Now that Yosemite is out, with iOS 8 devices you are now able to use Handoff. Handoff will allow you to seamlessly start a task on one device, and pick it up on another device. So for example you start writing a paper on your iPad and then you want to continue it on your Mac, or you start writing an email on your iPhone and want to finish it on your iPad, this is what Handoff does. When signed into the same iCloud account and Bluetooth is turned on, Handoff will allow you to transition your work flow from one device to another.
On the Mac, you will have an additional dock separate from the main dock indicating what is running on the iOS device. On the iOS device on the lock screen you will have an icon indicating the app that is being used on the Mac. Currently it works with Apple’s apps including Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Safari, Reminders, Messages, Maps, Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Developers can also add Handoff to their apps as Things and other apps have already done. In this how-to article, I will discuss how to set up Handoff and how to use it.
For Handoff to work, you did need to have a 2012 iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac or late 2013 Mac Pro. You do need to have an iOS device running iOS 8 with Bluetooth turned on. Since Handoff works via Bluetooth, the devices do need to be within thirty feet of each other. Also, all of your Apple devices need to be signed into the same iCloud account.
Now that we have met the requirements for Handoff, let’s first make sure that Handoff is enabled. On the iOS device go into Settings and select General. Then tap on Handoff & Suggested Apps to make sure that it is turned on.
To check to see if Handoff is enabled on the Mac, open up System Preferences. Then make sure that Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices is checked on.
Now that Handoff is set up and enabled to work, let’s discuss how it works.
In my example above, I said one of the ways you can use Handoff is to start writing a paper on your iPad and finish it on your Mac. To do this, I will be using Notes for iOS and Notes for Mac. I start to write it in Notes on the iPad.
While I am writing on the iPad there is now a dock that is separate from the main dock on my Mac. In that new separated dock it shows the Notes app with an iPad icon in the upper right hand corner. That indicates I am using Notes on the iPad. If you like to have your dock hidden, to see that I am using the Notes app on my iPad is to hold the Command key and Tab key at the same time on the keyboard to view the app switcher, or you can hover the cursor over where the dock would be to bring it up.
To open up Notes on the Mac, click the Notes app and it will open up in the note you were in and where you left off.
In my other example above, I mentioned you can start writing an email on your iPhone and then finish it on your iPad. Here is the email I am starting to write from my iPhone 6.
On my iPad I can tell that I am working on Mail by two visual indications. On the lock screen there is a Mail icon in the lower left hand corner and swiping up will allow me to pick up my email right off from where I started. Or the other method to view Mail is to use the App Switcher, and swipe from left to right to view the app that is being used and tapping on it will open up Mail and bring over the draft I was working on.
In order for Handoff to work, the device that you initially are working on has to be awake and unlocked. So for example, you are viewing a website on your iPad and the iPad automatically locks, you cannot Handoff the website until you wake up the iPad and unlock it.
This is how you use Handoff, which will help improve workflows and productivity between devices. Let us know if you find it beneficial and increasing your workflow.
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Hi, I have installed both Yosemite on my late 2013 MacBook Pro and iOS 8 on my iPhone 6 and turned on bluetooth on both devices as well as set up Handoff in the settings. Unfortunately my Mac seems to ignore my iPhone and any Continuity features. When I start to write an email on my MacBook the iPhone does not offer me the possibility to continue it or the other way round. Even Airdrop between the two devices does not seem to work. What am I doing wrong? Restarted both devices multiple times.
log out and back in to iCloud on both devices?
im having pretty much the same problem. it used to work with yosemite public beta 3, everything was literally perfect then something happened when updating yosemite that now i dont even receive sms on either :(
I have the same issue – handoff only works from Mac to my iDevices but not the other way around. It has worked before but have stopped working. Logging out and in to iCloud accounts do not seem to help :-( Any specific service we need to look for on my late 2013 MacBook pro?
That worked for me. I logged out of iCloud on both my iPhone 6 and 2013 MacBook Pro and then restarted both devices. After logging back into iCloud eveything worked perfectly.
If you read apple’s website, receiving SMS works only on 8.1 or newer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6337
Handoff essentially rolls out in iOS 8.1. I’m having the same problem, but 8.1 should ‘fix’ or introduce all of them. Including SMS texting on non iPhone device, as well as bug fixes to the Mac and iPad standard phone calling. I’m looking forward to it! Only two and half more days! :-)
Same. Doesn’t work for me. 2012 Macbook Air and iPhone 6
Make sure you have Bluetooth enabled on your iPhone.
Had the same issue. Turning on Airdrop (Everyone) on the iPhone helped fix the issue.
Same problem.
My device iphone 5S amd MBP late 2013.
I have the same problem with my MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) and my iPhone 6 on 8.0.2.
I don’t know if any of this is related but I restored my iPhone 6 from an iPhone 5 backup when I first used it. And I also had the iOS 8 betas on the iPhone 5, I also had the Yosemite beta. It didn’t work on the betas either.
The question is: Is it working fine for anyone who chose to setup his iPhone as a new device?
I hope iOS 8.1 fixes this
I have a mid-2012 macbook air and iPhone 5s. I signed both out of my account, and then restarted both devices and signed back in. works like a charm.
Note: handoff worked most of the time when going to the mac from the phone, but almost never when going from the mac to the phone. Now it works perfectly going both ways.
It probably isn’t working with iPhone 4S, or is it?
No, it isn’t. If you look under settings, the option is not there.
Yes, I did look there and that’s why I was asking. Oh, I guess I’ll need an upgrade then. I was really looking forward to that feature and I though every device with iOS 8 will support it (how the article suggests).
no it won’t work with 4S
my macbook air won’t connect to iPhone 6 via bluetooth.hope iOS 8.1 sorts bluetooth probs out
only if your AIR is mid 2012 if it’s older…. :(
Actually, for the Air it is mid 2011. It has to have Bluetooth 4.0, which the Macbook AIr 2011 has. To check go into system report and in bluetooth look for LMP Version which should say 0x6 to be compatible.
Yep, it’s LMP 0x6 and even Bluetooth is 4.3 but Handoff says (in bluetooth), it won’t support
It needs Bluetooth 4.0 AND 802.11 ac Wi-Fi. If your card only supports 802.11 a/b/g/n then it won’t support it.
Same issue with mid 2012 Air and iphone 6. It refuses to connect the two via bluetooth. It used to work before on occasion I would use my cell as a hotspot.
I’ve been having issues getting Handoff to work as well. I’ve tried a few general troubleshooting measures with no avail. I’m assuming 8.1 will solve it.
I am unable to get handoff to work as well. Also, I was really excited about the SMS continuity. Took me an hour to realize that feature isn’t available until iOS 8.1.
Is it fair to say that any Macbook Pro prior to 2012 cannot use this function because they lack Bluetooth LE? :/
Correct. Here’s another way to verify using a terminal command – http://lifehacker.com/find-out-if-your-mac-will-support-handoff-in-os-x-yosem-1605078625
But wait, my MacBook Air Mid 2011 DOES have Bluetooth LE. Terminal says LMP Version: 0x6. So why can’t I use Handoff? The option isn’t present under System Preferences > General. What gives?
I have the same problem :(
Try these.
Check if your account of iCloud is same in all devices for example somebody have aaa@me.com and aaa@icloud.com if you use the first account change at the all devices with same account and restart then all work fine
exactly.
Can i use Handoff on an older Mac (<BT 4.0) when i'm upgrading my Bluetooth to 4.0 LE with a dongle?
I have heard no, but that may have changed
i had some problems and resolved by signing out and signing in on iCloud on all devices and make sure bluetooth is on. now my iPad, iPhone and macbook pro see each other!
FWIW – it’s working for me using an iPhone 6 on iOS 8.0.2 and a Mid 2012 rMBP with a FRESH install of 10.10
Thinking I might have to do that to. I usually do fresh, but opted to just upgrade this time. Maybe the upgrade broke the Handoff.
From a review of the thread that seems to be the only confounding variable. As they say the proof is in the tasting. Might want to wait until 8.1 to see if that improves circumstances.
So did you just start completely fresh and lose all programs that were previously installed? Backup and restore? What? lol
Is iOS 8.1 required to use Handoff ? Because it’s not currently working for me (MBPr Late 2013 under 10.10 & iPhone 6 running 8.0.2)
No – the original iOS 8 is compatible.
Thanks for this walk through – very helpful. Can I use handoff with multiple Macs? I have a 2013 work MBP and a late 2012 personal MBP and usually have both running. Assuming they are both signed in to the same iCloud account, is there any limitation? Thanks!
Sorry but this walkthrough wasn’t very complete. They mention a separate dock on my mac…nope. Maybe a screenshot or tell us where that second doc is? And SMS…where do I access that? Does that mean somehow magically I can now text my android friends from my mac through my phone? I’m not seeing this anywhere. Like others have said, what have the Apple software devs been smoking since Steve has passed? I’m smelling another #iCloudfail
Ok, I’ll retract the dock comment. I ‘found’ it. But I maintain – this is all so useless. We all figured out years ago how to do this. With Gmail drafts. See…another company had all this happening way before Apple rolls it out as some big deal. I’m still not seeing any SMS capability. I’m seeing iMessage, but not SMS. So until I can text my non iPhone friends from my Macbook Air then this is just so weak.
I’m a huge mac guy – OSX is tops in my book but that is where the magic ends from apple, every other piece of software they have written in the last 3-5 years is total crap. All the features are late to the game, confusing, awkward and just dont work very well. They used to get away with mediocre software because it kinda worked and was rather simple. Now, that is not the case.
Unfortunately my mid 2011 iMac won’t be able to do Handoff :(
This is great but how do I get continuity working :(. I can use the phone call feature but unable to get text messages.
It was removed in 8.0. It is in 8.1 B1 and onwards. I have been using it and it works nicely.
HANDOFF compatibility
MacBook Air mid 2012 or newest
MacBook Pro mid 2012 or newest
iMac late 2012 or newest
Mac mini late 2012 or newest
Mac Pro late 2013 or newest
iPhone 5 or newest
iPhone 4S supports calls only
iPad 4, iPad Air or newest
iPad mini or newest
iPod touch 5G or newest
BOLOX I have iPad AIR mid 2011 and iMac late 2010 :(
sorry not iPad AIR but MACbook
AIR mid 2011 and iMac late 2010 :) :(
Wait, MacBook Air 2011 will work? I don’t see an option for Handoff in System Preferences > General.
won’t work
The mid 2011 MBA was working the DP’s but apple removed it in the final release for whatever reason. I followed tHese steps and got it all working on my MBA. http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=20015070&postcount=609
You should note in the article this does not work until the iOS 8.1 update being released this Monday.
false
Handoff works with any version of iOS 8.
Except the Messaging feature? Because everythibg else works for me except that.
SMS Messaging feature is part of Continuity but is not “Handoff” — it will work with 8.1.
IOS 8 works with lot of issues, some features will only start working on IOS 8.1 that would be released on Monday
Except not on my ’09 MP :(
my macbook pro 2010 isn’t compatible. :( ugh damn apple. they want to take my money and i think they ll manage to get it ugh!!! they manipulate me
it’s 5 years old, what do you expect?
you can make it compatible with new airport card
read here
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=19841481#post19841481
Can anyone help me understand why Handoff is a big new change? I can already write a Note or an email draft on one device, and pick up where I left off on another, thanks to cloud syncing.
Is it just the speed of the ‘handoff’ that’s the difference?
it’s supposed to just make the process easy, so you get the email you are working right away, no navigating folders to find what you are working on
Here is the link – https://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/ I see that my PC won’t work :( hmm… it’s time for….
my mac mini and iPad air and iPhone 5s all flawlessly chat with each other. I can send info back and forth, over and over… Only honest use I can think of for this technology is it’s nice if I gotta use the toilet, if Im reading an article online or typing a must-send email… can start on the mac, grab the tablet, sit on the can, and finish “my business” while finishing my business…
Where’s the Yosemite article with the heading: Pre retina-display owners punished with ugly system font?
After spending hours on line looking and reading, here is what worked for me:
Log out of iCloud on every device. Restart. Log back in. Make sure you have wireless AND bluetooth turned on.
For anyone having problems getting Handoff to work, this is what I did. (Note that I’m running Yosemite on a late 2013 15″ MacBook Pro and iOS 8.0.2 on an iPhone 6.)
1) Follow the guide above. Making sure bluetooth is on on all of your devices, and that they are connected to the same network (the same band as well (2.4GHz/5GHz)). Also, that Handoff is enabled on all of your devices.
*2) On your iOS device(s), go to Settings>iCloud then tap ‘Sign Out’. It will ask you if you want to delete your iCloud data, say no. Log back in to your iCloud account (make sure you are using the same iCloud account on all of your devices). It will ask you if you want to merge the data on your phone with iCloud. It doesn’t matter because it’s all the same data, but I chose to merge anyway.
3) Restart all of your devices. iPhone, iPad, MacBook, etc.
4) Once everything is back up Handoff should work as intended!
* – This step may be unnecessary because, even after signing out and logging back in to iCloud, Handoff still didn’t work for me until I restarted all of my devices.
The magic is gone.
(no I’m not trolling)
I may I’ve find what is wrong with continuity.. You must NOT have paired your iDevice with your Mac.
Try removing your iDevices from Bluetooth Device List on your mac and it will work perfectly in both ways 😉
You’re actually right this did the trick as I paired my phone a long time ago and totally forgot about it. Thanks! Works without any hiccups
I cannot even find the option of enabling “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices”, can anyone help me ?
17″ MacBook Pro (2011) :-( no Handoff!
Is iOS 8.1 required to handoff text messages and emails to the Macbook Air early 2014
Mine works from my iPhone 6 to my iMac, but opening apps on my iMac does not make the icon appear in my iPhone’s lock screen.
same here
just opening the app will not do it, you need to have a document or email started (so there is something to handoff)
Today i installed OS X Yosemite on my macbook pro 13″. i saw the new dock is looking great and updated my apps. i have an ipad 3 with me having Bluetooth and ios 8. i went to the system pref in my mac and in the general setting i saw that the option to enable or disable hand-off is missing. please help what should i do. the check box is not available so i cannot use continuity hand-off.
allow handoff does not show up on my MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011)
only supported on MacBook Air 2012 and later, sorry
I confirm this.
Hey Landy, check out this link, it worked for me. http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=20015070&postcount=609
Monday is when Continuity will be activated with iOS 8.1. 10/20/2014
Hi,
In order to pair your device with the mac,
on your iphone/ipad turn off both wifi and bluetooth,
turn off personal hotspot, turn it on and choose connect via bluetooth.
turn on bluetooth.
now go to your mac, settings, bluetooth, click on your device name.
on your device approve to popup message and you’re done.
If you can’t see your device on the bluetooth settings screen, go to Network settings,
choose Bluetooth PAN on the left, choose your device and click on the connect button.
note that the connection should always come from the mac not from the device.
YaelD
Same problems for me. I can not connect my 6 to the mid 2012 MacBook Air using Bluetooth. I hope this will be fixed on Monday. Come on Apple!
For the first time, Apple announced a feature that doesn’t work at all.
NOTHING will enable it. I saw a safari icon on my iPhone 2 or 3 times, but after that, no reboots, and no logout/login seems to work.
It simply doesn’t work. The article might have been created using one of the betas/developer previews just to allow the press to talk about it, but for us, the end user this feature is useless.
i downloaded full install from store and install, where is the download file i want to share with my wife so she don’t have to wait on her slow wifi
Doesn’t work on Early 2014 MacBook Air and iPhone 5. I’m signed in to the same iCloud account on both – and I have Bluetooth/Handoff on. Any suggestions?
I am having the same issue. Hand off works when it wants too and the phone feature does not work all the time either.
my father in-law has the last 17″ macbook pro which falls under this issue as in late 2011 17″ macbook pro, the computer started behaving erratically, and then never again booted. Until we disassembled it and put the logic-board in the oven as per reballing tutorials (7 minutes at about 250º C) let it cool, apparently this solved any issue the computer has been as good as new for couple of months now. We did change the thermal paste in cpu and gpu, to try and avoid for as long as we can another failure. Its clearly a similar defect as xbox’s red rings.
You know my late 2011 macbook pro should be perfectly capable of performing the handoff tasks.
Since apple isn’t being that nice google docs provides extremely similar functionality…..
My Macbook Air has been upgraded to Yosemite, in the Bluetooth section of the System Hardware, it shows “Handoff” is supported. On my iPhone 5s, when I try to pair the Macbook Air, it allows pairing but when I tap on that device in the iPhone, it says that the device is not supported and throws up “Forget this device”. How do I solve this
Hi, I mannaged to get handoff working from macbook PRO to my iphone 5C. but i can’t make handoff work from my iphone 5C to my macbook PRO. Can you please give me some help?
I have a late 2013 MacBook Pro retina and an iPhone 4S with iOS8 installed, but when I go to settings on my iPhone, I don’t have the ‘Handoff & Suggested Apps’ option :/ Does that mean that Handoff doesn’t work with iPhone 4S?
correct. :-( same here.
One thing I’m disappointed with in Yosemite, is Icons in finder. When downloading my financial files, i’m used to skimming through the icons, until get those of the correct colour and design, easy. But now with all the icons flat and no colour, it has removed that ease, everything’s the same.
My Mid 2010 Mac Pro has no Handoff line in General System preferences panel:( Is this mean my Mac is to support this feature?
I already found the answer:
Handoff and Instant Hotspot
Handoff and Instant Hotspot are supported by the following Mac models, and require OS X Yosemite:
MacBook Air (Mid 2012 and later)
MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 and later)
iMac (Late 2012 and later)
Mac mini (Late 2012 and later)
Mac Pro (Late 2013)
This is sucks:((( Do I need a new Mac Pro? Sure! The only problem is how to explain it to my wife:))
Continuity works but I did have some issues getting it up and running. The only thing now that doesn’t work is the SMS Relay feature. I can’t get the message to pop up on my iPhone to enable it. I’ve spoke to Apple tech and they can’t figure out why it’s not displaying either.
Handoff and Continuity aren’t working on my brand new iPhone 6 or Macbook Pro
Is there a way to get handoff on a 2010 13 inch macbook pro maybe by updating the airport card?
What a bummer. They never said anything about which MacBooks would be compatible and here I was waiting all these days only to discover Late 2011 MBP isn’t good enough!
Handoff started working when I signed in and out of my iCloud account on my iPhone
Folks, here is what I did.
iphone 5 – iOS 8.1
Macbook Air – Mid 2012 – Yosemite
enable handoff on both devices (settings)
enable Bluetooth
1. Sign out of iCloud on iOS device.
2. Shut down iOS device
3. Sign out of iCloud on Mac (i think this is optional, I did it anyway)
4. Sign back in to iCloud on Mac
5. Sign back in to iCloud on iPhone
6. Log in to iCloud.com website.
7. Click on iCloud settings.
8. Both your mac & iPhone should appear under ‘My Devices’. The iPhone should take a little longer to appear as you just signed back into iCloud. Only then Handoff works.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gocucm7qz65w3fl/Screen%20Shot%202014-10-20%20at%203.48.23%20PM.png?dl=0
Thanks for Information, i did what u said its working except phone calls and messages are not showing in my mac book pro please help me what to do ?
It does not work and yes I have everything on and have tried to pair. It’s full of bugs. iPhone6 Mac Pro Mid 2012 running Yosemite.
What was Apple thinking to implement Handoff using either bluetooth and WiFi, but not both? I consider this a major screw-up, as I cannot handoff my work to another device unless it’s right there with me. I recall Tim Cook saying I could walk to the other end of my house and do this. NOPE. So as it is, part of handoff works with wifi, and the other part works with bluetooth. Yea, that makes sense–NOT.
Nope. Can’t get it to work on Notes, Pages or Mail. Everything set up and on as per instructions. Also, using Airdrop I can send files to iPhone 5S from MBP but my iPhone can’t see my MBP in Airdrop! Can’t send files from iPhone to MBP. Are the two problems possibly related? Have I got something switched off somewhere?
It’s a great concept; too bad it just doesn’t work. A simple internet search will reveal that people all around the country are having the same issue I am; namely, iPhone 6 and (very new) Macbook Pro flat-out ignore each other. Every setting is correct, and I’ve tried logging out and in numerous times. My devices are operating as if there is no such thing as handoff, airdrop, or any type of “continuity.” So unfortunately, for very many people including myself, this is all just a fun idea to hope may actually come true someday.
My late 2013 MBP and iPhone 6 Plus do airdrop fine, and share messages and phone calls fine. HOWEVER, I cannot pairBluetooth between the two (MBP not supported by the iPhone) and Handoff does not work. What new Dock is anyone talking about? What a tremendous waste of time. I love(d) my Apple devices, but this mess up is really stupid on Apple’s part. They have lost a lot of goodwill on the part of all former-Apple lovers I know. All of them. Stupid. Very stupid.
I installed OS X Yosemite on my macbook (late 2011) and iOS 8.1 on my iPhone 4S but only phone calls property is enabled and I can’t see the option of handoff neither on my mac or phone. Can anyone tell me why??!!
Was having the same problem but turns out that my firewall was on and once you turn it off, everything works out great
I’ve been trying to get handoff working between my late 2013 iMac, my iPhone 5, and my iPad. It was working between the iPhone 5 and the iMac but not between the iMac and the iPad… There is no “Handoff & Suggested Apps” option on my iPad in General, Settings. In frustration, I finally called Apple Support. The problem? My iPad is a 3rd Gen model. The Apple support rep explained that the 3rd Gen iPad’s Bluetooth profile is “different” than the iPhone 5’s or the iMac’s, thus my problem (must be 4th Gen iPad or higher). Perhaps I neglected to read the fine print in the iOS 8.x announcements, but the supported models are documented at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht6337?viewlocale=en_US. Very frustrating though…
Wow! This simple DOES NOT WORK.I have Yosemite and iOS 8 set up as described. I have Bluetooth on (my Keyboard and Magic Pad are happy). I cannot pair the MBP and iPhone 6 Plus because iOS says it doesn’t support the brand new MBP. There is no additional Dock. It simply doesn’t work.
I logged out of iCloud on the MBP, which was a real pain, of course, and also on the iPhone. Waste of time – no connection.
How it works for anyone else is a mystery to me.
I have a 2011 MacBook Air, and even though the article says handoff isn’t possible on my device (and I actually don’t get the option in System Preferences > General), when I get a call from another iPhone, my Mac rings too and asks me to accept the call. What’s up with that?
You are between the luckiest ones :))
I am trying to find a solution for my iPhone 4s to be able to have AirDrop and HandOff on it but until now, no luck.
My mac mini (late 2011) can accept phonecalls via my iPhone 5s. The microphone reacts as seen in the right upper corner. But the caller cannot hear me… The same procedure works with the MacBookPro. I have little snitch deactivatet an Kaspersky not running. Firewall is off.
Any idea out there – please??
If only Apple would bother telling people before the upgrade process which features they won’t be able to use… then many of us wouldn’t waste time. I upgraded my mid-2011 iMac to Yosemite and my iPhone 4S to iOS 8 — only to find that NOW I can’t connect my phone to my computer via bluetooth, whereas I could before upgrading. The only reason I even upgraded was to being able to use answer my phone with my computer (since I’m partially deaf and can’t hear well on a cell phone). Glad it didn’t cost me anything, but I’m about over it with Apple.
I don’t have 15+ hours available to downgrade everything or I would.
I long for the days when Apple would provide a system evaluation to tell you what you wouldn’t be able to use, what applications would have to be updated or would no longer work, etc.