macOS Handoff Not Working — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Handoff lets you start something on your iPhone or iPad and pick it up instantly on your Mac — and vice versa. When Handoff stops working, it is almost always because Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or iCloud is misconfigured on one of the devices. Toggling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off and on, and signing out and back into iCloud, usually restores Handoff within minutes.

Affected Models

macOS Ventura (13)
macOS Sonoma (14)
macOS Sequoia (15)
MacBook Pro
MacBook Air
Mac mini

Common Causes

Bluetooth is disabled on the Mac, iPhone, or iPad
Both devices are not on the same Wi-Fi network
Handoff is disabled in Settings on the Mac or iOS device
Both devices are not signed into the same Apple ID
A recent macOS or iOS update has reset Handoff settings

How to Fix It

On your Mac, go to System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff and confirm 'Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices' is turned on.

This setting is the master on/off switch for Handoff on Mac — it must be enabled on all devices.
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff and confirm Handoff is turned on.

Both the Mac and the iOS device must have Handoff enabled.
Make sure both devices are signed into the same Apple ID — go to System Settings (Mac) and Settings (iPhone) and check the account name at the top.

Handoff only works between devices using the same Apple ID.
Toggle Bluetooth off and on on both devices — wait 5 seconds between off and on.

Handoff uses Bluetooth for device detection, even when both are on the same Wi-Fi.
Confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network — Handoff requires local network proximity.

A Mac on 5 GHz and an iPhone on 2.4 GHz can sometimes cause detection issues — both should be on the same band if possible.
Sign out of iCloud on the Mac (System Settings > Apple ID > Sign Out), wait 30 seconds, then sign back in.

An iCloud session issue can block Handoff — a fresh sign-in re-establishes the device relationship.

When to Call a Professional

Contact Apple Support if Handoff consistently fails after all steps below and your devices meet the hardware requirements. Handoff requires a Mac from 2012 or later with Bluetooth 4.0 — older Macs cannot use Handoff. Apple Support can check for account-level issues preventing Handoff from functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Macs support Handoff?

Handoff requires a Mac from 2012 or later with Bluetooth 4.0 or newer. Mac Pro (Late 2013 or later), MacBook (2015 or later), MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (2012 or later), Mac mini (2012 or later), and iMac (2012 or later). Older Macs cannot use Handoff even with software updates.

Why does Handoff work sometimes but not always?

Intermittent Handoff failures are usually caused by Bluetooth connectivity being inconsistent between the devices. Bluetooth interference from other devices or distance between your Mac and iPhone can cause it to drop. Keeping devices within 10 metres of each other and reducing Bluetooth interference usually stabilises Handoff.

Does Handoff work without Wi-Fi?

Handoff requires both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be enabled — it does not work with only one. Bluetooth handles device discovery, and Wi-Fi carries the actual data transfer. If your Wi-Fi is off, Handoff will not work even if Bluetooth is on.