NFC switched on but Android beam not enabled

[JanideSmith]

I have just purchased the S21 Ultra and am trying to use the NFC to connect a Samsung Buds Pro Smart Cover (Hohoho mandalorian one, purchased from Samsung directly). 

It connects via NFC, and so I have tried and tried and it does not read it. I then decided to test my NFC by holding a card with a chip in it that I know worked on my Samsung note10, and surprise surprise, it didn't pick it up either. 

So far I have tried:

• Emptying the cache for the NFC
• Force stop of NFC
• Restart phone several times
• Soft restart holding side buttons until turns off
• Reset all settings through menu

None have worked. 

I have now downloaded a two NFC check apps, both tell 

me my device is ready to use NFC, but the Android bean is not enabled. Google tells me by having the NFC switched to on, this should automatically be enabled and the S21 no longer has a setting specifically for the Android Beam to be turned on and off. 

Anyone else having this issue no the new S21? Can I fix the Android beam so it is enabled while when my NFC is switched to on? 

[JanideSmith]

Thank you, it is still not working when I try read an NFC tag after doing this.

I've set up my contact less payment, however when I hold any NFC tag on the back of the phone, nothing happens. I have tried this with a credit card that has nfc chip, and the bubs smart cover that has an nfc chip.

For contact when the Samsung buds smart cover is scanned using NFC it is supposed to trigger Samsung Friends which downloads exclusive themes. However, nothing happens and I suspect this is because Samsung beam is not enabled while the NFC is on...

[JanideSmith]

This is using the NFC check app. When I select activate it just takes me to NFC settings, which are already on.

[Protonumus]

Try this

How to use Android, Beam and NFC together.

https://youtu.be/QiSzC1-TCz8

[JanideSmith]

Thanks, but as it mentions in my post, the Samsung S21 does not have a separate option to check Android Beam as on or off . This appears to have been removed for Android 11. The Android Beam is inclusive in the NFC on and off option. So Android Beam should be enabled when NFC is switched on.

However, as the NFC check app shows, when my NFC is turned on, it is registering that the Android Beam is still disabled.

[Protonumus]

IC. Try this

Android's new Nearby Sharing feature replaced the old Android Beam last year, and it makes swapping files or other content between Android devices much easier.

But if you preferred the tap-based mechanics of the old system, we've got a small surprise for you.

Turns out, you can use NFC to bump content between phones with Nearby Sharing just like you could with Android Beam.

Normally, when you open Nearby Sharing, your phone does a blanket broadcast to local devices looking for a target to share things with.

Other devices nearby will see it or not, depending on both your and the target's device visibility settings.

Anyone in range with the right settings can see the notification and accept whatever is being sent.

But you can actually bypass that whole thing and even trigger Nearby Sharing to open on a phone that's set not to show notifications by default.

Just pull up the Nearby Share prompt on your phone and tap it to the back of another device.

So long as both have NFC enabled, the target device will also open Nearby Sharing, regardless of the visibility settings for either phone.

YouTube
https://youtu.be/lfZpr3HULMg

[JanideSmith]

Unfortunately no, this doesn't appear to make a difference. Nearby Sharing is working fine when I check this feature with another phone that is using Nearby share
The NFC itself just isn't reading any NFC tags. Which should be done directly with NFC.

[Protonumus]

I have Budd's.

By any chance have you just opened the lid of the case to connect on Bluetooth, then tap the NFC.

Requires compatible Samsung mobile phone with NFC capability to connect and download Galaxy Friends theme.

[JanideSmith]

I have tried this also, a few times. It's not a phone cover it's the Buds smart cover
I just checked all the system settings for Samsung Galaxy friends and NFC and restarted again. Have also reset all connectivity settings, tried with nothing paired and with my buds paired and wifi on. No luck still.

[JanideSmith]

Yep I have tried that too. I've tried it open, closed, top, bottom, side, cord, and on my Samsung S21 and husbands S10. Doesn't recognise the NFC tag at all. I thought the cover may have been a dud, but the NFC doesn't seem to be picking up the tag in my credit card like my Samsung note 10 used to. Some forums suggest the latest update may have caused issues with NFC so not sure if its the cover, my new phone or the latest update.