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NFC scan won't read my Sticker Tag

You hold your mobile device near a Sticker Tag during Assign Tag to Asset or Activate Sticker Tag, and nothing happens. The app sits on the scan screen.

NFC is off or not present

NFC is required for the Sticker Tag path on iPhone and for the Activate Sticker Tag workflow on iPhone and Android. iPad does not have NFC at all.

  1. On iPhone, NFC is always on for app use — there is no toggle.
  2. On Android, open Settings, search for NFC, and turn it on.
  3. If your Android mobile device has no NFC hardware, the Sticker Tag path is not available. Use Kio Setup Manager on a different device, or activate the Sticker Tag from an iPhone or an NFC-capable Android phone.
  4. On iPad, all tag scans use the QR code on the side of the tag. See You are on iPad below.

Tag not in Device Management inventory

If your mobile device reads the tag but the app shows Tag ID Not Found, the Sticker Tag is not in Device Management inventory.

  1. Open Kio Cloud and go to Device Management.
  2. Confirm the Sticker Tag's MAC or unique ID is in inventory.
  3. If it is not, claim the Order ID from the Kontakt.io packaging or order confirmation email in Device Management. Claiming the order adds all of its devices to inventory.
  4. Return to Kio Entity Manager and scan again.

NFC read returned no MAC

Some Sticker Tags return an empty MAC on the first read. The app prompts with MAC address not scanned and offers two paths.

  1. Tap Scan QR code to switch to the QR fallback. Point the camera at the QR code on the side of the Sticker Tag.
  2. If the QR code is damaged or unreadable, tap Enter MAC manually and type the MAC printed on the tag's label.

Phone is too far from the tag

NFC has a range of a few centimetres. The NFC antenna location varies by phone model — if your mobile device is not positioned correctly, the read fails silently.

  1. On iPhone, hold the top of the back of the phone against the tag.
  2. On Android, the antenna is usually on the back, near the camera. Check your phone's manual if you are not sure.
  3. Keep your mobile device pressed against the Sticker Tag for two to three seconds.
  4. If the read still fails, switch to the QR fallback (iPhone) or use a different device (Android).

You are on iPad

iPads have no NFC reader and cannot scan Sticker Tags by NFC. On iPad, all tag scans use the QR code on the side of the tag.

  1. From the Select Action screen, tap Assign Tag to Asset.
  2. The workflow opens on the Other Tag path. Point the camera at the QR code on the side of the Sticker Tag. The app accepts Sticker Tag models on this path.
  3. To activate a Sticker Tag from iPad, use Kio Setup Manager (which supports QR-based activation) or use an iPhone or Android phone.

If the issue persists

If the scan still does not work after the steps above, report the issue from inside the app. A two-finger swipe left from any screen opens the in-app bug reporter, which attaches app logs and device context to the report automatically.

If you contact Kontakt.io support, include:

  • The Sticker Tag's unique ID, from the label on the tag
  • The mobile device platform (iOS or Android) and model
  • The workflow you were running (Assign Tag to Asset or Activate Sticker Tag)
  • Whether the QR fallback also failed

Submit a support request