Hand off tasks from Apple Watch (2024)

FAQs

Does Handoff work with Apple Watch? ›

Handoff is available on an Apple Watch you set up for yourself, but not on an Apple Watch you set up for a family member.

Make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch are running the latest OS versions and that Handoff is turned on. Swipe up on the green call bar on your Apple Watch to transfer a call. However, this feature only works with calls made using the Phone app and when your iPhone is within Bluetooth range.

Handoff works when your devices are near each other and set up as follows. Each device is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID. (To see the Apple ID used by Apple Watch, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then go to General > Apple ID.) Each device has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on.

This connection is secured using standard BLE 4.2 encryption as well as encryption of the individual messages, which is similar to how iMessage is encrypted. In some situations, these messages are sent using APNs instead of BLE.

With a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, your Apple Watch can do the following things, even if your iPhone isn't with you. Make and answer phone calls. Send and receive messages. Use Siri to get directions, send iMessages, and more.

It may be due to battery optimization. If your watch is in Extended or Time Only Mode, answering is disabled. If you want to save battery without losing access to calls, try creating your own experience in Custom Mode.

Short guide:

Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch and select Settings. Tap Accessibility. Tap Auto-Answer Calls. On the next screen, tap the toggle switch for Auto-Answer Calls to turn it on.

First-party compatible apps include Safari, Mail, Maps, Contacts, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and FaceTime, among others, and multiple third-party apps are also compatible. The feature was first introduced with the release of iOS 8, and was updated with iOS 16 to add FaceTime functionality.

In mobile communications, handover (or handoff) refers to the process of transferring the current connection from one channel to another, e.g., moving to the coverage area of another base station or interrupted by interference. In satellite communication networks, handover occurs in different links [44].

Does Apple Handoff require Wi-Fi? ›

To use Handoff, your Apple devices must meet Continuity system requirements. They must also have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth^® and Handoff turned on in System Settings (on your Mac) and in Settings (on your iOS and iPadOS devices).

While you're on a call

Switch a call from your Apple Watch to your iPhone: While talking on your Apple Watch, unlock your iPhone, then tap the green button or bar at the top of the screen. You can quickly silence an incoming call by pressing the palm of your hand on the watch display for three seconds.

When your iPhone is off or out of range, your Apple Watch can use a Wi-Fi network to send and receive data. Your watch can also connect to a cellular network if it's a cellular model. And if you've set up an Apple Watch for a family member, they can use a cellular or Wi-Fi connection with their watch.

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Go to Accessibility > AssistiveTouch, then turn on AssistiveTouch. Tap Hand Gestures, then turn on Hand Gestures. Tip: To learn how to use hand gestures, tap “Learn more” below the Hand Gestures switch, then tap each gesture.

With Handoff, you can start something on one device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch) and then pick it up on another device right where you left off. For example, you can start answering an email on your iPhone, then finish it in Mail on your Mac.