Apple’s Handoff feature, which I previously mentioned in Mac Hot Tips #1, enables you to easily continue where you left off as you switch from one device to another. Among Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, this works with apps that you have installed on more than one device.

Handoff is an example of how Apple has designed its software platforms to be flexible. It’s one of the features Apple includes as part of Continuity.

Simply open an app on one device and then look at another where the same app is installed. You’ll likely find the app icon as well as a the name and/or superimposed glyph of the first device.

Prerequisites

Like AirPlay, Handoff uses Bluetooth to detect local devices, and the two features share a settings panel. A single toggle enables Handoff.

Additionally, the capability requires that devices be signed into the same Apple ID and, technically, that they have Wi-Fi enabled (though an active Wi-Fi network connection is not necessary).

In my limited testing, I’ve found that when Bluetooth is enabled on all devices but iPhone/iPad Wi-Fi is off, the Handoff banner still appears and functions on those devices. I’ve sent Apple feedback to find out what the story is with this inconsistency.

Of course, some kind of data connection is required to sync/load the content associated with the source — assuming it is not already downloaded on the destination. (Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are definitely required on Mac.)

Handoff to Another Device

In each case that you click a Handoff app icon, you switch to the specific item open in that app on the source device. This truly enables you to continue where you left off. The feature works in the following ways:

  • On Mac, Handoff appears in both the app switcher and the Dock (top right and middle right, respectively). On the Dock, the icon is the last app before the divider that separates apps from other items and the Trash. In the app switcher, it shows up on the far left.
  • On iPhone, Handoff only appears in the app switcher (left), where you’ll see the Hand banner at the bottom of the screen.
  • On iPad, Handoff only appears in the Dock (bottom right). Like the Mac, the icon is the right-most app icon.
  • With Apple Watch, you can only hand off from Watch to Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Variety of Apps

Many apps installed on more than one device work with Handoff. These include Mail, Messages, Notes, Contacts, Calendar, Phone/FaceTime, and more.

Additionally, web browsers may function agnostically, depending on having Handoff support. That is, suppose you visit a website in any browser on one device. On Mac, your default browser will consistently appear for Handoff, where as on iPhone and iPad, a browser app must support Handoff. If it doesn’t, Safari will open the available webpage.

For example, as shown above, a website loaded on my iPhone (which happens to be in Safari) is available to hand off to my Mac, where my default browser is Arc.

Do you use Handoff? How does it help you the most? Sound off in the comments below…

Even if you don’t already use an application on more than one device, Handoff may help you discover that you can easily hop over and pick up where you left off. Perhaps you’ll increase your productivity when you start using that app in multiple places.