With Handoff, you can start a task on one device and complete it on another—say, start an email on your iPad and finish it on your Mac computer’s bigger screen. It works with many Apple apps, like Safari, Mail, FaceTime, and Maps, and some third-party apps, too. You can use it between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and between your Apple Watch and iPhone.
Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® turned on, and you need to be signed in to the same Apple Account on both. When your devices are near each other, you’ll see an icon whenever a task can be handed off.
Before you begin
Before using Handoff between your devices, check that each of these is true:
- Both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® turned on.
- You’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
- Both devices meet minimum system requirements for Handoff.
Using a VPN? Check that its configuration doesn’t prevent local networking, since that may interfere with some Continuity features.
Turn on Handoff
Turn on Handoff on both your iPad and your other Apple device.
- On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity, then turn on Handoff.
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On your Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Click AirPlay & Continuity, then turn on Handoff.
Note: If your Mac has macOS 12.5 or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click General, then select “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.”
Hand off a task between your iPad and other devices
When your devices are near each other, an icon appears whenever a task can be handed off. Just tap or click the Handoff icon to continue working on your other device.
Where the Handoff icon shows up depends on the device:
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On an iPhone: At the bottom of the App Switcher screen.
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On an iPad: At the right end of the Dock.
- On a Mac: Toward the right end of the Dock, if the Dock is at the bottom of the screen. If you set up the Dock to appear on the left or right side of your screen, the Handoff icon appears at the bottom of the Dock.
If Handoff isn’t working
- Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.
- Check that your app supports Handoff. Calendar, Contacts, FaceTime, Keynote, Mail, Maps, Pages, Numbers, Reminders, and Safari, as well as many third-party apps, allow Handoff.
Quick tip: With Handoff on, Universal Clipboard lets you copy and paste text, images, photos, and videos across devices.
See also
- Use Continuity to work across Apple devices
- Copy and paste between iPad and other Apple devices
- Use AirDrop on iPad to send items to nearby Apple devices
