Using NFC While Phone is Locked/Off

[partCyborg]

Hiya guys,

I was experimenting with the ‘NFC Tools’ app on my Samsung phone and came across the task automation menu. It immediately caught my interest, and I started testing different uses—like scanning an NFC tag to automatically open Spotify and start playing music.

However, I was disappointed to find that my phone’s NFC reader only works when the device is unlocked and the screen is on. This limits its usability for quick, seamless interactions (for lazy people like me). I know it’s only a couple seconds extra to unlock it, but it would be so great to read tags whilst the phone is off…

I was wondering—has anyone managed to get their phone’s NFC reader to function while:

1. The screen is on but the phone is still locked?
2. The phone is completely off?

Any insights, workarounds, or device-specific tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[amal]

You will have to find a rooted alternative OS in order to enable this. Android used to do allow you to use NFC even while the phone was locked, but this obviously created some security issues and eventually they opted to change things to work the way they do now.

[Pilgrimsmaster]

not much time to reply, I’ll bullet point.

NFC PHONE UNLOCK

• function used to exist, but hasn’t for years (android removed it)
• we all want it back
• it can be done, but requires rooting (last i checked, it still worked, but this may have changed) I can dig out the info later if your Google Foo fails you

NFC TASKS

• NFC tools is great
• Have a look at tasker (App)
• also “routines” on Android / Samsung

@partCyborg

like scanning an NFC tag to automatically open Spotify and start playing music.

I have this set up with NFC stickers for some things and implants for others BUT phone my needs to be unlocked.

Here’s one example, where I open Waze (linked to spotify) in car cradle

A couple of bucks spare? Some things to buy

NDEF capable stickers Dangerousthings.com used to sell “Bulls Eyes” .* cough * probably should do some branded NTAG stickers again @tac0s * cough * [image][image] Go to your favourite online mega store, search for some NTAG stickers NTAG213 should be absolutely fine, Mifare Classic if your phone plays nice with them. [image] They will cost you a couple of bucks, for a bunch of them. Use Tasker, or NFC tools etc, Set yourself up an NFC task to make your life just a little easier. I ten…

Here’s something I did a while ago (I didn’t post my final version) but youll get the idea from the P.O.C

@partCyborg

workarounds

LF Phone Unlock - Failed - Kind of

A quick and dirty project description So my plan was to build an LF RFID reader into my phone case, for login and password etc. With a T5577 chip, this can be changed easily and as frequently as I choose, especially in the situation of a password compromise. I like a low profile phone case, so I needed a small form factor reader, I chose this [image] ~ USD $8 They make an HF version and an LF version, that look identical The also come with a micro and Type C adapter The plan was somethin…

[Hamspiced]

This is a good start for you to look into

https://xdaforums.com/t/module-nfc-screen-off-jon8rfc.4667435/

[Equipter]

locked & screen off isn’t something i imagine you’ll be able to achieve even with an alternate OS because that would be a needless waste of battery to be continually polling wake-up commands, it needs at least SOME indication the user wants to interact.

iphone (i know, unrelated) allows for the duty cycle of the nfc poller to begin once the screen is tapped awake, even when locked. the full shortcuts > automations feature set is available while locked excluding actions that would require the phone to be unlocked IE entering into an app, having an app run an exposed function without needing to be unlocked (IE spotify play song) can be done.

i’m not aware of any rooted android versions that have noted having a similar ability (while also retaining the automations) but rAND isn’t something i can say i’ve dipped more than a toe into.