How to Enable Android Beam on Xiaomi MIUI 13: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners who have upgraded to the MIUI 13 shell often face the inability to find the usual fast data function. Users search the Android Beam settings menu to exchange contacts or touch photos, but face an empty search result. This is not a device error or a firmware failure, but a conscious decision by the developers of the Android operating system.

Since Android 10, Google has announced that it will no longer support Android Beam, replaced by more modern and faster technologies such as Nearby Share and Quick Share. However, many people have remained in the habit of using proven methods, and the question of how to return this feature or how to replace it on current Xiaomi devices remains extremely relevant.

In this article, we will discuss in detail why this option disappeared, what are the technical limitations in MIUI 13, and how to properly configure alternative tools for instant file transfer, how to activate the necessary communication modules and what security settings can block the operation of wireless interfaces.

Why Android Beam is Missing in MIUI 13

Disappearance of Android Beam feature in Xiaomi shell settings MIUI 13 is driven by global changes in the architecture of the mobile operating system, and Google engineers have recognized the technology as obsolete because it was based on a slow data transfer protocol through the Internet. NFC, It was often not able to transfer large files, but it was rarely faster than a few hundred kilobytes per second. 4K-video RAW-The photos have become a critical flaw.

V MIUI 13 system components responsible for Beam are completely cut from the firmware code at the kernel level of the system. Even if the user tries to find hidden menus through the engineering mode or third-party launchers, activating the function will not lead to the desired result. The system simply does not contain the necessary drivers and services to handle data requests through the NFC-map-emulation.

⚠️ Warning: Attempts to install older versions of system applications or modify the system partition to return Android Beam can lead to unstable work NFC-module and block payment function.

Android security standards require more stringent access control. NFC-Android Beam had vulnerabilities that allowed attackers to initiate the transmission of malicious links simply by being near the device. MIUI 13 Priority is given to technologies that require explicit user confirmation and use more secure communication channels, such as Wi-Fi Direct.

Activation of NFC module on Xiaomi

While the classic Beam is not available, the base NFC (Near Field Communication) module in Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 13 works well and is necessary for contactless payment and tag reading. To get started with wireless interfaces, you need to make sure that the module itself is activated in the system. Without NFC enabled, none of the alternative data transfer functions will work.

To activate the module, go to the Settings menu and select Connect and Sharing. From the list that opens, find the NFC and switch to the active position. On some models, such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 or Redmi Note 11 Pro, this item may be in the top menu Additional Features.

• 📱 Make sure that in the settings NFC mode of operation HCE-Your wallet if you plan to use your phone to pay.
• 🔒 Check if the application Security blocks the operation of wireless modules in the background.
• 📡 For quick activation, you can use the notification curtain, adding a widget there. NFC.

Once the module is enabled, the system can suggest that you choose the default payment app, which is a critical step because it determines which card emulator you use when you bring your smartphone to the terminal. MIUI 13 often chooses Google Pay or the Mi Wallet system wallet by default.

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If the NFC switch is gray and inactive, check if the flight mode is on, and rebooting the device often resolves software driver conflicts.

Alternatives: Nearby Share and Quick Share

Instead of remote Android Beam, MIUI 13 has Nearby Share technology integrated by default, which uses a combination of Bluetooth to detect devices and Wi-Fi Direct for high-speed file transfer, and can transfer speeds of up to 30-40 MB/s, which is ten times faster than the old Beam.

To transfer a file through Nearby Share, you don’t need to perform complex pairings: just open a gallery, select a photo or video, click Share and select the Proximity icon. The smartphone will automatically scan the space and offer a list of available Xiaomi devices or Android smartphones nearby.

Google is also working with Samsung and other manufacturers to promote Quick Share, which is an evolution of Nearby Share. In the latest MIUI 13 updates, these features can be combined. The main advantage is cross-platform: you can easily transfer files between Xiaomi, Samsung and other brands without installing third-party apps.

⚠️ Attention: Nearby Share must enable Bluetooth and geolocation on both devices. Without location permission, device search will not start.

Set up Mi Share for the Xiaomi ecosystem

For users who are inside the Xiaomi ecosystem, the most effective tool remains Mi Share.It is the company’s proprietary technology, optimized specifically for the MIUI 13 shell.It provides the best connection stability and maximum transfer speed between devices of the same brand, for example, between Xiaomi 12 and Redmi Note 11.

To set up Mi Share, open the control panel (swipe down from the top right corner) and make sure that Mi Share and Bluetooth buttons are activated. In the feature settings, you can set the visible device name and limit the number of people who can send you files (for example, “Contacts Only” or “All”). This is an important aspect of digital hygiene.

The Mi Share process is almost instantaneous. When you send a large video file, the system automatically creates a secure communication channel, the recipient will see a pop-up requesting acceptance of the file, and after confirmation, download will begin, which can continue even when the screen is off, since the process is controlled by low-level system services.

Comparison of data transmission methods

Understanding the differences between available technologies will help you choose the best way to communicate in a particular situation. Each technology has its own advantages and limitations in speed, range and compatibility with other devices.

As you can see from the table, Android Beam is irrevocably behind the current standards. Even regular Bluetooth in some scenarios can be faster when transferring small text files, although it requires pairing. Mi Share and Nearby Share are the no-holds-barred leaders for multimedia transfer.

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Use Mi Share to transfer files between Xiaomi and Nearby Share devices to share with other Android brands.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, MIUI 13 users may experience problems transferring files, often not seeing each other, or the transmission is cut off in the middle, which may be due to the aggressive energy savings that characterize Xiaomi’s shell.

If Mi Share or Nearby Share doesn’t work, try resetting your network settings. Go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth. This action won’t delete your personal data, but will return network configurations to factory values, which often solves the problem of getting stuck discovery services.

Also worth checking for permissions for system applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Mi Share or Google Play Services and make sure they are allowed to run in the background and have access to the Always location. Without that, the system can "kill" the process of finding devices to save battery life.