Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use Android Beam in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Maybe some of us are confused about the differences between S Beam and Android Beam. FYI, S Beam can be used to transfer files between NFC capable devices which connected in the same Wi-Fi network. While Android Beam can be used to transfer files between NFC capable devices which have Bluetooth feature. Given to this fact, now you can conclude by yourself what the similarities and differences between S Beam and Android Beam.

See also: How to Enable and Use S Beam in the Samsung Galaxy S5 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

If both S Beam and Android Beam features are available in the devices, I do believe that you will choose to use S Beam because it has faster transfer speed than Android Beam. Without intending to compare them or saying which better or worse, I write this post just to share you about Android Beam, which in some cases can be used as an alternative share method when you want to share files to other NFC capable devices but don't have Wi-Fi network to connect together with.


How to enable Android Beam?
Before using this feature, you have to enable it first in both the devices. To make it easier, we'll use Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 as the example.

Enable Android Beam in Samsung Galaxy S5 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. With the Settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the "Connect and share" section and then tap NFC .
4. Enable NFC by sliding the ON/OFF switch located at the top right corner of the screen to the right.
5. Tap Android Beam.
6. Enable Android Beam by sliding the ON/OFF switch located at the top right corner of the screen to the right.

Enable Android Beam in Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. Tap Connections tab.
4. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to NFC to the right to enable this option.
5. Tap NFC.
6. Slide the ON/OFF switch next Android Beam to the right to enable this option.

How to use Android Beam to transfer files?
Once Android Beam in both devices are enabled, then you can use it to beam app content between the devices. As the example, we'll try to send picture, video and contact using Android Beam from the Samsung Galaxy S5 to the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Send picture using Android Beam

1. In the Samsung Galaxy S5, open Gallery app.
2. Tap an album and then tap the required picture to view it.
3. Now, hold Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 together back to back.
4. When you see "Touch to beam" is displayed in your Samsung Galaxy S5 screen, tap everywhere on the screen to start transferring the picture. You're free to separate the devices or not when the Samsung Galaxy S5 is ready to transfer the picture.
5. Bluetooth in both devices will be enabled automatically and the picture will be sent.
6. In the Samsung Galaxy S4, you'll see the notification on the status bar when the picture is completely transferred.

Send video using Android Beam

1. In the Samsung Galaxy S5, open Video player app.
2. Tap the required video to view it.
3. Now, hold Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 together back to back.
4. When you see "Touch to beam" is displayed in your Samsung Galaxy S5 screen, tap everywhere on the screen to start transferring the video. You're free to separate the devices or not when the Samsung Galaxy S5 is ready to transfer the video.
5. Bluetooth in both devices will be enabled automatically and the video will be sent. FYI, it may take more times when you send large sized video.
6. In the Samsung Galaxy S4, you'll see the notification on the status bar when the video is completely transferred.

Send contact using Android Beam

1. In the Samsung Galaxy S5, open Contacts app.
2. Tap the required contact to view its detail.
3. Now, hold Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 together back to back.
4. When you see "Touch to beam" is displayed in your Samsung Galaxy S5 screen, tap everywhere on the screen to start transferring the contact. You're free to separate the devices or not when the Samsung Galaxy S5 is ready to transfer the contact.
5. Bluetooth in both devices will be enabled automatically and the contact will be sent.
6. In the Samsung Galaxy S4, you'll be asked to choose a place to save the contact (They are likely: Device, your active Samsung account, your active Google account).
7. The Contact detail will be displayed in Contacts app in the Samsung Galaxy S4.

As same as S Beam, you can't use Android Beam to beam music due to software limitation. Thus, if you want to share music file on your Samsung Galaxy S5 to other NFC capable devices but you don't have Wi-Fi network to connect together with, then you can do so by using other share method, for instance share the music via Bluetooth.