Samsung NFC tags offer one of the simplest ways to speed up everyday tasks on a compatible handset. NFC is a smartphone feature that rarely receives the attention it deserves. It is not as attention-grabbing as UWB, nor as fundamental as Wi-Fi, yet it quietly powers some of the most useful tools for cutting through daily routine.
A batch of spare NFC tags, originally bought for an unrelated Android Auto automation project, found a new purpose when paired with Samsung software. With tags stuck to various spots around a home and car, plus Samsung’s Modes and Routines app boosted by the Routines+ Good Lock module, a simple tap of the phone can trigger a whole sequence of actions. A dose of imagination, trial and error, and ideas gathered online helped shape the results.
Why NFC tags are worth a second look
There are a few prerequisites for this kind of project. You will need some spare NFC tags. They do not need to store information, as they act purely as triggers here. You will also need a Samsung phone. In theory, any Android device with an automation tool such as Tasker or MacroDroid could work, but that falls outside the scope of this guide.
So why NFC tags? They are remarkably cheap. A pack of 10 can be picked up for roughly £5, which represents excellent value given the range of possible uses. In the United States, a stack of 50 costs a little under £7.
While some Android apps can use NFC to trigger actions, Modes and Routines takes this ability considerably further. Setting an NFC tag as a trigger allows a series of sequential tasks to run automatically, tasks that would otherwise need to be started by hand. That translates into minutes saved with every use.
Some of these routines are integral to starting the morning, quite literally, while others simply offload a little mental stress, freeing up attention for other jobs and preparations. Most recipes are fairly straightforward. They can be used as they are, tweaked to suit individual needs, or expanded with extra functionality.
How to create new routines on your Samsung phone
Finding the Modes and Routines app on a Samsung phone is straightforward. Open Settings, then Modes and Routines, then the Routines tab, and tap the plus icon to create a new routine.
Next, tap the plus under If, scroll down to NFC tagged, tap it, and scan the NFC tag. The routine will then use that specific tag as its trigger. Once that is done, return to the plus under the Then section to build the sequence of actions the tap will perform.
With just a handful of inexpensive tags and the right software, a Samsung phone can turn a quick tap into a chain of automated tasks across the home and car.
