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Google’s ‘Tap to Share’ for Android Surfaces in New UI Peek

Early UI assets hint at a modern NFC replacement for Android Beam without a confirmed release plan.

Overview

  • Developers uncovered a new in‑app pop‑up that describes Tap to Share, a proximity feature in testing that aims to send contacts, photos, videos, links, and locations by tapping phones.
  • The instructions in the leaked UI tell users to unlock the phone, overlap the tops of both devices with screens facing up, and wait for a brief glow that signals a connection.
  • The pop‑up includes a troubleshooting tip to hold phones back to back because Android models place the NFC antenna in different spots like near the top or toward the center.
  • Code and UI text suggest Tap to Share may hook into the standard Android share sheet and show Samsung‑styled screens, with hints that Galaxy users can share a vCard contact card.
  • The feature is not working for users yet and Google has not announced timing, with some reports speculating about Android 17 but offering no confirmation.