NFC while locked on S8 plus

[C LaBelle]

I would like to use the NFC feature on my S8 plus however it appears NFC only works while the phone is unlocked. Is there a way to change this? I read a few things about flashing files and other things. I understand the security issue with NFC working when the phone is locked. I would like to place a tag near my door at the house and use it to turn my wifi on and off when I come and go but unlocking the phone kind of defeats the automation the NFC provides.

 

[SpookDroid]

Like you said, unless you root and 'hack' the OS, you can't get this to work. NFC will work, but any action will require you to unlock the phone. So you can either live with the extra step of unlocking your phone, or just get an automation app like Tasker or IFTTT, where you can set location-aware rules. It won't be as 'precise' as the tag since it will rely on GPS coordinates, but at least you won't have to unlock your phone.

 

[C LaBelle]

I will try those apps out, thank you for the recommendation. I can only hope that one day phone manufacturers will realize that automation is the way to go.

 

[SpookDroid]

I will try those apps out, thank you for the recommendation. I can only hope that one day phone manufacturers will realize that automation is the way to go.

Unfortunately security trumps automation. For your case, it seems leaving your phone out of the equation is the way to go: install a remote control for your router outlet near your door (or if you're handy with electrical work, wire that outlet to a switch near your door). Turn off when you leave, turn on when you get home.

 

[C LaBelle]

Unfortunately security trumps automation. For your case, it seems leaving your phone out of the equation is the way to go: install a remote control for your router outlet near your door (or if you're handy with electrical work, wire that outlet to a switch near your door). Turn off when you leave, turn on when you get home.

I want to turn the wifi on my phone off when I leave the house to save battery. Not turn off my wifi network, that would just be annoying.

 

[C LaBelle]

Unfortunately security trumps automation. For your case, it seems leaving your phone out of the equation is the way to go: install a remote control for your router outlet near your door (or if you're handy with electrical work, wire that outlet to a switch near your door). Turn off when you leave, turn on when you get home.

I want to turn the wifi on my phone off when I leave the house to save battery. Not turn off my wifi network, that would just be annoying.

 

[SpookDroid]

Well, I feel stupid now hahaha Of course, how could I have thought you wanted your home WiFi on/off??!! hahaha Sorry, I'm really sorry.

If you go to your phone's Settings, in the Lock Screen and Security menu, Secure Lock Settings section... is the Lock network and security switch flipped off? If not, WiFi won't be able to be turned off without unlocking your phone to avoid it being turned off in the event it gets lost/stolen. BUT you can disable that. You won't be able to launch apps, but you'll be able to switch features on/off without unlocking.

 

[Norg]

I want to turn the wifi on my phone off when I leave the house to save battery. Not turn off my wifi network, that would just be annoying.

My old LG G5 had some auto settings which allowed me to do this. Worked really well.

 

[Paul109]

NFC worked fine on my s8+ while locked, can say the same for my note 8 as well. I usually only use it for small purchases though

 

[C LaBelle]

Well, I feel stupid now hahaha Of course, how could I have thought you wanted your home WiFi on/off??!! hahaha Sorry, I'm really sorry.

If you go to your phone's Settings, in the Lock Screen and Security menu, Secure Lock Settings section... is the Lock network and security switch flipped off? If not, WiFi won't be able to be turned off without unlocking your phone to avoid it being turned off in the event it gets lost/stolen. BUT you can disable that. You won't be able to launch apps, but you'll be able to switch features on/off without unlocking.

Haha no worries. Well that was a helpful suggestion, at least it's only one step now, thank you for that.

 

[SpookDroid]

NFC worked fine on my s8+ while locked, can say the same for my note 8 as well. I usually only use it for small purchases though

NFC can work unlocked, but when a tag pushes an automated task, since it's asking for an extra-action, you need to unlock your phone. Same thing with purchases (ish)... you don't necessarily unlock the phone, but you have to authenticate to pay (and Samsung Pay will only be on the lockscreen if configured to be...if not, NFC payment would prompt you to unlock your phone first, THEN authenticate on SPay).

 

[C LaBelle]

NFC can work unlocked, but when a tag pushes an automated task, since it's asking for an extra-action, you need to unlock your phone. Same thing with purchases (ish)... you don't necessarily unlock the phone, but you have to authenticate to pay (and Samsung Pay will only be on the lockscreen if configured to be...if not, NFC payment would prompt you to unlock your phone first, THEN authenticate on SPay).

When I hold it up to my "WiFi Toggle" written NFC tag I get absolutely nothing, no prompt to unlock or anything, which from what I've read is because the NFC chip is not powered when the phone is locked.

 

[SpookDroid]

Mmm... not sure if that's correct or not. Android Beam works with the phone unlocked. Yes, it asks you to unlock to continue the transfer, but it activates with the active NFC Tag.

Some phones even have NFC tags as trusted devices for Smart Lock, but unfortunately Samsung did not include that option on their devices.

 

[SpookDroid]

Mmm... not sure if that's correct or not. Android Beam works with the phone unlocked. Yes, it asks you to unlock to continue the transfer, but it activates with the active NFC Tag.

Some phones even have NFC tags as trusted devices for Smart Lock, but unfortunately Samsung did not include that option on their devices.

Edit: You're right, just saw that you need to root and modify the NFC state to 'on-power' as opposed to the standard Android 'after-unlock'. My bad