- Sidecar Extend your desktop. Sidecar lets you extend your workspace by using your iPad.
- Note: To use Handoff, you need an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the Lightning or USB-C connector and iOS 8 (or later) or iPadOS installed.Make sure your MacBook Air, iOS device, or iPadOS device have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and are signed in with the same Apple ID.
Turn OFF WiFi & Bluetooth and Turn them ON again. You need to turn ON WiFi & Bluetooth on your.
Handoff is a pretty nifty feature that allows Apple users to easily share files and execute tasks on multiple devices, synchronously and asynchronously. Think of it as an intuitive, real-time exchange medium between devices in the Apple ecosystem. Handoff is usable in multiple ways. You can open a webpage on your Mac and continue reading it on your iPad. I use Universal Clipboard for copying content from my iPhone to paste it on my Mac. Sometimes, things aren't that straightforward.
You see, Handoff almost always works. But there are instances when users cannot perform any Handoff-related on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac for some known and unknown reasons. In this guide, we outline some troubleshooting checks that can help to fix Handoff snafus on Mac.
Before you proceed, we recommend that you restart your Mac and see if it helps. You should also restart the device(s) you want to handoff content to (or from).
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Read More1. Re-Enable Handoff on Mac
Let's start by checking that your Mac is configured to communicate with other devices via Handoff.
Step 1: Launch System Preferences and select General.
Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the menu and ensure that the 'Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices' option is checked.
You can uncheck the option, close the System Preferences window, and follow Step #1 - Step #2 to re-enable Handoff. Afterward, try using the Handoff-related features that didn't work earlier and see if they now function correctly.
2. Enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Handoff is designed to work with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled before file exchange or transfer can occur. Your Mac doesn't have to be connected to the internet, though. Just leave Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled. That's all.
If Bluetooth is disabled on your Mac, tap the Bluetooth icon in the Status menu and select 'Turn Bluetooth On.' Do the same for Wi-Fi: tap the Wi-Fi icon in the Status menu and select 'Turn Wi-Fi On.'
If the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi icons aren't on your Mac's Status menu bar, you can turn them on from System Preferences. Go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and tap the 'Turn Bluetooth On' button.
For Wi-Fi, go to System Preferences > Network and tap the 'Turn Wi-Fi On' button.
3. Check Apple ID
For Handoff to work as a data synchronization tunnel, the devices involved must be connected to the same Apple ID. That's one of the most important prerequisites. If Handoff, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi are all enabled, but texts from your iPad's clipboard aren't synced with your Mac, or Safari webpages aren't handed off to your iPhone, ensure that the Apple IDs on the devices match.
Follow the steps below to check your Mac's Apple ID details.
For macOS Mojave or Earlier
Step 1: Launch System Preferences and select iCloud.
You'd find the Apple ID account information at the top-left corner of the page.
Step 2: If the account is different from that on the other device, tap the Sign Out button to disconnect the Apple ID from your Mac.
For macOS Catalina or Newer
Step 1: Launch System Preferences and select Apple ID.
The Apple ID account connected to your Mac will be at the right-hand section of the page.
If the account corresponds with the one on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, proceed to the next troubleshooting check (method #3). Otherwise, remove the Apple ID from your Mac and sign in to the corresponding account.
Step 2: Tap Overview to open the account management menu.
Step 3: Tap Sign Out.
4. Check System Requirements
There's no way to use and enjoy Handoff if your Mac doesn't meet Apple's continuity system requirements. If you don't see a Handoff option in your device's Settings menu, it doesn't support Handoff. The minimum operating system requirement for Handoff on Mac is OS X Yosemite (or later). You'd have to perform a macOS upgrade if your Mac is running anything below the requirement. In the same vein, ensure other devices also meet their specified continuity requirements—iPad and iPhone (iOS 8 or later) and Apple Watch (watchOS 1.0 or later).
If you cannot upgrade your Mac (or don't want to), you should check out this detailed guide on enable Handoff on older and unsupported Macs.
5. Check App Compatibility
Although many apps developed by Apple are compatible with Handoff, some third-party apps do not support the feature. If your Mac doesn't pick up data from an app on your iPad, iPhone, or Apple Watch, perhaps the app doesn't support Handoff yet. To confirm, check the app's description page on the App Store or the developer's website. Safari, Reminders, Maps, Mail, and Contacts are some Apple apps that support Handoff.
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Read MoreKeep Handing It Off
Finally, you should also check that Handoff is also enabled on your other iCloud devices. For iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff and ensure Handoff is toggled on. To check if your Apple Watch is configured to handoff data to Mac (and other devices), launch the Watch app on your iPhone and navigate to My Watch > General and check the Enable Handoff option.
Next up:There are several reasons why the folder with a question mark appears on your Mac’s screen. Follow the solutions in the guide linked below to find out how you can resolve the problem.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextHow to Fix Mac Folder With Question MarkAlso See#macbook #macos
Did You Know
Thunderbolt 3 is a data and video transfer protocol and is developed by Intel.
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Apple’s Handoff feature enables the user to start a task on one device and the continue it on another device. By using Apple’s Handoff, the user can answer a call in the Phone app on Apple Watch and then transfer it to iPhone so that you can complete it more comfortably. Similarly, you can start and instant message on one device and then complete it on the other device. Handoff was introduced with iOS 8. Handoff feature is highly useful to seamlessly work on different Apple devices. Handoff feature is also available on Apple Watch and it is pretty easy to setup and use.
Contents
- 1 How to Use Apple’s Handoff From Apple Watch to iPhone
How to Use Apple’s Handoff From Apple Watch to iPhone
When a phone call comes on iPhone, Apple Watch receives it, plays the ringtone and displays the caller’s name or phone number.
- Tap Accept on Apple Watch. Now iPhone connects the call, you can begin talking to the caller via Apple Watch.
- On iPhone, press Home. Or you can press Sleep/Wake to wake iPhone. The lock screen appears.
- The Phone icon appears in the Handoff area, thus indicating that the user can use Handoff feature for the Phone app.
- Next drag the Phone icon upward. iPhone picks up the call via Apple’s Handoff feature.
- When you finish the call, tap End Call, and iPhone will end the call.
Troubleshooting with Apple’s Handoof
Some users that aren’t able to use Handoff feature between their iPhone and Apple Watch. If you are one of those annoyed users, we have given below some very useful fix for this problem. Here are the possible fix that have seem to be working. Give it a try one by one and check if your issue is resolved:
- Check whether Bluetooth is toggle ON, on your iPhone and on your Apple Watch.
- Make sure that both your iPhone and Apple Watch are paired.
- Check whether Handoff is enabled on iPhone and Apple Watch.
- On your iPhone go to Settings – General – Handoff & Suggested Apps.
- Once there turn On Handoff.
- On iPhone tap on Watch – My Watch – General.
- Now enable Handoff.
Note: Make sure the app you are trying is Handoff supported. Note also that one of the users on Apple forums suggested signing out from iCloud on iPhone and sign back in. It seems that there is no logic behind this trick, but many other users have commented that this worked for them. Why not give it a try?
Try restarting your Apple Watch and also your iPhone.
What Is Handoff Apple
Toggle off Handoff on both devices, and after few seconds toggle it back ON.
Some of the Handoff Apps
Airbnb: This app lets you find places to stay all over the world. With Handoff support, you can start browsing for places on your iPhone and then view the full blown listing on your Mac. Basically, once you’re inside a listing in the iPhone version of Airbnb, your device will know what you’re looking at and offer a Handoff using your default browser to open the full listing. Aside from Handoff support, Airbnb also supports Notification Center widgets so guests and hosts can see what stays they have coming up in just a swipe.
The NYTimes app: This app brings everything you love about the print version right to your iPhone. With Handoff support you can start reading any article on your iPhone and your Mac will know and let you pick up right where you left off on the New York Times website, and vice versa.
iA Writer Pro: A complete writing suite that not only supports Markdown, but works by breaking down the stages of writing. Each has its own font and style to suit each stage. You can also enjoy Syntax Mode and many other features that make writing long or short form content in iA Writer Pro a great experience from start to finish. Now with Handoff support, you can start writing on your iPhone and pick up on your iPad or Mac.
Pocket: This app lets you save all the interesting articles, stories and linsk you find around the web and in other third party apps for later. Then when you have time to sit and read, just launch Pocket and pick up where you left off. With support for Handoff in iOS 8, you can now start reading something on your iPhone and pick up where you left off on your iPad. Then if you need to switch back, you can easily do so in just a quick swipe or a few taps in Notification Center. Better yet, Pocket’s Mac app also supports Handoff so you can easily switch from desktop to iOS in mere seconds.
Things: is a complete task management suite with support for projects and simple task management, Things can be as intricate and organized as you want it to be. Or you can throw things in the inbox and organize them later if you feel like it. With support for Handoff, you can quickly start creating tasks on your iPhone and pick up where you left off on your Mac.
Links
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How Does Handoff Work Mac
How to Use Handoff on the Apple Watch [Video]
Video uploaded by iClarified, on May 7, 2015.
