Handoff is part of Apple Continuity. It lets you start an email, website, document, note, or other supported task on one Apple device and continue on another without sending the file to yourself.
This applies to supported Macs, iPhones, and iPads signed in with the same Apple Account with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
Does This Affect You?
Use Handoff if you often begin something on iPhone or iPad and want the same task to appear on your Mac, or the other way around.
Turn On Handoff
- On Mac, open System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff.
- Turn on Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
- On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff.
- Turn on Handoff.
- Confirm all devices use the same Apple Account and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
Use Handoff
- Start a supported task on one device, such as opening a Safari page on iPhone.
- On Mac, look at the end of the Dock for the app’s Handoff icon.
- Click the icon to continue on the Mac.
- To move from Mac to iPhone, open the app switcher on iPhone and tap the Handoff banner or icon.
- Try built-in apps such as Safari, Mail, Maps, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Third-party apps work only if they support Handoff.
Fix Handoff When It Does Not Appear
- Confirm both devices use the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication.
- Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices and keep them near each other.
- Check that the Mac supports Continuity features; very old Macs may not.
- Toggle Handoff off and back on for both devices.
- Restart both devices if the icon still does not show.
- Temporarily disable Personal Hotspot if it seems to interfere.
Handoff Notes
Icons Disappear Automatically
If a Handoff icon appears for something you do not want to continue, ignore it. It goes away after a short time.
No Per-App Toggle
macOS provides a main Handoff switch rather than individual controls for every app.
Universal Clipboard Is Different
Universal Clipboard copies text, images, or files on one Apple device and pastes on another. It uses similar Apple Account, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth requirements, but it is not the same feature as Handoff.
Sources
- Apple Support: Use Handoff to continue tasks on other devices
- Apple Support: Continuity system requirements
- Apple Support: If Handoff is not working on your Mac