Get Started with NFC Tags in Smart Home Automations

How to use NFC tags to trigger smart home automations, including how to set them up, when it makes sense to use them, their limitations, and how to manage notifications.
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📘 CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
01:14 - Creating an NFC automation
03:47 - Testing an NFC automation
04:35 - When to use NFC
05:37 - Limitations of NFC
06:34 - Managing NFC notifications
07:28 - Final Thoughts
🧑‍💻 GEAR
NFC Tags - 50 Pieces, White with Stickers - amzn.to/3SIJLZP
🎬 FILMING
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Laptop - 2023 14" MacBook Pro, M3 Pro, 18GB Memory, 1TB SSD: amzn.to/48sKBzi
Video Editing - DaVinci Resolve (Free Version): tinyurl.com/3hksxnxx
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👤 ABOUT ME
I'm Michael Leen, a lifelong tech enthusiast in the United States who believes technology is a tool that should help - not hinder - our productivity. I produce weekly video content on KZbin spanning smart home automation, mobile devices, and other tech tools to help us lead more productive lives.

[@michaelsleen]

Let me know what kinds of home automations you are using with NFC tags, or ones that you would like to see. 👉 Click here to see my smart home gear: tinyurl.com/fvn5rna8

[@SnowyPe]

Very neat automation.. Thanks

[@Spractral]

Good video man. Right to the point, practical and advice and, maybe most importantly, no distracting lo fi beats music (or ANY music.. like we have on EVERY DAMN VIDEO THESE DAYS). It really is refreshing having videos that don't vye for your attention.

[@simonsayshomeassistant]

Hey mate, great video! Great to see a new creator, just subscribed!

[@michaelsleen]

Hey Simon, thanks for the sub and for the encouragement!

[@lawrencemanning]

I’d love to see a solution to NFC that doesn’t involve a phone. Like maybe a little battery powered zigbee reader. That way you turn it around and carry different tags on a key ring and wave them at the reader to run automations.

[@michaelsleen]

My phone is second most likely device to be with me, after my watch. I wish Apple would open up the Apple Watch NFC to allow for home automation use cases, and not limit it to Apple Pay.

[@Spractral]

​@@michaelsleenHave you tried any other devices though? I haven't powered up my pixel watch in over 6 months because the battery is so bad that it's just not worth it to me, but I think it has NFC.. I figure it will be able to use with home assistant which would be cool

[@sypreme]

Hi, can this also work with android and google home?

[@michaelsleen]

For Android, you'll want to use an app called Tasker. It is not as user-friendly as the Shortcuts app in iOS.

[@sypreme]

@@michaelsleen It supports Google Home/Assistant?

[@michaelsleen]

I'm less familiar with Tasker, but I know people use it on Android for their NFC automations.

[@gashead2]

Can you do the same with Alexa please?

[@michaelsleen]

You can use NFC tags with Alexa by enabling an Alexa skill called URL Routine Trigger. You then have to visit the website www.virtualsmarthome.xyz/url_routine_trigger/ and provide your Amazon login credentials. I do not know the trustworthiness of this site to be providing them my Amazon login.