# Clocking in with NFC tags

Put NFC stickers at your store so staff clock in by tapping their phone on one — set them up on the web, tap to punch on iPhone or Android, and troubleshoot.

For: Admins, Managers, Employees · On: Web, iOS, Android · [Help Center](https://www.mays.app/help) › [Time clock](https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock) · Last updated October 2, 2026 · Mays Team

Stick an NFC tag by the register or the back door, and staff clock in by tapping their phone on it. It proves they were at the store — and you can make it the only way to clock in from a phone.

**Plan:** part of Scheduling (Pro plan). You need NFC stickers (NTAG213 or larger) and a free app that writes NFC tags, such as NFC Tools.

## Set up a tag (managers and admins)

1. On the web, go to **Locations & Users → Locations** → the location → **Scheduling** tab → **NFC punch tags**.
2. Click **Add tag**, name it after where the sticker will go (for example *Front register*), and click **Create**.
3. The next window shows the tag's link and a QR code. **This is the only time the link is shown**, so write it to the sticker now: in NFC Tools, write the link as a URL and hold the sticker to your phone. Or open NFC Tools on another phone, scan the QR code, tap **Write** and hold the sticker to that phone.
4. Click **Done** and put the sticker where staff can reach it.

![The tag-created window: "Front register" tag created, This is the only time this URL is shown — write it to the sticker now, a QR code, the tag's link with a copy button, instructions for writing it with NFC Tools, and Done](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__nfc-tag-clock-in__01-tag-created.b6ba2c4cb3.png)

Each tag in the list shows **Active** or **Deactivated** and when it was last used to clock in or out.

![The NFC punch tags card: the explanation that tapping a sticker opens the Mays app on the punch screen — required for clocking in on a phone when Mobile punching is NFC tap required, and recorded as extra proof of presence in every other mode (on clock-out too) — the Add tag button, and one tag, Front register, Active, Last used Sep 24](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__nfc-tag-clock-in__02-tag-list.a77f34b633.png)

**Make tags required** by setting **Mobile punching** to **NFC tap required** on the same tab — then a phone can only clock in by tapping a tag; breaks and clocking out still work on the phone as usual. Otherwise tags are optional, and a tag punch shows **NFC tag** as its source on the timesheet. See [Punch verification and geofencing](https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock/punch-verification-and-geofence).

**With Kiosk only**, a tag doesn't clock anyone in. Tapping it shows that the location clocks in at the kiosk, with no **Clock in** button. People already clocked in still get **Start break**, **End break** and **Clock out** on it.

**Rename or turn off a tag** with the **⋮** menu: **Rename** or **Deactivate**. Deactivate asks you to confirm; the sticker then stops working until you turn it back on. A deactivated tag's **⋮** menu has **Reactivate** (the same sticker works again) and **Delete**, which also asks first and is for good — to use that spot again, add a new tag and write it to a sticker. Punches a tag already verified are kept either way. If every tag is deactivated and taps are required, nobody can clock in from a phone until one is active again; people already clocked in can still take breaks and clock out.

**Treat the link like a key.** Anyone who has it can open the punch screen for your store. If a sticker's link gets copied or shared, delete that tag and make a new one — reactivating it would bring the same link back.

## Clock in with a tag (staff)

You need the Mays app installed and to be signed in.

1. **iPhone:** unlock your phone and hold the top of it near the tag. Tap the notification that appears to open Mays. **Android:** make sure NFC is on, then hold the back of your phone to the tag. The first time, if your phone asks which app to use, choose **Mays** and **Always**.
2. Mays opens a punch screen with the store's name. The tap alone doesn't clock you in — tap **Clock in** (or **Start break**, **End break** or **Clock out**).
3. You see **Done** and you're back on the **Schedule** tab.

![The tag's punch screen in the app: South, Not clocked in and a green Clock in button, with Close at the top](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__nfc-tag-clock-in__03-tag-punch-screen.1bfb60376d.png)

- The punch is recorded at **the tag's store**, even if you work at several locations.
- **Store clocks in only on the kiosk?** In Kiosk only mode, tapping the store's tag shows *South clocks in at the kiosk.* and *Use the kiosk tablet to clock in.* with a **Done** button instead of **Clock in**. If you're already clocked in, the screen still offers your break and **Clock out**.
- You can also start a break from this screen, on iPhone and Android. (Older Android versions offer one button — **Clock in**, **End break** or **Clock out** — so update the Mays app, or start breaks from the **Schedule** tab.)
- Not signed in? Sign in when the app asks (on iPhone it says *NFC tag detected — log in to punch*); the punch screen opens afterwards.
- On a slow connection the button says *Still working — slow connection…* — wait for **Done** rather than tapping again.

### If the tag opens a web page instead

If the Mays app isn't installed, or your phone opens the link in the browser, you see **Open the Mays app to punch in**. This page doesn't clock you in. Tap **Already have the app? Open in Mays**, or **Get the Mays app** to install it.

![The web page a tag opens without the app: Open the Mays app to punch in, Already have the app? Open in Mays, a note for Android to choose Mays and tap Always, Get the Mays app, App Store and Google Play buttons, and a tip to ask a manager or use the kiosk](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__nfc-tag-clock-in__04-fallback-page.d53c2d2a48.png)

### Messages you might see

| Message | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| *This NFC tag is turned off or no longer exists. Ask a manager to check it.* | The tag was deactivated or deleted, or its link is wrong. Tell your manager. On Android, **Retry** looks the tag up again — for example once your manager has reactivated it. |
| *Location outside your scope.* | The tag belongs to a store you aren't assigned to. |
| *South clocks in at the kiosk.* | Your store clocks in only on its kiosk (Kiosk only). Use the kiosk tablet. You can still take breaks and clock out on your phone. |
| *Mobile punching is off for this location — use the kiosk.* | Your store clocks in only on its kiosk — the setting changed after the punch screen opened, or your Mays app needs an update. Use the kiosk. |
| *Your session expired — log in and tap the tag again.* | Sign in to the app again, then tap the tag. |

## Troubleshooting on iPhone: Diagnostics

If tapping a tag doesn't open the punch screen, open **Profile → Diagnostics**. The **Deep-link trace** lists the last 20 tag and link events the app received — the time, how it arrived, a shortened link, and what happened (for example *received*, *holding until login* or *presented*).

![Diagnostics in the app: Deep-link trace, the last 20 NFC / link events this app received, a Copy and a Clear button, and two events — the link received and the punch screen presented](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__nfc-tag-clock-in__05-diagnostics.b580a627f2.png)

Tap **Copy** and paste it into a message to support. **Clear** empties the list. No events at all after a tap means the phone never passed the tag to Mays — check the app is installed and the sticker was written with the link from step 3. Android doesn't have this screen.

## Good to know

- **Location check:** a tag punch still goes through the location's geofence, so someone far away with a copied link is flagged or blocked when their phone shares its location.
- **"Last used"** changes when someone clocks in or out from the tag's punch screen.
- **Use a few tags** at big stores (front and back door) so nobody queues.

## Related articles

- Time clock: [Punch verification and geofencing](https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock/punch-verification-and-geofence) — Decide whether staff can clock in from their own phone, only after tapping an NFC tag, or only on the kiosk — and flag or block punches made away from the store.
- Time clock: [Clocking in and out on your phone](https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock/clock-in-on-your-phone) — Clock in and out, and take breaks, from the Schedule tab of the Mays app — plus what the messages mean when the app won't let you clock in.
- Time clock: [Shared kiosk devices and PINs](https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock/kiosk-mode) — Turn a store tablet or phone into a shared kiosk where staff sign in with a 4-digit PIN to clock in, take breaks and do their tasks — and manage kiosks from the web.
- Time clock: [Grace periods, rounding and auto-approval](https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock/time-clock-rules) — Set a location's grace period, rounding, auto-approval, early clock-in and no-shift rules, and have forgotten punches closed automatically at a set time.
- Mobile apps: [Installing the Mays apps](https://www.mays.app/help/mobile-apps/install-the-apps) — Get the Mays app on iPhone, iPad or Android — where to download it, which phones it runs on, what it asks permission for, and how to sign in the first time.

## Still need help?

Send us a support request and a real person on the Mays team will get back to you.

[Contact support](https://www.mays.app/contact?topic=support) · [Call +1 (561) 286-3939](tel:+15612863939)

Canonical: https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock/nfc-tag-clock-in