Use Handoff to continue tasks on your other devices – Apple Support (UK) (2024)

FAQs

How do I Handoff tasks between iPhone and other devices? ›

iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff, then turn on Handoff. Apple Watch: In the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap General and turn on Enable Handoff. Apple Watch supports handing off from your watch to your iPhone or Mac.

With Handoff, you can start something on one Apple device (Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch) and then seamlessly pick it up on another device. For example, start answering an email on your iPhone, then finish it in Mail on your Mac.

Apps that work with Handoff include Safari, Mail, Maps, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, FaceTime* and many third-party apps.

On Apple platforms, Handoff lets users start an activity on one device and seamlessly resume the activity on another device. Provide continuity for users with multiple devices by supporting Handoff in your apps and websites.

With Handoff, you can start something on one device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch) and then pick it up on another device right where you left off. For example, you can start answering an email on your iPad, then finish it in Mail on your Mac.

To use Continuity features, sign in with the same Apple ID on all your devices. In addition, your devices must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth^® turned on, and meet system requirements. See the Apple Support article System requirements for Continuity features on Apple devices.

In mobile communications, handover (or handoff) refers to the process of transferring the current connection from one channel to another, e.g., moving to the coverage area of another base station or interrupted by interference. In satellite communication networks, handover occurs in different links [44].

Apple handles handoffs securely, whether from one device to another, between a native app and a website—even handoffs of large amounts of data.

Mobile-Assisted handoff is generally used when a mobile phone helps a base station to transfer the call to another base station with better-improvised connectivity and more signal strength. This handoff is used in TDMA technique-based GSM devices.

AirDrop usually works well for sending info to your own or even other people's devices, provided that they have the feature enabled. Handoff, on the other hand, works only for devices that are all signed in to the same iCloud account using the same Apple ID.

How do I turn off handoff between devices? ›

On iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff, then turn Handoff on or off. On Apple Watch: Open the Apple Watch app on iPhone, go to My Watch > General, then turn Enable Handoff on or off.

Turn on “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.” Mac with earlier versions of macOS: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click General, then select “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.” iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff, then turn on Handoff.

Network handoff enables true mobility by allowing users to move across locations without any communication disruption. Calls initiated on WiFi can seamlessly switch to cellular networks as the user steps out of office.

Follow these steps to use Handoff. Unlock your iPhone. On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe up from the bottom edge and pause to show the App Switcher. (On an iPhone with a Home button, double-click the Home button to show the App Switcher.)

AirDrop usually works well for sending info to your own or even other people's devices, provided that they have the feature enabled. Handoff, on the other hand, works only for devices that are all signed in to the same iCloud account using the same Apple ID.