NFC on Huawei Honor: how to connect, configure and use NFC

About technology

If we decipher the abbreviation word for word, we get the phrase “wireless communication”.

This technology sends and receives information messages at ten-centimeter distances, maintaining complete confidentiality. It recently entered the Russian market, gaining popularity in the manufacture of mobile devices. The microscopic NFS chip is installed in every modern smartphone model.

The technology is promising and has a wide field of activity for use. The chip is used to pay for goods and services, travel on public transport, open electronic locks, and control smart systems. But the payment application has become most widespread in the financial field.

Information is exchanged over the air; you just need to bring your smartphone closer to the scanning element of the terminal: today almost every store has compatible equipment installed. The chip imitates the data of a bank card linked to the Android Pay or Huawei Pay application. In addition to mobile phones, installation is possible in rings, bracelets and key fobs used for making payments.

The advantages of the technology are:

• saving time. Information exchange occurs within a few seconds;
• ease of use. A wallet with cash, bank and other cards successfully replaces an Honor mobile phone with an NFS module;
• safety. Transactions are carried out over short distances, not exceeding ten centimeters. This minimizes the risk of interception of banking information by unauthorized persons. When making a money transfer in an amount exceeding one thousand Russian rubles, the PIN code of the payment card is entered for additional confirmation. The plastic information is encrypted using a security protocol by the Huawei Pay application.

Note that not every mobile phone model is equipped with a chip that supports the transfer of information over a distance.

If finances do not allow you to purchase a new mobile device, buy an antenna or an external NFS tag for a reasonable price, and change the SIM card. Using special applications, the user is able to program the chip with the necessary functions.

What is NFC in Honor and Huawei smartphones

NFC technology stands for Near Field Communication. If we translate this phrase into Russian, we get the following: “short-range contactless communication.” The option allows you to exchange data over a short distance (up to 10 cm) without the risk of information interception or data loss. The NFC function is installed on many modern smartphones, including Honor devices.

Unlike Bluetooth, the new technology works faster and provides communication with a second device within a split second. The presence of an option in a smartphone allows you to use it as:

• means of payment;
• bonus card;
• means of identification;
• travel document;
• key, etc.

Today, the technology is used not only in mobile phones for payment, but also in a number of other areas. With its help, you can book and sell tickets, pay for travel, transfer money for parking, etc.

When considering what NFC is in Huawei and Honor phones, it is important to remember not only the functionality, but also the basic parameters of the device. Characteristics:

• maximum range of action - 10 cm;
• module operating frequency - 13.56 MHz;
• information transmission speed - from 106 to 848 Kbps.

Despite the wide range of possibilities, most users of Honor smartphones and other devices use NFC as a means of payment after linking to bank cards.

How to check if it is in the device?

To check whether the Honor 7A Pro or another smartphone has NFC, use the methods below:

• inspect the mobile phone - those equipped with a chip have a corresponding logo on the back cover;
• Remove the cover of the phone - there is an NFC sticker inside. But today, modern phones are made in a unibody case with a built-in battery;
• turn on the phone, go to settings, find the “wireless access” tab. If NFS is preinstalled, then a button to activate will appear in front of you;
• open the desktop, scroll down, find the “quick access” function, there is an indicator displaying the status of the chip;
• check the labels on the packaging, read the smartphone’s instruction manual - the technical specifications are indicated there. If the accompanying documentation is lost, look for information on the Internet;
• In addition to the options described, use mobile applications to find out whether an NFC antenna is installed in your smartphone and where it is located.

After making sure that your mobile phone is equipped with the required chip, make the payment through the Huawei Pay utility.

Where else can you use NFC?

The main direction is contactless payment. You can't go anywhere without her today. Almost all shops, food and entertainment establishments, and service industries have terminals. The modern line of such terminals has a radio module that accepts payments from smartphones without any problems. For this reason, users buy separate phone models. But this is not the only bonus.

Data transfer

Bluetooth fades into the background compared to NFS. This modern technology is much faster and has a higher degree of protection for transmitted content. Contacts, photos, links, notes, points on the map are transferred in a few seconds. In this case, you and the recipient will only need to click on the screen once. The system itself finds everything and establishes a connection.

But there is one peculiarity. This type is not suitable for large volume transfers. Then NFS is used only for connection. For the exchange itself, wi-fi or Bluetooth will be used.

Scanning and programming tags

Another useful function associated with the technology is the use of special tags. These are small objects that can be attached to any surface or carried with you (in pockets, backpack). Tags are automatically scanned by your phone, but you need to create them first.

The general algorithm of actions is as follows:

• The user buys a tag.
• Through special software, it is configured (that is, the actions that the phone will perform when approaching the mark are prescribed). As an example, the phone automatically switches to silent mode.
• The tag (physical media) is placed where it is needed in accordance with the functions that it will perform.

For example, using this function, you can program a tag to put your phone into silent mode, and then place it on your desktop. After this, every time the phone is near the tag, no one will be able to disturb the user. At the same time, after finishing work, the phone will automatically return to normal mode.

Which models have this function?

The technology is relatively new, and therefore chips that support contactless money transfers have begun to be installed on the latest models. The 2022 list looked like this:

• Huawei P9 and P10 (with Lite and Plus versions);
• Honor model range from 6X (7X), 8 Lite (Pro), 9, 10 Lite;
• Huawei Nova, Prime;
• the entire P 20 line;
• NFS is also used in the Huawei Nova 2I phone;
• NFC chip is built into the new Huawei P Smart model;
• The NFC module is provided on Huawei P30 Lite;
• The NFC function is available on the Honor 7C 32 GB smartphone.

The NFC function is not supported on Huawei Y5, Huawei Y6, but it is provided on the Huawei Honor Band.

How to activate?

There are two ways to activate NFS on an Honor smartphone.

First: go into the settings, go to the “device connection” section, find the position with the “NFS” function, move the slider to o, save the changes made.

Second: pull down the curtain of the notification panel, find the label indicating the desired module, click on it, wait until the color of the sign changes to make sure it is activated.

The actions of one of the methods are quite enough for the service to work and allow the user to read the tags.

Possible difficulties

Sometimes NFS on Honor phone may not work. To fix the problem, as a rule, you need to:

• Enable the function in the settings;
• Unlock your device. When the screen is locked, the module will be disabled;
• Bring Huawei or Honor closer to the payment terminal. You can pay via NFS even by leaning your smartphone close to the signal receiving unit;
• Check if airplane mode is enabled, which deactivates all wireless technologies;
• Make sure that there is enough amount on the card to make the payment.

If none of the methods help, you need to restart your smartphone. As a rule, difficulties using NFC on an Honor phone are associated with software glitches, incorrect settings, and the module itself rarely fails.

NFC is an option that allows you to use a Huawei or Honor smartphone not only for its intended purpose, but will also relieve the owner from the need to carry a wallet with bank cards; just open the payment application on Android and lean the back panel of the device against the payment terminal.

Linking a card

Let's look at how to connect a bank card. To do this, go to the previously downloaded application, press the key responsible for connecting a payment card valid in Russia. Enter the necessary details - number, validity period and CVC card, your personal data. We confirm the completion of actions via SMS message.

This connection procedure is used for plastic products of all financial institutions in the country, from Sberbank to small banks in remote regions. Having linked the card, the user only needs to activate the payment function and perform contactless transactions.

Possible problems and their solutions

If you use contactless payment, problems arise. However, do not forget that the solution is simple, so Honor 8A owners do not have to worry about quickly getting rid of the payment problem.

Sometimes an error occurs during payment, the smartphone owner installs the application, authorizes the cards, and goes to the store. But the card gives an error, in this case there is a problem with the NFS connection. Some phone users forget that the module is connected and configured. If you do not do this, the payment in the store will not go through.

There is also a problem when there are no funds in the account, which happens more often. Some phone owners who use virtual cards go to the store but forget to look at their account balance. Before making a purchase, you need to make sure in advance that there are enough funds on your balance, then the problem will be solved immediately.

Sometimes problems arise with terminals; in this case, sometimes you carry a plastic bank card or cash with you to pay for goods or services. If you take care in advance, the owner of a phone with contactless payment will quickly solve the problems.

How to use the function?

To use a connected and activated function:

1. bring your mobile device closer to the payment terminal;
2. wait for the checkmark to appear on the display indicating a successfully completed transaction;
3. pick up a payment check;
4. to read a tag, just hold your phone close to it and wait a bit for the connection and receiving information;
5. if the transfer is carried out from one gadget to another, the distance between the devices should not exceed ten centimeters.

During the transfer of information, it is prohibited to remove phones from their places.

Deactivating a module

For the NFS chip to stop functioning, you must:

• enter “settings”;
• go to the section that contains the necessary technology;
• switch the slider to o;
• Click on the button that saves the changes.

You are allowed to use the top curtain. The steps are the same as for turning it on, there are no special features. But an unlit icon means that the NFS chip is disabled.

The plastic card is unlinked through the application, removing unnecessary data on the plastic product in it.