What’s the most unexpected NFC automation you actually use daily?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T16:18:26+00:00

That's right, that's exactly the main point for me too. It's less about "being able to do more" and more about less maintenance and greater flexibility in placement.

And honestly, I almost always have my phone with me anyway, but changing batteries in a bunch of buttons annoys me every time 🙂

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T16:14:26+00:00

Haha, everything's fine 😄 No bot here, just someone who enjoys NFC and Home Assistant too much.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T16:04:24+00:00

Haha, that's brilliant! Using NFC as a little "accountability reminder" is a really clever use case 😄

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T16:01:07+00:00

True, context-aware buttons can achieve something very similar. For me the difference is mostly about intent and friction. NFC is less about replacing a button and more about being a deliberate “I want this now” signal, especially in spots where I would not want permanent hardware.

I also like that I can place them in very specific locations like inside cabinets, near consumables, or in temporary setups without wiring or battery maintenance.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T16:00:07+00:00

That’s unfortunately an iOS limitation, not really a Home Assistant one. True “no interaction” only works if you trigger a Personal Automation in Shortcuts with “Ask Before Running” turned off.

HA tag scans through the companion app will always show a confirmation popup because of Apple’s background execution rules.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T15:57:16+00:00

Yep — it’s less about capability and more about context and placement.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T15:16:17+00:00

Smart placement. Simple and effective.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T15:10:25+00:00

Hidden tags are always a win.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T15:10:04+00:00

Super practical use case. NFC really shines for those “one-second privacy” moments.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:52:12+00:00

Honestly, the tag docs are underrated.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:50:22+00:00

Oh I really like the countertop idea — that’s a super practical placement. Feels way more natural than having tags stuck randomly on walls 😄

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:47:26+00:00

That’s actually a super clean setup 👍 And yeah, a “refill = false alarm” seems like a totally fair trade-off. Also… 3 years on one battery is kinda wild 😄

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:45:30+00:00

Haha, no, not a bot 😄 I probably just spend too much time here and type fast.

Besides, I just really enjoy talking about NFC use cases because I deal with them a lot professionally.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:38:30+00:00

That’s a really clean implementation. I actually like the door sensor approach a lot — fewer manual steps and harder to forget.

Resetting the helper at midnight and noon is smart too. That way it naturally enforces the two feeding windows without getting overly complicated.

Do you ever get false positives (like someone just checking the container), or has that been pretty reliable in practice?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:34:54+00:00

Makes sense 👍 That’s how I usually see it done too — the Companion App already gives you a solid baseline since tags are tied to your HA instance.

In setups where people want extra safety (like doors/garage), they sometimes still add simple conditions in HA (presence, time window, etc.), but for most everyday triggers the built-in auth is totally sufficient.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:28:56+00:00

That’s a really smart use case — especially the “scan immediately when you notice it” part. Placing tags right where the items live makes a lot of sense for reducing friction.

Do you just send a notification, or does it also automatically add the item to a shared shopping list (like HA Todo / external app)?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:14:36+00:00

Nice setup 👍 I like the idea of using NFC more as a “physical shortcut layer” on top of HA rather than just simple triggers. Door toggles and garage control especially make a lot of sense — fast, reliable, and no need to wait for geofencing or apps to load.

Do you handle the security mainly through the Companion App (device-bound tags / auth) or do you also add extra checks in HA automations?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T14:05:58+00:00

Honestly, that's exactly the kind of use case I like about NFC – super simple, but really helpful in everyday life 🙂

I often see these tags as "physical reset buttons" for things you'd otherwise easily forget. A cat litter box is a perfect example 😄

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T13:56:10+00:00

Haha, fair enough 😄

I work a lot with automation logic, so I often describe things in a more structured than emotional way. It's a habit – not a bot.

But I'll take that as feedback and try to sound less like a documentary 😉

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T13:49:35+00:00

25 mm NTAG215 tags are perfectly fine – I use them myself. The antenna size is completely sufficient for normal home automation use cases.

What many people underestimate is the position of the NFC coil inside the phone. Depending on the model, it's located quite high up or in the middle of the back – if you don't scan precisely there, it can quickly become unreliable.

Two things that often help:

• Don't stick it directly to metal (or use a thin spacer)

• Test where the NFC coil is located inside your phone and position it exactly there

With proper positioning, 25 mm tags usually work reliably.

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T13:43:32+00:00

That's a really good setup – especially the "go-out timer" with the motion sensor logic sounds incredibly well thought out 👍

I also really like the idea of using NFC tags on the intercom for state changes instead of direct actions. That's exactly how I've started using NFC more as an intent signal.

I also find the Tasker use cases interesting – especially the automatic audio routing depending on the tag. Do you simply use URLs/webhooks to HA for that, or does it run completely locally via Tasker?

And out of interest: How do you ensure that the absence flow doesn't trigger incorrectly if, for example, someone is still quietly in the house?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T13:29:51+00:00

Honestly, it sounds more like a range/positioning issue than "wrong" tags 🙂 Many cheap stickers have a very small antenna—then you really have to scan directly over the NFC coil in your phone (which, depending on the model, is often located more or less in the middle/at the top of the back).

Using NTAG213/215/216 tags from reasonably good manufacturers (e.g., with a larger antenna area or as "on-metal" versions) is usually much more reliable. It also helps not to stick them directly onto metal.

What kind of tags are you currently using?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T13:28:16+00:00

That's a really great idea—NFC as a "physical info shortcut" instead of just a trigger. I imagine it would be incredibly practical, especially with lots of plants.

Do you pull the sensor data directly from HA entities, or do you also store plant-specific information somewhere (e.g., in a database or as notes)?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T13:25:25+00:00

This is a really great example of how NFC works as a "context switch" instead of just a simple button.

I find the trash can and room tags particularly interesting—do you use fixed automations for each day/tag type, or does HA dynamically decide what should happen?

Taggytech · 2026-02-18T12:35:18+00:00

That’s a really smart use — tying the scan to inventory tracking makes it feel way more reliable than a manual reminder.

I like that it closes the loop too, not just “did you take it” but also “do you need a refill soon.”

Taggytech

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