Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Share Media Files Using Nearby Devices Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy S5 has some features that will let you share files with others, one of which is the nearby devices feature. This feature lets you share your media files (photos, videos and music) with other nearby devices that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network so that they can access or download your media files.

How to share media files using the nearby devices feature?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Connect and share section and then tap Nearby devices .
3. If Nearby devices is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on. You'll see this icon is displayed on the status bar as a sign that the nearby devices feature is enabled.
4. If needed, you can select which media files you want to share with by tapping Shared contents and then select Videos, Photos or Music and then tap OK button to save the changes.
5. Now, other nearby devices that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network can access or download media files that you have chosen to be shared. As the example, if the nearby device is a Samsung Galaxy S phone then your shared photos can be accessed from the Gallery app in that device.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Set SD Card as the Default Storage of the Nearby Devices Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

As we all know that you can use the nearby devices feature in your Samsung Galaxy S5 to download shared photos or videos from a nearby device into your phone, in condition that that device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network with you. By default, the downloaded files will be saved in the Download folder in the device storage. But, if needed, you can set your phone to save downloaded files to the Download folder in your SD card by setting the SD card as the default storage of the nearby devices feature so that the free space in your internal storage won't run out quickly.

How to set SD card as the default storage of the nearby devices feature?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Connect and share section and then tap Nearby devices .
3. If Nearby devices is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on. You'll see this icon is displayed on the status bar as a sign that the nearby devices feature is enabled.
4. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
5. Tap Download to and then select SD card.
6. Your SD card has been set as the default storage of the nearby devices feature.
7. From now on, all media files that are downloaded using the nearby devices feature will be saved in the Download folder in your SD card.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Play Shared Music Using Nearby Devices Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Nearby devices is a content sharing feature available in Samsung Galaxy S5 that will let you share or access media files with other nearby devices that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. One of the media files that can be accessed using this feature is music files. When the nearby devices feature in your phone is enabled, you can access shared music in a nearby device and play it directly from your phone.

How to enable the nearby devices feature?
Before you can play shared music in a nearby device, you have to enable the nearby devices feature in your phone first by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Connect and share section and then tap Nearby devices .
3. If Nearby devices is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on.
4. The nearby devices feature has been enabled and you'll see this icon is displayed on the status bar.

How to play shared music in a nearby device?
If you have enabled the nearby devices feature in your phone and there's a nearby device available that is connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can play shared music from that device directly from your phone by using the following steps:

1. Open the stock Music Player app.
2. Swipe the menus at the top of the screen from the right to the left to find the Devices tab, and then tap it.
3. All available nearby devices will be listed in the Nearby devices section.
4. Tap the required device you want to play its music files.
5. All shared music from the selected device will be displayed here.
6. Tap the required song you want to play.
7. While playing the music, you can use the controller at the bottom of the screen to control the music playback, e.g: play/pause/resume/rewind/forward the music, etc.

As a note, the stock Music Player app doesn't let you download shared music files from other nearby devices due to software limitation.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Watch or Download Shared Videos Using Nearby Devices Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Watching or downloading shared videos in a nearby device is a thing that you can do when the nearby devices feature in your phone is enabled. This content sharing feature will work if both your phone and the nearby device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

How to enable the nearby devices feature?
Before you can watch or download shared videos in a nearby device, you have to enable the nearby devices feature in your phone first by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Connect and share section and then tap Nearby devices .
3. If Nearby devices is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on.
4. The nearby devices feature has been enabled and you'll see this icon is displayed on the status bar.

How to watch or download shared videos in a nearby device?
If you have enabled the nearby devices feature in your phone and there's a nearby device available that is connected to the same Wi-Fi network, then you can watch or download shared videos from that device by using the following steps:

1. Open the stock Video Player app.
2. Tap the Devices tab.
3. All available nearby devices will be listed in the Nearby devices section.
4. Tap the required device you want to watch or download its videos.
5. All shared videos from the selected device will be displayed here. To download shared videos go to the step #6, while to watch shared videos only go to the step #7.
6. To download shared videos from the selected device into your phone, do as follows:
• Tap at the top right or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then tap Select.
• Select the required videos you want to download.
• Tap at the top of the screen to download the selected videos into your phone. By default, the downloaded files will be saved in the Download folder in the device storage and listed in the stock Video Player app.
7. To only watch shared videos from the selected device without downloading, do as follows:
• Tap the required video to play the video.
• While watching the video, you can use the controllers at the bottom of the screen to control the video playback, e.g: play/pause/resume/rewind/forward the video, etc.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Access or Download Shared Photos Using Nearby Devices Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Nearby devices is a content sharing feature available in Samsung Galaxy S5. When this feature is enabled, you can access or download shared photos in other nearby devices that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

How to enable the nearby devices feature?
Before you can access or download shared photos in a nearby device, you have to enable the nearby devices feature in your phone first by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Connect and share section and then tap Nearby devices .
3. If Nearby devices is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on.
4. The nearby devices feature has been enabled and this icon will be displayed on the status bar.

How to access or download shared photos in a nearby device?
When you have enabled the nearby devices feature in your phone and there's a nearby device available that shares the photos and is connected to the same Wi-Fi network, then you can access or download shared photos from that device by using the following steps:

1. Open the stock Gallery app.
2. Tap at the top left corner of the screen to open up the menus.
3. All available nearby devices will be listed in the Nearby devices section.
4. Tap the required device that you want to access or download its photos. 
5. All shared photos from the selected device will be displayed here. To download shared photos go to the step #6, while to view shared photos only go to the step #7.
6. If you wish to download some shared photos from the selected device into your phone, do as follows:
• Tap at the top right or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then tap Select.
• Select the required photos you want to download.
• Tap at the top of the screen to download the selected photos into your phone. By default, the downloaded files will be saved in the Download folder in the device storage, or you can see the downloaded photos in the Download album in the stock Gallery app.
7. If you wish to only view shared photos from the selected device without downloading, do as follows:
• Tap the required photo to view it in full screen.
• Swipe the screen from the left to the right or vice versa to view other shared photos.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change the Device Name in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

The name listed in the device name option will be displayed in other devices to represent your device when you need to connect your phone to transfer files using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi direct, or when you need to connect your phone to share media file using the nearby devices feature. Since Samsung Galaxy S5 uses its name as the default device name which is too general then you may need to change the device name to a more personal or unique so that others can easily recognize your device from its name. Using a unique name can also prevent the other devices from accidentally sending files or share media files to the wrong device.

How to change the device name?
You can use the following steps to change the name for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct and the nearby devices at once:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to then System section and then tap About device .
3. Tap Device name.
4. Enter the required device name you want to use. It'd better if you use a unique name that will make others can easily recognize that it's your device.
5. Tap OK button to save the changes.
6. The device name has been changed and the name will be used for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct and nearby devices features.

As a note, you can also change the device name from the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct and nearby devices menus by utilizing the rename device option that can be found when you long press the recent apps key or tap the three dot icon at the top right of the screen.