Hello, I am currently working on a project that requires the use of the NFCTagReaderSession API to perform read and write operations on NFC tags (ISO15693 and other standard NFC tag types). According to the Apple documentation, CoreNFC and NFCTagReaderSession are fully supported on iPhone devices. However, the behavior and availability on iPad devices are not clearly documented. I would like to request clarification on the following points: Is NFCTagReaderSession officially supported on iPad devices? We have verified that some iPad models equipped with NFC hardware still do not expose support for this API. Is there an up-to-date list of iPad models that support CoreNFC? The documentation currently mentions only “iPhone 7 or later,” with no reference to iPad models. Does Apple plan to enable NFCTagReaderSession on iPad in the future? This information is important for our product roadmap, as several of our deployments rely on tablets. Our goal is to determine whether NFC tag read/write operations are intended to be available exclusively on iPhone, or whether there are existing or upcoming iPad models that will support CoreNFC as well. Thank you in advance for your support and for any clarification you can provide. Kind regards,

Dear Apple CS, I’m working with NFC ISO15693 tags using NFCTagReaderSession / NFCISO15693Tag, and I’d like to read these tags in the background if possible. Is there any way to read this tag type without triggering the system NFC popup that iOS normally shows? Please note it will not be a public app, the app is meant for internal use for our employees only. is there an option to submit a special request for this use case? Thank you in advance!

Hi! Following this ticket: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/808764?page=1#868010022 Is there any way to use the hardware RFID reading capabilities of an iPhone to read ISO15693 RF tags silently, and without a UI pop-up? Perhaps using other native iOS libraries than the NFC library? If not, is there a way for a business to request this feature be allowed in internally used apps only?

Hi all, I wanted to check whether the NFC bottom-sheet UI shown by iOS during an NFC reading session can be customized. We have a Figma design (attached) for how the sheet should look, but we are not sure whether iOS allows modifying the default NFC UI. Is UI customization supported, or is the bottom sheet fully controlled by the system? Thanks in advance.

Environment: Device: iPhone 15 iOS Version: 26.2 Xcode Version: (add your version) Signing: Automatic with Apple Developer account Problem: When calling NFCTagReaderSession.begin(), the session immediately fails with error code 2: "Missing required entitlement". This happens even though: NFCTagReaderSession.readingAvailable returns true NFCNDEFReaderSession.readingAvailable returns true The session object is created successfully Configuration verified: BonoResidente.entitlements: Info.plist (relevant keys): NFCReaderUsageDescription This app needs NFC permission to read transport cards com.apple.developer.nfc.readersession.iso7816.select-identifiers D2760000850101 Apple Developer Portal: App ID com.acalvoelorri.BonoResidente has "NFC Tag Reading" capability enabled Provisioning profiles were regenerated after enabling the capability Xcode: "Near Field Communication Tag Reading" capability added via Signing & Capabilities CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS correctly points to the entitlements file Automatic signing enabled with valid Development Team Steps taken: Deleted app from device Clean Build Folder (Cmd+Shift+K) Deleted and re-added the NFC capability in Xcode Manually enabled NFC Tag Reading in Apple Developer Portal Rebuilt and reinstalled the app Code: import CoreNFC class NFCReaderService: NSObject, ObservableObject, NFCTagReaderSessionDelegate { @Published var lastReadData: String = "" @Published var isReading: Bool = false private var session: NFCTagReaderSession? func startReading() { guard NFCTagReaderSession.readingAvailable else { lastReadData = "NFC not available on this device" return } session = NFCTagReaderSession( pollingOption: [.iso14443, .iso15693, .iso18092], delegate: self ) session?.alertMessage = "Hold your transport card near the iPhone" session?.begin() isReading = true } func tagReaderSessionDidBecomeActive(_ session: NFCTagReaderSession) { print("NFC session active") } func tagReaderSession(_ session: NFCTagReaderSession, didInvalidateWithError error: Error) { // Error occurs here immediately after begin() print("Error: \(error)") } func tagReaderSession(_ session: NFCTagReaderSession, didDetect tags: [NFCTag]) { // Never reached } } Console logs: ========== NFC DEBUG INFO ========== iOS Version: 26.2 Device Model: iPhone Device Name: iPhone System Name: iOS NFCTagReaderSession.readingAvailable: true NFCNDEFReaderSession.readingAvailable: true Bundle ID: com.acalvoelorri.BonoResidente Creating NFCTagReaderSession with pollingOption: [.iso14443, .iso15693, .iso18092]... Session created: Optional(<NFCTagReaderSession: 0x110fa50e0>) Setting alertMessage... Calling session.begin()... session.begin() completed, isReading = true ========== NFC ERROR DEBUG ========== Full error: Error Domain=NFCError Code=2 "Missing required entitlement" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Missing required entitlement} Error type: NFCError Localized: Missing required entitlement NSError domain: NFCError NSError code: 2 NSError userInfo: ["NSLocalizedDescription": Missing required entitlement] Questions: Is there a known issue with NFCTagReaderSession entitlements on iOS 26.2? Are there additional entitlements required beyond com.apple.developer.nfc.readersession.formats with value TAG? How can I verify that the installed app's provisioning profile actually contains the NFC entitlement? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi all, I’m building an iOS app that uses CoreNFC to communicate with a YubiKey 5C NFC over ISO14443 / ISO7816 and send APDUs (e.g. select an applet by AID). Environment • Device: iPhone 13 Pro Max • iOS: 18.6.2 • Xcode: 26.1.1 (17B100) • API: NFCTagReaderSession(pollingOption: .iso14443) using NFCTag.iso7816 What I’m trying to do 1. Start NFCTagReaderSession(.iso14443) 2. Detect tag → connect 3. Send ISO7816 APDUs (SELECT AID, etc.) Issue A — Entitlements / signing If I add ISO7816-related NFC entitlements, Xcode fails signing with an error like: • “Provisioning profile … doesn’t match entitlements file value for com.apple.developer.nfc.readersession.formats” When I inspect the generated .mobileprovision, I only see something like: • com.apple.developer.nfc.readersession.formats = [NDEF, TAG, PACE] …and I do not see an ISO7816 / select-identifiers entitlement (and the Developer portal UI doesn’t appear to let me enable it). Questions: 1. Is ISO7816 access under com.apple.developer.nfc.readersession.formats restricted and requires Apple approval? If yes, what’s the correct request process? 2. Is com.apple.developer.nfc.readersession.iso7816.select-identifiers required for sending ISO7816 APDUs? If yes, how do developers obtain it / enable it for an App ID + provisioning profiles? 3. What is the Apple-supported way to configure entitlements/profiles for CoreNFC ISO7816 APDU communication with a token like a YubiKey? Issue B — Runtime NFC error Separately (even when I can run), I intermittently/consistently get: • NFCError Code=104 (“Tag is not connected”) This occurs after the tag is detected/connected when trying to establish a session or send APDUs. I’ve verified: • No phone case interference • Correct placement • Consistent detection “tick” from the phone for "Ready to Scan" prompt after tapping YubiKey 5C NFC device. If helpful, I can share: • A minimal sample project • The exact entitlements I tried • Console logs around the Code 104 failure Thanks!

Hello. I am attempting to wrap the C library libnfc as a Swift library. This is not for use on macOS - it's mainly for use on Linux (Raspberry Pi). I have a USB reader and my code appears to work so far, however the code/test/debug cycle is suboptimal if I'm running the code on the Pi. As I use a Mac for day-to-day coding, I'd prefer to use Xcode and my Mac for development. MacOS appears to capture the NFC hardware for its own frameworks and attempting to open a connection to the USB device gives a Unable to claim USB interface (Permission denied) error. ioreg shows that the hardware is claimed by an Apple framework: "UsbExclusiveOwner" = "pid 10946, com.apple.ifdbun" Is there a way to temporarily over-ride that system and use the hardware myself? I've tried Googling but most of the replies are out of date and Claude's advice launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.ifdreader.plist doesn't appear to work... I'm wary of disabling SIP - is there a simple way to have access to the hardware myself? Thanks.

Hello, I would like to seek clarification regarding the availability of the NFC Secure Element (SE) / ISO7816 entitlement by region, specifically for Indonesia. I recently contacted Apple Developer Support regarding the use of NFC for reading ISO7816-compatible cards. I was informed that, at this time, the NFC & Secure Element entitlement is not available in Indonesia. For technical planning and compliance purposes, I would like to confirm the following: Is the NFC Secure Element / ISO7816 entitlement currently restricted by region, and is Indonesia officially unsupported at this time? For apps distributed on the App Store in Indonesia, is Core NFC limited to NDEF and non–Secure Element tag reading only? Are there any publicly supported alternatives or recommended architectural approaches for NFC-based workflows in regions where the Secure Element entitlement is unavailable? Is there any public documentation or guidance that outlines regional availability for NFC Secure Element features? I understand that entitlement approvals and availability may vary by region and are handled on a case-by-case basis. Any clarification from Apple engineers or developers with experience in this area would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and assistance. Best regards.

Dear Apple Engineers： My app utilizes the App Clip experience. I would like to prevent the App Clip card from appearing when the host app is running in the foreground. How can this be achieved? I have observed that Alipay (in China) does not display an App Clip card when the device is tapped against a tag while the app is in the foreground, which indicates that this behavior is possible. Thank you for your assistance.

Dear Apple Engineers, I am using NFCNDEFReaderSession to read information from NFC tags. When calling the begin method of the session, a system dialog/popover appears at the bottom of the screen. Is it possible to suppress or disable this dialog? Thank you for your assistance. Here is my demo code： @IBAction func beginScanning(_ sender: Any) { guard NFCNDEFReaderSession.readingAvailable else { let alertController = UIAlertController( title: "Scanning Not Supported", message: "This device doesn't support tag scanning.", preferredStyle: .alert ) alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "OK", style: .default, handler: nil)) self.present(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil) return } session = NFCNDEFReaderSession(delegate: self, queue: nil, invalidateAfterFirstRead: true) session?.alertMessage = "Hold your iPhone near the item to learn more about it. session?.begin() }

Provisioning profile doesn't match the entitlements file's value for the com.apple.developer.nfc.hce.iso7816.select-identifier-prefixes entitlement. Although when we created the request, we added a list of AIDs which is the same as the list registered in Inof.plist <key>com.apple.developer.nfc.hce.iso7816.select-identifier-prefixes</key> <array> <string>XXXXXX</string> <string>XXXXXX</string> <string>XXXXXX</string> </array> How can we get a better message of diffs between them?

We are developing an iOS application that requires NFC-based communication using ISO 7816 / ISO 14443 standards for secure element interaction as part of a card provisioning workflow. We would like clarification on the following points: Is it possible to provision a payment card or securely add a card to an NFC-enabled device using direct ISO 7816 APDU communication via NFCTagReaderSession? If not, is Apple Pay In-App Provisioning (PassKit framework) the only supported approach for enabling contactless payment functionality on iPhone? What specific entitlements are required if the use case involves secure element communication for token provisioning (not bypassing Apple Pay)? We have already requested the relevant NFC entitlements through our Apple Developer account and are awaiting a response. Any guidance on the correct architecture and approval requirements would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your support.

Hi, I’m implementing ePassport reading in an iOS app using a third-party KYC identity verification SDK (the SDK handles the NFC logic internally). Before adding any specific AID, the NFC session would start normally and iOS showed the system popup asking the user to hold the passport near the device. However, the passport was never read , the session just stayed there with no progress or data returned. I then tried enabling the ICAO ePassport AID: A0000002471001 After adding this, the build failed with the following signing error: Provisioning profile "iOS Team Provisioning Profile: com.sandrotbilisi.DigitalCurrency" doesn't include the com.apple.developer.nfc.readersession.iso7816.select-identifiers entitlement. Has anyone encountered this behavior when working with ePassports? Do I need special entitlement approval from Apple for this AID? Thank you.

Is it possible to read a custom, non-payment, ISO7816 AID on a multi-application smartcard that also has an active payment AID? I guess Apple Wallet may auto-detect the payment scheme and open, but this could be prevented if my app was already running in the foreground and scanning for the custom AID?

Hi everyone, I'm looking for clarity on the NFC HCE entitlement process for third-party apps in the EEA. I've built an alternative client for Milan's public transport app (ATM Milano) on Android by reverse engineering the original app. It offers the same core functionality(users still need a valid transit subscription) just with a different UI and better UX. I'd now like to port it to iOS. According to Apple's documentation, NFC HCE was opened to third parties in the EEA starting with iOS 17.4. However, the API requires an entitlement from Apple. I have a few questions: Is the entitlement required regardless of distribution method? Even if I distribute through a third-party marketplace like AltStore PAL rather than the App Store, do I still need Apple to grant the HCE entitlement? Are third-party/alternative clients eligible for the entitlement? My app isn't a competing transit provider, it's an alternative frontend for an existing service. Users must hold a valid subscription with the official provider. Is there anything in the entitlement criteria that would disqualify this kind of app? What's the correct process to apply?Developer Support directed me here, so I'm hoping someone from Apple engineering or someone who has gone through the process can share the steps. Thanks!

We have enabled the Host Card Emulation (HCE) capability for our app and successfully implemented and tested the functionality during development. When running the app directly from Xcode, HCE-related flows work as expected. However, we are observing different behavior in the distributed build. In particular, the following check consistently evaluates to false: guard await CardSession.isEligible else { return } After distributing the app via TestFlight, HCE functionality is not available for external testers. The CardSession.isEligible property always returns false, even when tested on supported devices and in supported regions. We are using the same bundle identifier for both development and distribution builds, and the provisioning profiles include the required capability. Could you please clarify the following: Are there any additional entitlements, approvals, or configuration steps required for HCE to function in TestFlight or distribution builds? Are there known region, device, or account-related restrictions that could cause CardSession.isEligible to return false outside the development environment? Is there any difference in behavior between development-signed and distribution-signed builds for this capability?

Hi, I am trying to build a very simple iOS app in Xcode that starts an NFCNDEFReaderSession when I press a button. My goal right now is only to verify that the NFC reading process starts correctly on a real iPhone. I am not trying to publish the app on the App Store. When I try to start the session, I get this error in the console: -[NFCHardwareManager areFeaturesSupported:outError:]:435 XPC Error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 "The connection to service named com.apple.nfcd.service.corenfc was invalidated: Connection init failed at lookup with error 159 - Sandbox restriction." UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=The connection to service named com.apple.nfcd.service.corenfc was invalidated: Connection init failed at lookup with error 159 - Sandbox restriction.} and then my app reports that NFC is not available on this device. Important details: I added Near Field Communication Tag Reading in Signing & Capabilities. I added the NFC privacy usage description in the target settings. I am using automatic signing. I am not using an Apple Developer Program paid account. I am using a Personal Team / free account. I should also mention that I am not experienced with Swift/iOS development, so I may be missing something basic in the setup. My question is: Is this expected when using a Personal Team / free account, or is there some configuration issue I should still check? I am happy to provide any additional information needed

We are developing a non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet app with the following characteristics: Architecture: Users hold their own private keys at all times (we never custody any assets). The app includes identity credential verification: KYC-verified identity data (Verifiable Credentials / DID-based) is exchanged between the payer's iPhone and a counterparty device for identity verification purposes. NFCTagReaderSession is used only to exchange identity credential data via our proprietary, non-payment ISO 7816 AID with the counterparty device. Cryptocurrency transactions are submitted entirely over the internet (blockchain RPC), completely independent of the NFC session. NFC is NOT used to: Transmit cryptocurrency or payment instructions. Interact with any EMV payment AID or Secure Element. Replace or emulate Apple Pay or any payment card. Jurisdiction & licensing context: The app is being developed by a Japanese company for initial launch in Japan. While this question is posted from an individual Developer account for inquiry purposes, the app itself will be submitted under an appropriate Organization Developer account of the operating company, in compliance with Guideline 3.1.5(a)(ii). We are working with Japanese legal counsel to obtain any applicable Japanese financial-services license (e.g., 電子決済手段・暗号資産サービス仲介業 / Electronic Payment Instruments and Crypto-Asset Service Intermediary Business under the 2023-amended 資金決済法 / Payment Services Act) prior to App Store submission, and a written legal opinion will accompany the submission. We are not seeking to qualify as a 暗号資産交換業 (crypto-asset exchange) or 資金移動業 (funds transfer service operator), as our non-custodial design is intended to fall outside those categories under Japanese law. Question: Under Guideline 3.1.5, does a non-custodial wallet that uses NFCTagReaderSession solely for identity credential data exchange (not for transmitting cryptocurrency or payment instructions over NFC) fall under the "Wallets" sub-category — requiring an Organization Developer account only — or does NFC involvement for identity verification shift it toward a sub-category requiring additional licensing, entitlements, or financial institution credentials?

Hello I am implementing an NFC Reader session in my app, and presenting the bottom sheet works completely fine. However, I am facing an issue with screen rotation. If I rotate the device while the NFC bottom sheet is active, the sheet does not adapt or resize according to the new screen orientation. Is there a way to force the NFC bottom sheet to update its layout or fix this rotation issue?Any help or workarounds would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hello I am experiencing a layout issue where UI components overlap in a bottom sheet during screen rotation while an NFC Reader session is active. The NFC Reader session initializes and displays the bottom sheet properly. However, if the device is rotated while this sheet is on screen, the layout breaks, and elements appear overlapped. I have attached a sample image demonstrating this rendering issue. Is there a known workaround to fix this layout distortion or force a proper layout update during an active NFC session?Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!