On iPhone: open Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity (or AirPlay & Handoff on some software versions), then switch Handoff on or off. On a Mac running macOS Ventura 13 or later: choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > AirDrop & Continuity (also shown as AirDrop & Handoff in Apple documentation), then change Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices. On macOS 12.5 or earlier, use Apple menu > System Preferences > General and select or clear the same option.
What Handoff does
Handoff lets you begin a supported activity on one nearby Apple device and continue it on another device signed in to the same Apple Account. For example, you can open a webpage on an iPhone and continue it in Safari on a Mac, or start writing in Notes on the Mac and pick up on the iPhone. Handoff is a Continuity feature built into Apple operating systems; there is no separate app, accessory or subscription to install.
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The setting is independent on every participating device. Enabling Handoff on an iPhone does not enable it on a Mac, iPad or Apple Watch. To move an activity between two devices, Handoff must be enabled on both ends and the devices must meet Apple’s connection, account, software and proximity requirements.
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For Apple’s current overview, see Use Handoff to continue tasks on your other Apple devices.
Turn Handoff on or off on an iPhone
Current iOS path
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap AirPlay & Continuity.
- Find Handoff.
- Turn the switch on to allow Handoff, or off to prevent this iPhone from offering and receiving Handoff activities.
Apple uses slightly different wording in some releases. If you see AirPlay & Handoff instead of AirPlay & Continuity, open that pane; the Handoff switch is in the same place. The exact label can vary with the iOS version, but the route remains under Settings > General.
What changes when you switch it off
Turning Handoff off on the iPhone removes that phone from Handoff exchanges. Handoff can remain on for your Mac or other devices, but the disabled iPhone will not participate until you turn its switch back on. This setting does not require you to sign out of your Apple Account or turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for other features.
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Confirm that the iPhone is ready
- Leave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled in iPhone settings or Control Center.
- Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple Account used on the Mac.
- Keep the devices close together; Apple’s Mac guidance specifies a maximum distance of 10 metres (30 feet).
- Use an app that supports Handoff, such as Safari, Mail, Notes, Maps, Calendar, Contacts, FaceTime, Freeform, Keynote, News, Numbers, Pages, Reminders or Stocks. Third-party apps may support Handoff as well, but Apple’s list is not exhaustive.
Turn Handoff on or off on a Mac
macOS Ventura 13 and later: System Settings
- Choose Apple menu in the top-left corner.
- Open System Settings.
- Select General in the sidebar.
- Open AirDrop & Continuity. Apple’s documentation may label this area AirDrop & Handoff.
- Locate Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
- Turn the option on to enable Handoff, or off to disable it.
The wording refers to “iCloud devices,” but the account used is your Apple Account (Apple’s current name for the former Apple ID). The Mac and the other device must use the same account for Handoff to associate their activities.
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macOS 12.5 or earlier: System Preferences
- Choose Apple menu.
- Select System Preferences.
- Open General.
- Select or clear Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
If your Mac opens System Preferences rather than System Settings, use this older route. Do not look for the Ventura-era AirDrop & Continuity page; on these releases the checkbox is directly in General.
Disable Handoff only on the Mac
Clearing the Mac checkbox stops that Mac from exchanging Handoff activities. Handoff can remain enabled on the iPhone, so the phone can still work with another compatible device. You do not need to disable iCloud, AirDrop or Bluetooth to turn off Handoff.
Requirements for Handoff to work
A visible toggle is only one part of the setup. Check every condition below when an activity does not appear on the other device.
| Requirement | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Handoff switch | Enabled on both the iPhone and the Mac | Each device has its own control; one enabled switch is not enough. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi enabled on both devices | Apple lists Wi-Fi as part of Handoff setup. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth enabled on both devices | Apple lists Bluetooth as part of Handoff setup and nearby-device discovery. |
| Apple Account | Both devices signed in to the same Apple Account for iCloud | Handoff associates the activity with your account rather than treating nearby devices as interchangeable. |
| Proximity | Keep the devices nearby; Apple’s Mac guide gives 10 metres (30 feet) as the maximum distance | Handoff is designed for nearby devices, not remote access over the internet. |
| Supported software | Use compatible iOS, macOS and app versions | Older or unsupported software may not expose Handoff even when the switch is on. |
| Supported app | Start the activity in an app that implements Handoff | The feature is app-based; an arbitrary app window does not automatically transfer. |
Apple’s compatibility information lists Handoff support beginning with iOS 8 or later and OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later for the relevant device families. Those are platform minimums, not a guarantee that every combination of old hardware, operating-system release and app supports every activity. Apple lists newer minimums for handing off FaceTime calls: iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura 13. See Continuity features and requirements for Apple devices for Apple’s compatibility details.
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How to hand off an activity after enabling it
From iPhone to Mac
- Open a Handoff-capable app on the iPhone and begin an activity, such as viewing a page in Safari or editing a note.
- Leave the activity open while the iPhone and Mac are nearby with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Handoff enabled.
- Look in the Mac Dock for the activity’s app icon with a small Handoff indicator.
- Click that icon to open the corresponding activity on the Mac.
- If you prefer the keyboard, press Command-Tab. The Handoff app can appear in the Mac App Switcher; select it to continue.
From Mac to iPhone
- Open a supported app and activity on the Mac.
- On the iPhone, open the App Switcher by swiping up from the bottom edge and pausing, or by double-clicking the Home button on models that have one.
- Look for the Handoff banner at the bottom of the App Switcher.
- Tap the banner to open the activity on the iPhone.
The icon or banner represents an activity that is currently available to continue. It is not a general list of every app installed on the other device.
Troubleshoot Handoff when the toggle is on
1. Check both Handoff controls
Start with the simplest failure: open the iPhone path (Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity or AirPlay & Handoff) and verify Handoff is on. Then check the Mac path that matches its operating system and confirm Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices is selected. A change on one device does not alter the other device’s switch.
2. Check Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the account
Verify Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices. Then open the account settings on each device and make sure the same Apple Account is being used for iCloud. A family member’s account, a secondary work account or a device that was recently signed out will prevent the expected pairing even if the devices are physically next to each other.
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3. Reduce the distance
Place the iPhone and Mac close together and try again. Apple’s Mac documentation gives 10 metres (30 feet) as the maximum distance, but walls, interference and the position of the devices can make a shorter distance more reliable. Handoff is a proximity feature, so testing with the devices on the same desk removes distance as a variable.
4. Test with a known supported app
Use Safari, Mail, Notes, Maps, Calendar, Contacts, FaceTime, Freeform, Keynote, News, Numbers, Pages, Reminders or Stocks for the first test. Start a clear activity, such as opening a specific webpage or editing a note, then check the Dock or App Switcher. If Handoff appears in one of these apps but not in another app, the difference is likely app support rather than the device setting.
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5. Check operating-system compatibility
Compare each device with Apple’s Continuity requirements. Handoff began with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite 10.10 on supported device families. FaceTime call handoff requires the newer minimums of iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura 13. A general Handoff task and a FaceTime call handoff therefore may have different requirements.
6. Check VPN local-network behavior
Apple warns that a VPN configuration preventing local networking can interfere with some Continuity features. If a VPN is active, review its settings for local-network blocking and test Handoff with the VPN disconnected only if doing so is appropriate for your network and security policy. If Handoff works when local-network access is allowed, the VPN rule—not the Handoff toggle—was the cause. Apple discusses this warning in Hand off tasks between your iPhone and your other devices.
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On the Mac, look in the Dock and, if necessary, press Command-Tab to inspect the App Switcher. On the iPhone, open the App Switcher and check the banner at the bottom. Looking only at the current app icon or Dock position can make a working Handoff activity easy to miss.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.iPhone and Mac paths at a glance
| Device and software | Menu path | Control |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone (current wording) | Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity | Handoff switch |
| iPhone (alternate wording) | Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff | Handoff switch |
| Mac, macOS Ventura 13 or later | Apple menu > System Settings > General > AirDrop & Continuity (also documented as AirDrop & Handoff) | Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices |
| Mac, macOS 12.5 or earlier | Apple menu > System Preferences > General | Select or clear Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices |
Apple’s Mac-specific references are Change AirDrop & Continuity settings on Mac and Hand off tasks between Apple devices.
When turning Handoff off makes sense
- You do not want activity prompts: Disable Handoff on the device where you do not want Dock or App Switcher offers.
- You share a Mac temporarily: Turning off the Mac setting prevents that Mac from participating until it is re-enabled.
- You are diagnosing Continuity problems: Disable and re-enable the switch after checking the account, wireless connections and software requirements.
- You want other Continuity features unchanged: Handoff has its own control; turning it off is not the same as disabling Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, iCloud or every AirDrop feature.
Because the setting is per device, choose the smallest change that meets your goal. To stop handoff only between an iPhone and one Mac, switch it off on that Mac or iPhone rather than changing every device in the account.
Frequently asked questions
Is Handoff the same as AirDrop?
No. They are related Continuity features but serve different purposes. Handoff continues an activity already open in a supported app; AirDrop transfers items such as files or photos. Their settings appear together in some Apple menus, which is why the Mac pane includes “AirDrop & Continuity” or “AirDrop & Handoff.”
Why can I see Handoff on the Mac but not on the iPhone?
The two devices display the activity differently. The Mac uses the Dock or App Switcher, while the iPhone shows a banner at the bottom of the App Switcher. Confirm both toggles, then check the appropriate location for the device receiving the activity.
Does enabling Handoff on one device enable it everywhere?
No. Every iPhone, Mac, iPad or Apple Watch has its own Handoff control. Enable it separately on each device you want to use.
Do both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network?
Apple’s setup guidance requires Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be enabled on both devices and the devices to be nearby. The guidance does not state that they must be manually joined to an identically named Wi-Fi network, so the practical checks are that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, the same Apple Account is used and the devices are within the supported proximity.
What if the Handoff menu is missing on my Mac?
Check the macOS generation first. Ventura 13 and later use System Settings > General > AirDrop & Continuity; macOS 12.5 or earlier uses System Preferences > General. If neither path offers the control, compare the Mac and its operating system with Apple’s Continuity requirements.
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Can a VPN stop Handoff?
Yes. Apple warns that a VPN configuration that blocks local networking may interfere with Continuity features. Review local-network permissions in the VPN configuration and test again according to your organization’s security rules.
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