Dec 21, 2021
Apple Handoff
Everything you need to know about Apple Handoff
If you’re a MacBook user, no matter where you live, you should love this. Including myself, MacBook users all around the world use this feature daily. Handoff is a feature that allows Apple users to keep continuity among their apple devices.
Those who already have MacBooks but still not using this feature will start to use Handoff after reading this post.
Handoff Compatibility
To use Handoff, you need to have at least an iMac/MacBook and another apple device such as an iPhone or iPad. Pre-installed apps that come with Apple devices are Handoff compatible, including Safari, Contacts, Mail, Maps, Messages, Notes, Phone, and Reminders.
Third-party apps like Airbnb, iA Write, PC Calc, and Pocket are also compatible.
How to Enable Handoff
- On your Mac, go to the System Preferences > General, then check the box next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices. (make sure you’ve signed into the iCloud using the same Apple ID on both devices)
- On your iPhone/iPad tap Settings > General > Airplay & Handoff (on iOS 13), then move the slider to on/green.
How to use Handoff
Make sure you’ve enabled Bluetooth on both devices.
Open Mail on your iPhone starts writing a new mail. Type “Test Handoff” as the Subject and fill the other areas such as To, Cc/Bcc, Body as necessary.
Now you can see a new icon at the far-left end on the Dock of your MacBook and once you click the new icon, you’ll be seeing all the data you entered via the iPhone are already available on the MacBook.
- If not, you can choose the other direction. Open Safari on your MacBook and go to www.apple.com. Now open App Switcher on your iPhone, and at the bottom of your screen, you’ll be seeing the name of the app and computer you’re using. When you tap on it, the www.apple.com site will launch on your iPhone.
Likewise, you can test this feature with the other pre-installed apps and your favourite third-party apps.
Why do Apple users love this?
Generally, MacBook users use iPhones as their primary smartphones. Also, people who use iPhones willing to have a MacBook though they already own one. So, keeping one identity across all your devices is much more efficient, and no doubt, it’s the friendliest environment for the users.
Now, via continuity features like Handoff, this connection has become easier to maintain. All your photos, videos, and documents are now available on all your devices. You capture a photo from your iPhone, and it’s instantly available on the other devices you have.
With Handoff, this concept has become more familiar, and especially students can get the maximum out of this. You can test Handoff with your own devices and then you’ll notice the usefulness of this feature.
For instance, you can navigate to a webpage from your iPhone via a given link on WhatsApp, and instantly you can open it on your MacBook. You don’t need to type the URL on Safari, and Handoff directly navigates you to the page where you left off on your phone.
When you’re filling out forms, reading articles, and saving essential documents on Safari, you can easily switch between your devices. So, isn’t it more comfortable than the usual way you do? Try this with your favourite apps and get this experience.
Thanks for reading!
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