After updating to iOS 26, when I try to make contactless payments, the NFC app remains in a waiting state. It doesn't give any error messages, it just waits.
I contacted Apple Support, and they ran a remote hardware diagnosis and found no faulty components. They say it's software-related and I should wait for iOS 26.0.1, but I can't find anyone online with the same problem.
Is it possible they'll fix this problem with iOS 26.0.1?
iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 26
It's not a bank problem as even if I bring an NFC test card close it is not detected (I'm attaching a photo example to help you understand).
[Edited by Moderator]
Finally, someone figured out the problem. It's not an Apple Pay or Wallet issue, but the NFC functionality itself isn't working.
Ready to scan, but then there's no beep (so to speak).
It’s impossible to follow your posts in multiple threads started by other people. Please contact Apple Support in your country or region. No one here will be able to resolve your issue. You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.
If you’re in the US please call 1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada call 1-800-263-3394
Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
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I've already contacted Apple Support, and they performed a remote MRI diagnostic. There's no hardware damage, and they say it's a software issue, most likely from the new iOS 26.
Is it possible that no one in the world is having the same problem as me?
I'm in Italy, I'm not traveling, I don't use a VPN, and my bank is in Italy.
I repeat, NFC doesn't work even when I try to hold an NFC tag (e.g., an NFC card/business card) close to it.
Since I updated to iOS 26, Apple support has ruled out a hardware issue, but they say it's a software problem.
When you bring a card close to your iPhone what action do you expect your iPhone to have? iPhone had one native app that works with NFC and that is Apple Wallet app. Apple Wallet is designed to work with payment transaction terminals, nothing else. What app are you using in conjunction with your NFC business card?
To give you an even better idea, since I updated to iOS 26, if I try to bring my iPhone closer to one of these (see link), nothing happens, while before with iOS 18 everything worked perfectly.
Here's how it worked with iOS 18: I held my smartphone close to an NFC tag and it displayed the banner above (see attached photo). Now, if I try again, nothing happens since I updated to iOS 26.
The photo is a screenshot taken by my brother, also an iPhone 15 Pro but with iOS 18.
[Edited by Moderator]
Well, that’s a start. See the symbol at the right edge of the notification? That’s an app from Google (Alphabet). Please contact the apps support team and ask why their app does not work with iOS 26. This is not an Apple issue.
Okay, it's clear you don't understand the issue. I'll try to be more precise (sorry, I'm using Google Translate for the English translation).
Usually, when you hold an NFC tag close to your iPhone, a detection banner should appear and read the content (in the example, it reads a link, so Google Chrome appears because it's the default browser on my brother's phone; in my case, you'd see Safari).
The contents of NFC tags can be different: URL link, contact, etc.
That said, everything worked perfectly when my iPhone was running iOS 18; since I updated to iOS 26, it no longer works.
Of course I do, the procedure since before the update has not changed :) Honestly I thought it was a hardware problem but then I thought about the last few days, and I remembered that the last time I used it it had iOS 18, and it worked perfectly
It extremely important when troubleshooting like this that you write each step or procedure your performing or we have no way of knowing your following the proper steps.
Does an error message display on the transaction terminal display or your devices display? If so, exactly what is the message?
What device and model and what iOS version are you using?
Apparently, something went awry with the NFC capability of my Iphone 16 promax and watch ultra 2 after the IOS and watch OS 26, I could no longer connect with my gym's treadmill and other NFC-enabled machines (particularly the matrix fitness and life fitness brands).
But shouldn't this apply to all iPhones? I was with a colleague these days and we did several tests. He was always able to pay with Apple Pay using an iPhone 13 and iOS 26.0.1. Then it was my turn, using the same POS terminals but with an iPhone 15 and iOS 26.0.1, and there was no way to get it to work. Nothing changed for him after updating to iOS 26, while Apple Pay no longer works for me.
Thanks JD (Jeff Donald). That did the trick and it now works properly. I would have thought that the installation of the new OS would have done that already, but apparently not. Thank you for your help and counsel.
NFC Apple Pay not working on iOS 26
