NFC or QR code for sharing contact details: what happens on each phone

NFC or QR code for sharing contact details: what happens on each phone — Online Business Cards

By Online Business Cards Editorial Team | Published | Updated | Sharing your card

Sharing your details by NFC or QR code takes a few seconds when it works. Here is what the other person sees on an iPhone or Android phone, why it sometimes fails, and which to use in which situation.

Most comparisons of NFC and QR codes talk about the card. This guide is about the moment of sharing: you have just met someone, and you want your details on their phone before the conversation moves on. What do they have to do, what appears on their screen, and what can go wrong?

A note on what we sell. We sell digital-only business cards, shared by link and QR code. We do not sell NFC cards. Both methods are explained here because many people meet both, and the steps are useful whichever you use.

What both methods actually share

Whether it comes from a chip or a printed code, what the other person's phone receives is almost always a web link. The link opens your profile in their browser, and from there they can call, email or save you as a contact. So both methods have three stages:

  1. Getting the link onto their phone, by NFC or by camera.
  2. Opening the link, which they confirm on screen.
  3. Saving your details, usually with a "save contact" button that hands their phone a standard contact file.

Stages 2 and 3 are the same for both. Only the first stage differs.

Sharing by QR code, step by step

  1. You show your code, printed or on your phone screen.
  2. They open their camera app and point it at the code. There is no need to take a photo.
  3. A small banner or button appears with the link. They select it.
  4. Your profile opens in their browser.
  5. They choose "save contact" if they want to keep your details.
On an iPhone, the camera reads QR codes by default. On Android, the camera app on most recent phones reads them directly; on some older models it is done through Google Lens, which is built into many cameras.

Sharing by NFC, step by step

  1. They unlock their phone, or at least wake the screen.
  2. You hold your card close to the back of their phone, near the top on an iPhone, or wherever the reader sits on their Android phone.
  3. A notification appears with the link. They select it.
  4. Your profile opens, and they save your details if they want them.
On an iPhone, Apple says models from the iPhone XS onwards read NFC tags in the background whenever the screen is on, with no setting to turn on. Older iPhones from the iPhone 7 can only read tags inside an app. On Android, NFC has to be switched on in settings, and the reader position varies from phone to phone.

Why sharing fails, and the quick fix

What happens | Likely reason | What to try

The QR code will not scan | Too small, low contrast, glare or a cracked screen | Turn your screen brightness up, or move closer

The camera sees the code but nothing happens | Code scanning switched off in camera settings | Use the QR code reader in their control centre or Google Lens

The NFC card does nothing | NFC switched off, or the card is in the wrong place | Slide the card slowly around the back of the phone

A thick phone case blocks NFC | Metal or very thick cases can block the signal | Show the QR code instead

The link opens but will not load | No signal | Text them the link to open later

The last row matters more than people expect. Both methods need the other phone to be online to open your profile. In a basement venue or a crowded hall, sending your link by text or WhatsApp means they can open it later.

Which to use, situation by situation

  • Someone you have just met, phone unknown: QR code. Almost every smartphone camera reads it.
  • A noisy, busy event: QR code on your phone screen, or printed on your badge, so people can scan without a conversation about phone settings. Our events guide has more ideas.
  • A video call or an email: neither chip nor code works well at a distance; paste your link. See our guide to sharing your details on video calls.
  • Two iPhones side by side: NameDrop is another option. Our guide to NFC, Bluetooth and phone-to-phone sharing compares it with a link.
  • Someone with low vision: a link sent by text is easier than aiming a camera, because it can be read aloud by their phone.

Choosing the QR side: static or dynamic

If you share by QR code, it is worth knowing what kind of code you have. A static code stores your link directly and keeps working as long as the link does. A dynamic code stores a short redirect run by a code service, which can be changed later but stops working if that service closes or the subscription lapses.

The QR code that comes with a digital business card points straight at your profile, which stays at the same address. Our guide to static and dynamic QR codes explains how to check a code before you print it.

What the other person ends up with

Once they save your details, they have a contact on their phone, a copy made at that moment. If your card link is part of that contact, they can always open your latest profile from it. Our guide to how NFC business cards work behind the link explains what updates when you edit your card and what does not.

Which plan you need

Both of our plans include a profile with its own link, QR code and save-contact button. Brand Presence (£45, one-off) covers your details, social links, documents, gallery and analytics. The Business Plan (£90, one-off) adds contact leads, so people can share their details back with you, plus bookings, enquiries, forms, a CRM and export. Compare them on our plans, or see the QR code business card.

Read next: NFC vs QR code business cards and Six ways to share a digital business card, and when each one works best. You can also browse all our guides.

Frequently asked questions

Is NFC or a QR code better for sharing contact details?

A QR code works with almost any smartphone camera and can be shown on your screen, so it is the safer default. NFC is quick in person but needs the other phone to have NFC switched on and the card held near the reader.

Does the other person need an app to scan my code or card?

Usually not. Recent iPhone and Android cameras read QR codes directly, and iPhones from the XS onwards read NFC tags without an app. Your profile opens in their normal web browser.

Why does my NFC card not work with some phones?

The most common reasons are NFC being switched off on an Android phone, the card being held away from the reader, a thick or metal phone case, or an older iPhone that only reads tags inside an app.

What does the other person get when they scan my QR code?

They get a link that opens your profile. From there they can call or email you, and save your details as a contact if they choose to.

What should I do if someone's phone will not open my card?

Send them the link by text, WhatsApp or email. It opens on any phone with a browser, so it is the fallback that always works.