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    Use Handoff and Copy-Paste Between iPhone and Mac

    Apple's Handoff lets you start something on your iPhone and pick it up on your Mac — and Universal Clipboard lets you copy on one device and paste on another.

    3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026

    1. Step 1. Enable Handoff

      On iPhone/iPad: SettingsGeneralAirPlay & Handoff → turn on "Handoff." On Mac: System SettingsGeneral → turn on "Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices." Make sure Bluetooth is on on both devices.

    2. Step 2. Use Handoff from iPhone to Mac

      Start using a supported app on your iPhone (like Safari, Mail, or Notes). On your Mac, look at the Dock. You will see a small icon at the far right of the Dock showing the app you are using on your iPhone. Click that icon to open the app and continue right where you left off.

      Quick Tip

      The Handoff icon in the Dock appears automatically when your iPhone is nearby and you are actively using a compatible app.

    3. Step 3. Use Handoff from Mac to iPhone

      Start something on your Mac in a compatible app. On your iPhone, the app icon appears on the lock screen or in the App Switcher (swipe up and hold). Tap it to continue on your iPhone. For example, start an email on Mac, see it appear on your iPhone, and finish typing it while away from your desk.

    4. Step 4. Use Universal Clipboard

      On your iPhone, copy any text, link, image, or photo as you normally would (press and hold → Copy). Within about 2 minutes, go to your Mac and paste (Command + V). The content you copied on your iPhone appears. It also works the other direction — copy on Mac, paste on iPhone.

      Quick Tip

      Quick Tip: Universal Clipboard works in reverse too — copy a phone number from your Mac and paste it directly into your iPhone's phone dialer.

    5. Step 5. Troubleshoot if it is not working

      If Handoff or Universal Clipboard is not working: confirm both devices are signed into the same Apple ID (Settings → your name on iPhone; Apple menuSystem SettingsApple ID on Mac). Make sure both have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. Make sure Handoff is toggled on in Settings on both devices. Restart both devices if needed.

    Apple devices that are signed into the same Apple ID can work together in smooth ways through a set of features called Continuity. Two of the most useful are Handoff and Universal Clipboard.

    Handoff lets you start a task on one device and right away continue it on another. For example: start reading an email on your iPhone while walking to your desk, then pick up right where you left off on your Mac without having to find the same email. Or start writing a note on your Mac, then continue writing it on your iPhone while on the couch.

    Apps that support Handoff: Mail, Messages, Safari, Notes, Maps, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, FaceTime, and many third-party apps like Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

    Universal Clipboard is even simpler: copy something on your iPhone (text, a link, a photo) and then paste it on your Mac — or vice versa. The clipboard stays synced between devices for about 2 minutes.

    Real-world example: you see a long website address on your iPhone, copy it, walk to your Mac, and paste it directly into your browser — no need to email it to yourself or type it out.

    Requirements: Both devices signed into the same Apple ID, Bluetooth on, Wi-Fi on, Handoff enabled. Works with iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

    Official sources

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