Playable Necklace Compatibility

How to Play Your Soundwave Necklace

Every playable Soundwave Art™ necklace includes a built-in NFC chip that lets you hear your recording again with a compatible smartphone. This guide explains which phones are compatible and how to scan your necklace.

Where do I tap my phone?

The black pearl inlay on the back of your necklace conceals the NFC chip and serves as the intended tap point. While some phones may also detect the chip through the front, the back is designed to provide the most consistent experience. H old the back of the pendant up to your phone in the location of your NFC reader (will vary by phone, but most of the time they are on the back near the top, sometimes in the corner).

Looking for more information about playable necklaces? You may find these guides helpful:

PHONE COMPATIBILITY

iPhone

All iPhones from the iPhone 7 onward have NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities, enabling them to scan NFC chips. However, iPhones from the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR models onwards have native background NFC tag reading capabilities, meaning they can read NFC tags without needing to open a specific app. Earlier models like the iPhone 7 and 8 may require an app to read NFC tags.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:

These models have NFC capabilities and can read NFC tags, but require a third-party app, like Blue Bite's app, to initiate the scan.

iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X:

Similar to the iPhone 7, these models also require an app to scan NFC tags.

iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR:
iPhone 15 Pro Max – some users have reported that it works best when the charm is placed on the front, where the front-facing camera is.

These models introduced native background NFC tag reading, meaning they can scan NFC tags without an app.

iPhone 11 and newer:

 All subsequent iPhone models have native NFC tag-reading capabilities.

Having trouble scanning your pendant?

Tap the very top edge of your iPhone (near the camera) directly against the charm
Tap the front of the charm (clear side with the soundwave)
Hold it there briefly—sometimes it takes a moment to trigger
Make sure your phone is awake/unlocked
Remove your phone case if needed

If you haven’t restarted your phone in a while, it may also be worth trying a quick restart—occasionally, that can help reset background features like NFC.

Android:

All Android versions since Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) have supported NFC. NFC functionality is typically enabled by default, but users can also manage it through their device's settings.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Android 2.3.3 and later:

Android devices have included NFC hardware and software support since this version.

Enabling NFC:

While often enabled by default, users can typically find the NFC toggle in their device's settings under "Connected devices" or similar.

NFC and Android Beam:

Android Beam, a feature for transferring data via NFC, is closely related to NFC functionality. It's often automatically enabled when NFC is turned on, but users can also manage it separately.

Secure NFC:

Android 10 introduced "Secure NFC," which allows for off-host NFC card emulation to be enabled only when the device is unlocked.

Having trouble scanning your pendant?

Make sure NFC is turned on (Settings → Connections → NFC)
Tap the back of your phone (usually near the center or upper area) directly against the charm
Tap the front of the charm (clear side with the soundwave)
Hold it there briefly—don’t just tap quickly
Make sure your phone is awake/unlocked
Remove your phone case if needed

If you haven’t restarted your phone in a while, it may also be worth trying a quick restart—occasionally, that can help reset background features like NFC.

Google Pixel

All Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 3 onwards can scan NFC tags. This includes the Pixel 3, 3a, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 series, as well as their XL and a-series variants.

To use NFC on a Pixel phone:

Enable NFC: Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > NFC and ensure it’s toggled on.
Position the phone: Place the back of your phone near the NFC tag or reader.
Interact with the tag: The phone will automatically read the tag and launch the corresponding action or app.

Having trouble scanning your pendant?

Make sure NFC is turned on (Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → NFC)
Tap the back of your phone near the camera directly against the charm
Start with the front of the charm (clear side with the soundwave)
Hold it there briefly—don’t just tap quickly
Make sure your phone is awake/unlocked
Remove your phone case if needed

If you haven’t restarted your phone in a while, it may also be worth trying a quick restart—occasionally, that can help reset background features like NFC.

Windows phones

Not supported. Compatibility is limited and may not reliably scan NFC tags.