NFC tags for Creality CFS in SimplyPrint

Got a Creality K2 Plus or K2 Max with a CFS (Creality Filament System)? SimplyPrint lets you read and write NFC tags that work with your CFS - whether you're using official Creality filament or want to make any filament brand work with your multi-material setup.

This article covers everything about using Creality CFS-compatible NFC tags with SimplyPrint. For a general introduction to NFC in 3D printing, hardware options, and step-by-step guides, see our main NFC article.

NFC support in SimplyPrint

SimplyPrint has deep NFC integration across our entire platform - both the web panel and mobile apps for iOS and Android. We support reading and writing NFC tags in multiple formats, allowing you to work with filament from various brands and make your spools work with different printer ecosystems.

What you can do with NFC in SimplyPrint:

• Read NFC tags to instantly identify spools and see their details
• Write NFC tags in various formats - including Creality CFS, plus community standards like OpenSpool and OpenTag
• Link physical spools to their "digital twin" in your filament inventory
• Quickly assign spools to printers by scanning instead of scrolling through lists

How you can read and write NFC:

• Mobile apps (iOS & Android) - most phones have built-in NFC, making this the easiest method
• Desktop USB readers - for those who prefer working from their computer
• Web NFC - some browsers support NFC directly (Android Chrome, for example)

Not all methods work with all tag types though - and that's where it gets a bit tricky. Creality CFS uses a specific tag format (MIFARE Classic) with encryption, which has some limitations we'll cover below.

What can SimplyPrint do with Creality CFS NFC tags?

With SimplyPrint, you can:

1. Write Creality CFS-compatible NFC tags for any filament - stick them on your spools and your CFS will recognize them, even if it's not Creality-branded filament
2. Link existing Creality tags to your SimplyPrint inventory - if you buy Creality Hyper filament that already has NFC tags, connect them to your digital spool library
3. Quickly identify spools by scanning - no more guessing which spool is which when you have dozens of them

Important: What SimplyPrint can and can't do with Creality

Before diving deeper, here's what you need to know about the integration:

What works great

Your CFS will recognize the tags - When you write CFS-format tags via SimplyPrint, your Creality Filament System reads them just like official Creality filament. The printer knows the material type and color, and can apply the right temperature settings.

Full hex color support - Unlike some other standards that limit you to a fixed color palette, Creality CFS supports any hex color. If your spool is "Sunset Orange #FF6B35", that's exactly what gets written to the tag.

Fast spool identification - Scan any tagged spool with your phone (Android) or desktop reader to instantly see which spool it is in SimplyPrint. Way faster than scrolling through your inventory.

What doesn't work (yet)

No automatic sync from the printer - Unlike Bambu Lab AMS, Creality printers don't tell SimplyPrint what filament is loaded. When you put a spool in your CFS, SimplyPrint won't automatically know about it.

You'll need to manually assign spools - After loading filament, you'll still need to tell SimplyPrint which spool is on which printer. The good news? With NFC tags, this takes seconds: scan the tag, tap assign, done.

About the Creality CFS standard

Now let's get into the technical details of how Creality CFS NFC tags work.

The Creality CFS material standard is a proprietary NFC format developed by Creality for their Creality Filament System (CFS). It's more complex than some other standards - using AES encryption and storing more data - but this also means it supports features like weight buckets and full hex colors.

Who made it?

Creality - one of the largest 3D printer manufacturers, known for the Ender series, K1 series, and K2 series printers.

Official documentation

Creality has not published official documentation for their CFS RFID format at the time of writing. The format has been reverse-engineered by the community:

• GitHub (community): https://github.com/Creality-Laser/K2-RFID

What printers use this?

Creality printers that support the CFS (Creality Filament System) multi-material box:

• K2 Plus - flagship with CFS support
• K2 Max - larger build volume with CFS support
• K2 series - various models with CFS compatibility

What data does a Creality CFS tag store?

Creality CFS tags store more information than most other filament NFC standards. Here's what's on each tag:

Data stored on a Creality CFS tag

A note about weight

The CFS format can't store exact weights - instead, it uses fixed weight categories: 250g, 500g, 600g, 750g, and 1kg. When writing a tag, SimplyPrint picks the closest match. For example, if your spool is 800g, we'd use the 750g category.

Supported material types

Creality CFS supports around 56 different material types. However, not all materials work on all CFS units - this depends on firmware version:

Universally compatible materials (work on all CFS firmware versions):

PLA variants:

• Hyper PLA, Generic PLA, PLA Matte, PLA Silk, PLA High-Speed

PETG variants:

• Hyper PETG, Generic PETG, PETG-CF

ABS variants:

• Hyper ABS, Generic ABS, ABS-GF

ASA variants:

• Hyper ASA, Generic ASA

Other:

• TPU, PA (Nylon), PC, PVA, and various composite materials

When writing tags, SimplyPrint shows you which materials are universally compatible vs. firmware-dependent.

Full hex color support

One of the advantages of the Creality CFS format is that it supports any hex color - you're not limited to a predefined palette. Your exact color (e.g., "#FF6B35" for a specific orange) is stored directly on the tag.

This means the CFS can show accurate color representations in its interface, rather than approximating from a limited set.

What NFC tags does it use?

The Creality CFS standard only works with MIFARE Classic 1K tags. This is important - you can't just buy any NFC tag and expect it to work!

There are many different types of NFC tags out there - think of them like different memory card formats. Creality chose to use the "MIFARE Classic 1K" type for their CFS, so that's what you need to buy.

The encryption thing

One thing that makes Creality CFS a bit more complex than some other standards: the data is encrypted before it's written to the tag. This is why you can't just use any random NFC writing app - it would write unencrypted data that your CFS wouldn't understand.

The good news? SimplyPrint handles all of this for you automatically. You don't need to understand encryption or do any manual steps - just scan the tag and we take care of the rest.

Where to buy compatible tags

You'll need MIFARE Classic 1K tags. Here are some options:

• MIFARE Classic 1K tags on Amazon

Affiliate link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Compatible hardware

Because Creality CFS uses MIFARE Classic tags, not all devices can read and write them:

Why no iOS? It's not a SimplyPrint limitation - Apple simply doesn't allow apps to work with MIFARE Classic tags. This is a hardware/software restriction from Apple that affects all apps, not just ours.

Why write Creality CFS tags via SimplyPrint?

So why bother writing CFS tags through SimplyPrint instead of some other tool?

1. Use any filament with your CFS

The main benefit: you can make any filament work with your CFS. Got a great deal on some third-party PETG? Write a CFS tag for it. Your CFS doesn't care where the filament came from - it just reads the tag.

2. We handle the encryption for you

The Creality CFS format uses AES encryption, which can be tricky to implement correctly. SimplyPrint handles all the key derivation and encryption automatically - you just scan and write. No need to mess with hex editors, encryption tools, or Arduino sketches.

3. Keep your inventory in sync

When you write tags via SimplyPrint, the spool is already in your inventory. The tag gets linked automatically, so there's no disconnect between your physical spools and your digital inventory.

4. Smart material matching

SimplyPrint automatically maps your spool's material type to the closest Creality equivalent. We also show you which materials are universally compatible vs. firmware-dependent, so you can make informed choices.

5. Full color preservation

Unlike standards with limited color palettes, Creality CFS stores your exact hex color. SimplyPrint preserves this - if your spool is "Galaxy Purple #7B68EE", that's what gets written.

6. Consistent workflow

Whether you're writing tags for Creality CFS or any other supported standard, the process in SimplyPrint is the same. Learn it once, use it everywhere.

Limitations of the Creality CFS format

No format is perfect. Here's what Creality CFS can't do:

Quick reference

Related articles

• NFC / RFID support in SimplyPrint - Hardware, methods, and step-by-step guides
• The Filament Manager feature - Managing your filament inventory

Updated on: 19/12/2025