12. NFC Hive Tags

NFC (Near Field Communication) tags are small stickers containing a programmable chip. Attach one to each hive box and tap it with your phone to open that hive in Bee Inspector instantly — no searching, no scrolling.

12.1 Compatible Hardware

iPhone 7 or later, iOS 13 or later. Hold the top of the phone near the tag.
Most modern Android phones with NFC enabled. Hold the middle or back of the phone near the tag.
Not available on web.
NTAG215 chips recommended — widely available online, typically sold in packs of 10–50.

12.2 Programming a Tag

Bee Inspector reads NFC tags — it does not write them. Use a free NFC writing app to program each tag before attaching it.

Download a free NFC writing app:

NFC Tools by wakdev (iOS and Android)
NFC TagWriter by NXP (iOS and Android)
Simply NFC (iOS only)

Open the app and choose to write a new record.
Select Text as the record type.
Type the hive name exactly as it appears in Bee Inspector — for example: Hive 1. The match is case-sensitive.
Hold the tag near your phone and tap Write.
Attach the programmed tag to the hive box — weatherproof cases are available if the tag will be exposed to rain.

12.3 Scanning a Tag in the Apiary

From the Bee Inspector home screen, tap the NFC button in the top right corner.
Hold your phone near the hive tag.
The app reads the hive name and navigates directly to that hive's detail screen.

info

Note: The hive name on the tag must match exactly what you named the hive in the app. If you rename a hive, re-program the tag with the new name.

12.4 Troubleshooting NFC

Problem	Solution
Tag not detected on iPhone	NFC requires iPhone 7 or later. Hold the top of the phone (near the camera) against the tag. Remove thick cases.
Tag not detected on Android	Check that NFC is enabled: Settings → Connected devices → NFC. Hold the middle or back of the phone against the tag. Remove cases that may block the signal.
Wrong hive opens	The hive name on the tag does not match exactly. Re-program the tag with the correct name (case-sensitive).
No hive found for tag	The name on the tag does not match any hive in your account. Check spelling and capitalization.