Read NFC using ACR122U on M1 Mac

Outline

1. Install PC/SC Driver
2. Install a library
3. Install Python module, py-acr122u, not nfcpy
4. Connect to USB
5. Put NFC card
6. Connect from Python

Environment

• Macbook Air M1
• macOS 26.2
• Python 3.13.5

Procedure

1. Install PC/SC Driver

2. Install a library

   brew install pcsc-lite
   

3. Install Python module

   • nfcpy does not work
   • Use py-acr122u instead

   python3 -m venv myvenv
   source myvenv/bin/activate
   pip install py-acr122u
   

4. Connect to USB

5. Put NFC card

6. Connect from Python

   from py_acr122u import nfc
   
    reader = nfc.Reader()
    reader.connect()
    uid = reader.get_uid()
    reader.print_data(uid)
    reader.info()
   

   You may see an erro something like this if NFC is not on reader.

   py_acr122u.error.NoCommunication: The reader has been deleted and no communication is now possible. Smartcard error code : 0x7FEFFF97
   Hint: try to connect a card to the reader