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How to Set Up Continuity & Handoff Between Your Mac & iPhone

Dec 15, 2014 10:35 PM
Dec 15, 2014 10:47 PM
Incoming call notification on an iPhone display.

Earlier this year, Apple announced Continuity, a feature for Yosemite and iOS 8 that lets you connect your iOS devices to your Mac in order to access apps, receive phone calls, send text messages, and more while seamlessly switching between the two.

Within Continuity exists Handoff, which deals specifically with the back and forth use of apps between your iOS device and Mac computer. Read part of an article in Safari on your iPhone and finish the rest on your MacBook Pro. Write part of an email on your iMac and complete it on your iPad. And so on and so forth.

So how do you set all of this up to work? With help from MacRumors member Armen, I've compiled all of the steps you need to set up Continuity and Handoff on both your iOS 8 device and Yosemite-running Mac.

Check Bluetooth on Your Mac

Check if your desktop or laptop is compatible with Continuity by going to About this Mac -> System Report -> Bluetooth Category. For Handoff to work, your LMP version needs to be "0x6." Anything lower and most of the Continuity features (Handoff) won't work, except for phone calls.

System information display for OS X Yosemite.

Sign into the Same iCloud Account

On both your Mac and your iOS device, make sure that you are logged in to the same iCloud account. Go to System Preferences -> iCloud on your Mac to sign into iCloud.

iCloud settings menu displaying various options like Cloud Drive, Photos, Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Safari, and Notes.

On your iOS 8 device, make sure that you're logged in to the same iCloud account. You can check by going to Settings -> iCloud.

iPhone settings menu with "iCloud" option highlighted.
How to Set Up Continuity & Handoff Between Your Mac & iPhone
iPhone settings menu with "iCloud" option highlighted.
How to Set Up Continuity & Handoff Between Your Mac & iPhone

Enable Handoff

Next, enable Handoff on both your Mac and iOS device.

On your Mac, go to System Preferences -> General and check the box next to "Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices."

Settings menu showing recent items and appearance options on a Mac computer.

On your iOS device, go to Settings -> General -> Handoff & Suggested Apps and toggle on the "Handoff" option.

Settings menu displaying "Suggested Apps" option.
Settings screen showing options for Handsoff and App Store suggestions on an iPhone.
Settings menu displaying "Suggested Apps" option.
Settings screen showing options for Handsoff and App Store suggestions on an iPhone.

Allow iPhone Calls & Text Messages

To set up phone calls on your Mac, open FaceTime, go to Preferences, and check the box next to "iPhone Cellular Calls."

Preferences window for an Apple application with an option highlighted for adjusting photo import settings.

Now open the Messages app, go to Preferences, and log in with your iCloud account, if it's not already set up.

Messaging interface showing a conversation and contact info in a Mac application.

Setup Wi-Fi & Bluetooth

For Continuity to work, both devices will need to be on the same Wi-Fi network and have Bluetooth enabled. Open "Bluetooth File Exchange" on your Mac to enable it.

Wi-Fi network options displayed on a computer screen.
Wi-Fi settings screen showing available networks and connection options.
Wi-Fi network options displayed on a computer screen.
Wi-Fi settings screen showing available networks and connection options.

Use Continuity

Now it's time to test Continuity and Handoff. One way you can do that is by opening Safari on your Mac and going to any website.

WonderHowTo website interface with adventure-themed banner.

If everything works, there should be a small Safari icon on the bottom left of your lock screen on your iOS device. Swipe up on the icon to view the same webpage you were browsing on your Mac.

How to Set Up Continuity & Handoff Between Your Mac & iPhone
Illustration of a cat interacting with various empty containers and objects.
How to Set Up Continuity & Handoff Between Your Mac & iPhone
Illustration of a cat interacting with various empty containers and objects.

Similarly, if you're on a website on your iOS device, an icon on the far left of the dock will appear on your Mac, which you can click to open up the website in Safari.

How to Set Up Continuity & Handoff Between Your Mac & iPhone

Other Continuity features include:

  • Handoff for Safari, Mail, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts.
  • Make and receive phone calls on your Mac.
  • Send any type of text message (SMS and iMessage) through the Messages app on your Mac.
  • Connect to your phone's personal hotspot automatically.

Let us know if you have any problems with setting up Continuity by leaving a comment below and we'll be glad to help you out!

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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