from them, please post an update.

Official Apple Support

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Answer 5

May 11, 2025 12:01 PM in response to tokabix

I have the same issue since days now and I have a iPhone 13 mini. Paying with Apple Pay (Wallet) is still possible on my device, but reading, regardless of the app, no longer works since the latest update.

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Answer 6

Jeff Donald

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44,448 points

May 11, 2025 6:29 AM in response to tokabix

There is no NFC off and on with iPhone 13 in Settings. What country are you in?

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Answer 7

tokabix Author

Level 1

26 points

May 11, 2025 7:16 AM in response to Jeff Donald

UK, it's under Settings/General, just below CarPlay

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Answer 8

tokabix Author

Level 1

26 points

May 11, 2025 5:24 AM in response to Jeff Donald

I'll try Apple Pay tomorrow. but If it isn't just a configuration issue I'll return the phone as it's new.

But it's frustrating that it worked the first time and then not since, as though the iOS upgrade has defaulted a setting somewhere. Or is bugged.

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Answer 9

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,448 points

May 11, 2025 5:41 AM in response to tokabix

iPhone 13 is not a new device. Hopefully the merchant you purchased it from has a good return policy.

There is no on or off switch for NFC. It’s basically on all the time in a standby type mode.

What app are you using to read tags? Have you tried different apps?

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Answer 10

tokabix Author

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26 points

May 11, 2025 6:21 AM in response to Jeff Donald

New to me. It was new, still sealed. They were being manufactured up until last year. There's no issue returning it, but I really, really need a new phone, so I was hoping this was a simple fix.

In settings there is an NFC on/off setting, but as you would expect if you try and use an NFC app with it off they prompt you to switch it on.

Apps I've used are Freestyle Libre (which worked on the first use, before I upgraded IOS), NFC Tools (which also worked prior to the upgrade) and NFC Checker, which reports the NFC as active but can't read anything.

None of these work on my old, battered iPhone 8, but the NFC (and Apple Pay) on that has never worked. The tags I'm trying to read, and my glucose sensor, can be read by my equally old and even more battered Motorola phone.

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Answer 11

tokabix Author

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May 11, 2025 8:10 AM in response to tokabix

Mine are the same except for the NFC section. The phone isn't in developer mode, it's just out of the box yesterday and I've done more factory resets than I can count to try and get it working.

edit: this is very strange, I've just had a Google around and all the photos of that settings page are like yours, no one has the NFC section. Just double checked and I don't have the settings for beta OS versions, I'm definitely on 18.4.1

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Answer 12

tokabix Author

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26 points

May 17, 2025 1:21 AM in response to tokabix

UPDATE: I tried ApplePay on Tuesday, it worked fine, then when I got home I tried the Freestyle Libre app and this time it worked. I had changed nothing. I got a message about an available iOS update and decided to wait a decade or two before installing as the phone was now working. NFC continued to work fine. Got up this morning, scanned my sensor, doesn't scan any more. Checked with the standalone Freestyle reader, sensor is still working and scans fine.

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Answer 13

tokabix Author

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May 11, 2025 7:28 AM in response to Jeff Donald

ah, replied to the wrong message, see photos above

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Answer 14

tokabix Author

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26 points

May 11, 2025 7:53 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Mine are the same except for the NFC section. The phone isn't in developer mode, it's just out of the box yesterday and I've done more factory resets than I can count to try and get it working.

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NFC issues with iPhone 13 iOS 18.4.1

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