How do you copy the content of one tag to another?
Read the source tag, save its content, then write that content to the target. Any tool that reads and writes can do it. What transfers is the content and nothing else: the identifier stays factory fixed, the configuration is not copied, and the lock state does not follow.
The operation
Read the source tag and export or note what it contains. Take the target tag, confirm it has enough free space and is not locked, and write the same content to it.
That is genuinely all of it. There is no special copy mode required and no relationship established between the two tags: you are reading bytes from one and writing equivalent bytes to another.
What transfers and what does not
| Element | Copied | Why |
|---|---|---|
| NDEF content | Yes | This is what you are writing |
| Record types | Yes | Part of the content structure |
| Identifier | No | Factory programmed and read only |
| Configuration | No | Lives outside the content area |
| Password | No | Chip configuration, set separately |
| Lock state | No | Set by an action, not by content |
| Mirroring setting | No | Configuration, must be set on the target |
The table explains most surprises. A copy that behaves differently from its source usually differs in something from the lower half rather than in the content.
When this is what you want
Replacing a damaged tag with one holding the same content. Duplicating a personal tag so the same routine works in two rooms. Making spares before a deployment. Recovering from a tag that is failing but still readable.
All of these are copies of your own content onto your own tags, which is the only situation this operation genuinely serves.
Verifying the copy
Read the new tag and compare, rather than assuming the write reported success.
Check the record count, the record types and the content. A copy that produced one record where the source had two, or a text record where the source had a URI record, will read fine and behave differently.
Then test the behaviour, not just the content. Tap both tags and confirm they do the same thing, which catches the differences the content comparison misses.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a special copying tool?
No. Any tool that reads a tag and writes to one can do it, since a copy is simply a read followed by a write with the same content.
Can I copy from a locked tag?
Yes. Locking prevents writing to that tag, not reading from it, so a locked tag is a perfectly good source.
Will the copy have the same identifier?
No. Every tag has its own factory identifier and a standard tag will never accept a different one. Anything relying on the identifier will not follow the copy.
Can I copy to a tag with less memory?
Only if the content fits. Check the free space on the target first, since a write that does not fit will fail or, with a poor tool, leave a partial message.