Apple is heavily pushing its new "Continuity" features in OS X Yosemite that improve cross-platform integration between iOS and the Mac. The most significant of the Continuity features is Handoff, which allows OS X and iOS users to start a task on one device and swap to another one nearby to continue work.

handoffiosyosemite
Handoff can be used for a number of different activities, including email, web browsing, messaging, and more. Users can begin composing an email on their iPhone and finish it on their Mac. Maps and websites work in a similar fashion, as users can load up content on one device and look at it on another. Currently, Handoff works with Mail, Safari, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts. A number of third-party apps including Pixelmator, Wunderlist, PCalc, and Things also contain support for Handoff.

Requirements

You will need iOS 8.1 and OS X Yosemite in order to use Handoff. You also need to make sure that both your Mac and iPhone are logged into the same iCloud account, and check that your Mac supports Handoff. You can check if your Mac is compatible with Handoff by clicking the  symbol in the top left-hand side of the Menu bar, going to About This Mac, clicking on System Report and clicking on the "Bluetooth" section. You should then see information about whether your system is compatible with Handoff.

Handoff is compatible with a select number of devices running iOS 8, including the iPhone 5 and later, the iPad Air, the iPad Air 2, the iPad 4, all models of the iPad mini, and the fifth-generation iPod Touch.

instanthotspot1
Handoff is limited to Macs with Bluetooth 4.0, which leaves many older Macs unable to access the new features. Additionally, even though the 2011 MacBook Air and 2011 Mac mini include Bluetooth 4.0, Apple has chosen to make both devices incompatible with OS X Yosemite's Continuity features. To solve this issue, a number of talented members of the MacRumors forums have come up with a set of instructions and a Continuity Activation Tool that should get Continuity working on Macs unable to support the feature.

Setting Up Handoff

1. Turn on Wi-Fi on your iPhone (Settings -> Wi-Fi) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Wi-Fi -> Turn Wi-Fi On.

2. Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone (Settings -> Bluetooth) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Apple -> System Preferences -> Bluetooth -> Turn Bluetooth On).

3. Turn on Handoff on your iPhone (Settings -> General -> Handoff & Suggested Apps -> Turn Handoff On) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Apple -> System Preferences -> General -> Recent Items - > Turn On "Allow Handoff Between this Mac and your iCloud devices")

4. You may now begin using Handoff by launching a compatible app on your Mac or iOS device and swapping to another to see your content. For example, try launching Safari on your Mac and then switch to your iPhone. On your iPhone's lock screen, you should see a small Safari icon in the lower left corner. Slide up to launch Safari, and the iOS app will display the same website as seen on your Mac.

ioshandoffsafari
You can also see a Handoff-enabled app through the multitasking switcher by double-pressing your home button and scrolling to the left.

handoffiosmswitcher
Handoff works in a similar fashion when transitioning from an iOS device to a Mac. On the Mac, a Handoff-compatible app will be displayed on the left-most side of the dock. Clicking on the app in the Mac's dock will load the same content as seen on an iOS device.

machandoffsafari

Walkthrough Video


Troubleshooting

Since the launch of OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 earlier this month, many users have had issues getting Handoff to work with their devices.

Users on our forums seem to have found that the most common solution is a combination of logging out and back into iCloud on their devices, disabling and enabling Handoff, disabling and enabling Bluetooth, and restarting devices. But even amongst those who found success, it may not last forever. Handoff clearly remains buggy in this early release.

If those steps don't work for you, members on Apple's own support forums have also suggested that deleting Bluetooth preferences in OS X and then restarting Bluetooth can also solve problems with Handoff, but we haven't been able to get that to work on our end.

Any of these steps may help if you are having trouble with activating Handoff on your devices, but ultimately, Apple may have to release an update to allow Handoff to work consistently for everyone.

Top Rated Comments

Kissaragi Avatar
140 months ago
Step number one - Buy a brand new mac.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
batchtaster Avatar
140 months ago
Step number one - Buy a brand new mac.

Or... take off the tinfoil hat and simply wait for 10.10.1.

This is the reason people wait until at least the first update before upgrading. That's not a slight on Apple - it's simply the way things go in software (and other businesses). "I'd love to release a new version, but there are no bugs for me to fix" said no developer ever. It's a trade-off between having everything perfect, and needing to ship soon. If you wait until it's 100% perfect, you'll never ship.

I deploy OS X for a living, and I've never deployed a 1.0 (10.x.0) version.

So, how about everybody calm the F down and give them a chance to actually fix these glitches? One of the most annoying things I ever run across - more so than the person who bitches and moans about everything to me - is when they just bitch and moan behind my back but never tell me about an issue they've run into and never give me the chance to fix it, provide a workaround, or escalate to the vendor. They just nail themselves up on the cross and refuse to come down. Report it, and make sure they know about it, but then back off and give them a chance to investigate and fix it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Garsun Avatar
140 months ago
Ok, most short sighted stupid Apple decision ever made. Why for the love of anything would they use Bluetooth when Wifi is everywhere and forward and backward compatible?
.

I could be wrong, but I think the Bluetooth LE component of handoff exist to keep the power drain to a minimum. Remember a single Bluetooth LE device can last for over year on a single small coin battery. If Apple implemented it correctly then any device waiting for handoff will pull basically no power until the handoff happens. This power saving ability would more than justify the inclusion of Bluetooth LE into the procedure.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cjmillsnun Avatar
140 months ago
Or... take off the tinfoil hat and simply wait for 10.10.1.

This is the reason people wait until at least the first update before upgrading. That's not a slight on Apple - it's simply the way things go in software (and other businesses). "I'd love to release a new version, but there are no bugs for me to fix" said no developer ever. It's a trade-off between having everything perfect, and needing to ship soon. If you wait until it's 100% perfect, you'll never ship.

I deploy OS X for a living, and I've never deployed a 1.0 (10.x.0) version.

So, how about everybody calm the F down and give them a chance to actually fix these glitches? One of the most annoying things I ever run across - more so than the person who bitches and moans about everything to me - is when they just bitch and moan behind my back but never tell me about an issue they've run into and never give me the chance to fix it, provide a workaround, or escalate to the vendor. They just nail themselves up on the cross and refuse to come down. Report it, and make sure they know about it, but then back off and give them a chance to investigate and fix it.
No, I think he was referring to the fact that it is only the more modern Macs that support Handoff.

Personally I am not surprised that Apple have done this, but whiners will whine that they aren't getting a feature that they didn't have before.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iolinux333 Avatar
140 months ago
I live in the States with a 2012 mac mini and an iphone 6 and I'm in the same boat. I can only handoff one way.

I have one way handoff on one login/account on my mid2011MBA (from iDevice to MBA) but it works perfectly in both directions, including calling, instant hotspot, etc., on a different account. Both have the same iCloud login.

I suggest anyone having problems set up a new account with administrative privileges and see if you can get everything to work with a "fresh" account on your Mac. You can try using the same iCloud login.

Probably over the years on my "main" account I hacked some file for some reason, and now it's unhappy. If this doesn't get sorted eventually I'll probably just move everything over to the new account.

----------

Ok, most short sighted stupid Apple decision ever made. Why for the love of anything would they use Bluetooth when Wifi is everywhere and forward and backward compatible?

Did not the Notes app sync between devices over any network connection before Handoff was made a thing?

Just another intentional planned obsolesces to make you buy a new Mac.

Siri could have worked on iPhone 4, all the processing was done in the cloud!

My fanboy status has died and I'm trapped in an ecosystem I can't leave. I feel like Tom Cruise on South Park stuck in the closet.

Someone smart should make a slim profile Bluetooth 4.0 USB adapter for $10 that solves the problem and beats Apple at their stupid game.

Actually Siri is awful at voice recognition on the iPhone4 because it has a junk microphone. They put a better mic in the 4s. That is also, incidentally, around the time that people on iPhones became intelligible to the party on the other end. Never underestimate the ability of apple to use the cheapest possible components, and charge the highest possible premium, if they think they can get away with it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VertexWolf Avatar
140 months ago
Bluetooth!????

Ok, most short sighted stupid Apple decision ever made. Why for the love of anything would they use Bluetooth when Wifi is everywhere and forward and backward compatible?

Did not the Notes app sync between devices over any network connection before Handoff was made a thing?

Just another intentional planned obsolesces to make you buy a new Mac.

Siri could have worked on iPhone 4, all the processing was done in the cloud!

My fanboy status has died and I'm trapped in an ecosystem I can't leave. I feel like Tom Cruise on South Park stuck in the closet.

Someone smart should make a slim profile Bluetooth 4.0 USB adapter for $10 that solves the problem and beats Apple at their stupid game.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

Wednesday July 9, 2025 10:59 pm PDT by
Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports. The first foldable iPhone's displays are being produced by Samsung Display, who are establishing a production line dedicated to the upcoming Apple device its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. The production line will make displays exclusively...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...