HomeKit Weekly: How to create NFC automations for HomeKit using Shortcuts and $1 tags
NFC tags offer a faster and more reliable alternative to the Home app or Siri for controlling HomeKit devices, costing less than $1 per automation. The author walks through creating NFC automations in the Shortcuts app (rather than the Home app) by scanning a physical tag and linking it to HomeKit scenes or accessories, then demonstrates practical use cases like silently triggering a bedroom lamp or white noise machines without unlocking your phone or waiting for app sync delays. Since NFC tags work with all existing HomeKit accessories, they function essentially as portable physical switches controlled by tapping your iPhone.