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    Apple Handoff: Pick Up Where You Left Off on Any Apple Device

    Start writing an email on your iPhone and finish it on your Mac without missing a beat. Apple Handoff makes this possible automatically.

    4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Turn on Handoff on your iPhone or iPad

    ~17s
    Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap "General." Then tap "AirPlay & Handoff." You will see a toggle switch labeled "Handoff." Make sure it is turned on (green). If it is already green, Handoff is already enabled on this device.
    2

    Turn on Handoff on your Mac

    ~25s
    Click the Apple menu (the apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen) and choose "System Settings." In the left sidebar, click "General." Then click "AirDrop & Handoff." Make sure the "Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices" checkbox is checked.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Make sure your Mac and iPhone are signed into the same Apple ID. On iPhone, check Settings > [your name]. On Mac, check System Settings > Apple ID.

    3

    Make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on

    ~19s
    Handoff uses Bluetooth to detect nearby devices. On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, and make sure the Bluetooth icon is not crossed out. On Mac, click the menu bar area and check that Bluetooth shows "On." Both devices should also be connected to Wi-Fi (ideally the same network).
    4

    Use Handoff from iPhone to Mac

    ~24s
    Open Mail, Safari, or Notes on your iPhone and start doing something — for example, begin composing an email. On your Mac, look at the bottom of the Dock — you will see a small icon appear for the app you are using on your iPhone, with a tiny iPhone symbol on it. Click that icon in the Dock to open the same thing on your Mac and continue where you left off.
    5

    Use Handoff from Mac to iPhone

    ~30s
    Start doing something on your Mac — for example, open a webpage in Safari. On your iPhone, go to the Home screen or App Switcher. At the bottom of the screen, a small banner will appear showing the app name and a "Continue" button. Tap it to open the same content on your iPhone. On older iPhones, the Handoff icon appears at the very bottom of the App Switcher.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: If you do not see the Handoff suggestion appear, try moving the devices closer together and making sure both have Bluetooth on.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: Apple Handoff: Pick Up Where You Left Off on Any Apple Device

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Apple Handoff is a feature that lets you start something on one Apple device and pick it up on another — without any extra steps. For example, you could start writing an email on your iPhone during breakfast and then, when you sit down at your Mac, click one button to continue writing the same email right where you left off.

    Handoff works with many built-in Apple apps including Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes, Maps, Reminders, Calendar, and FaceTime. Some third-party apps support it too. The feature works automatically as long as your devices are set up correctly.

    For Handoff to work, all of your devices need to be signed into the same Apple ID (iCloud account), have Bluetooth turned on, and be physically close to each other — usually within about 30 feet. They also need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, though in practice Bluetooth does most of the work.

    The idea behind Handoff is that your work follows you, not the other way around. If you are reading an article in Safari on your iPad and then pick up your iPhone, you do not need to find the same page again — Handoff offers to open it for you instantly.

    Handoff was introduced in 2014 and is supported on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches running current versions of their operating systems. This guide shows you how to turn it on and how to use it day to day.

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    Official Resources

    Apple Support — iPhoneGoogle Help — AndroidSamsung Support

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    Apple Handoff: Pick Up Where You Left Off on Any Apple Device — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure