How to enable Ultra Wideband on Android

Main points

• UWB on Android allows precise item tracking and keyless entry for certain cars such as BMWs.
• Enable UWB on most Android phones by toggling the option in Connections under Settings.
• On Samsung phones, turn on UWB in One UI by flipping the Ultra-Wideband switch in the Connections section of Settings.

Ultra-Wideband, or UWB for short, isn’t as well-known as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi when it comes to wireless technology, but if you don’t have it enabled on your Android phone, you probably should. On devices that support it, it enables everything from precise item tracking (including tags like Samsung’s SmartTag2) to keyless entry for certain cars, such as BMW. Here’s how to enable UWB on most Android phones, including specific instructions required for Samsung devices.

How to enable Ultra Wideband on most Android phones

On many phones, UWB should be active by default

If not, you can fix the problem by delving into your phone’s Settings app. Note that because Android phone manufacturers are free to create their own versions of the operating system, menu and button labels may vary. However, the description should usually look like this:

1. Open set up app.
2. Scroll down (if necessary) and select Connect devices.
3. tap Connection preferences.
4. Look for Ultra-wideband/UWB and toggle that option.

Keep in mind that if you have any UWB-based accessories (such as item tags), you will still need to pair them using their specific instructions and possibly configure them in the manufacturer’s application.

How to enable Ultra Wideband on a Samsung phone

Samsung has its own steps

Speaking of alternative versions of Android, Samsung phones use a proprietary interface overlay called One UI. This means that while they have a lot in common with other Android devices, some of the controls are different and can even be confusing. Thankfully, turning on UWB in One UI is a relatively simple process:

1. Open set up app.
2. choose connect.
3. flip ultra wideband switch.

FAQ

Q: How do I know if my phone has UWB?

You can find this feature on many mid-range and high-end phones released in the past few years, as well as some budget models, but you shouldn’t expect to see the label on the box. Instead, you may have to search for the terms “UWB” or “Ultra Wideband” in the settings menu we mentioned, or look them up on the manufacturer’s website. If the technology isn’t pre-listed as a selling point, you’ll want to look for a “Technical Specs” webpage, which should mention UWB under its wireless or connectivity section.

Q: Is there any reason why I should turn off UWB?

There are two possible reasons, the first and most practical one being battery life. UWB consumes very little energy, especially compared to Wi-Fi or 4G/5G cellular networks, but the amount is still non-zero. If you really don’t need to use this feature, you might as well turn it off. Keep in mind that you’ll have to turn it back on again later if you want to connect your phone to a UWB-compatible product (including a vehicle that uses it to unlock).

The second is safety. While UWB itself does not connect to the Internet and has a short range, it can provide extremely precise location data within that range. If someone was able to hack directly into your phone or a cloud service that polls your UWB data, they might be able to identify some of the items you own and where they were last located.

Securing your lock screen and online accounts is more important in this regard, but disabling UWB can limit the damage if a hacker attempt is successful. Enabling UWB should be safe as long as you use strong passwords and passwords, and enable failsafe options like two-factor authentication (2FA). Some businesses and government organizations may force you to disable UWB in their buildings, but if their security measures are so strict, you may know ahead of time that they may not want you using your phone at all.

Q: Which Android phones support Ultra Wideband?

As of March 2024, Google lists the following devices that officially support UWB on this Android developer page: