Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
One area where iOS beats Android is its deep integration with MacBooks, which is to be expected since Apple controls both ecosystems. While tools exist to connect your Android phone to a Windows PC, these solutions often fall short of Apple’s integrations. This gap exists because Android and Windows are developed by different companies with competing interests, which complicates the creation of native, deeply integrated features.
For example, Apple’s Handoff feature lets you seamlessly start a task on one device and pick it up on another. Google doesn’t currently offer a direct equivalent for Android, but mounting evidence suggests one is in the works. This new feature appears to be part of Google’s efforts to bring Android to PCs, which would enable the company to build more powerful cross-device experiences.
While many details about Android’s version of Handoff remain unknown, we’ve uncovered clues about its implementation within the operating system. Based on our findings, here’s how we think it will work. You’re reading the Authority Insights Newsletter, a weekly newsletter that reveals some new facet of Android that hasn’t been reported on anywhere else. If you’re looking for the latest scoops, the hottest leaks, and breaking news on Google’s Android operating system and other mobile tech topics, then we’ve got you covered.
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Why a seamless Handoff experience has worked for Apple but not Google or Microsoft Back in July, we shared evidence that Google is working on a new “Handoff” feature for Android. We spotted a new “Handoff” menu within Android’s “Cross-device services” settings, a section that contains interconnectivity features like call casting and Internet sharing. According to the menu, Handoff will include options for notification syncing, file sharing, and app continuity across your devices.
Based on its name and description, we assumed Android’s Handoff would work similarly to Apple’s feature, but we lacked direct evidence. That changed with the first quarterly release of Android 16, when Google began adding code for a new system-level feature called “Task Continuity.” Over the past few months, Google has quietly expanded on this code, affirming that it is indeed building its own take on Apple’s Handoff.
Before explaining how Android’s Handoff will work, it’s helpful to first understand Apple’s version. According to Apple, Handoff lets you “start work on one device, then switch to another nearby device and pick up where you left off.” For example, if you open androidauthority.com in Safari on your iPhone, a special Safari icon will appear in your MacBook’s dock. This icon shows the app’s logo alongside a tiny indicator in the top-right corner identifying the source device. Clicking it opens the same webpage on your Mac.
Apple A screenshot of the Dock on a MacBook showing a Handoff icon from an iPhone. Credits: Apple.
The feature works the other way, too; when handing off a task from a MacBook, a banner appears in the app switcher on iOS and iPadOS. Handoff isn’t limited to Apple’s own applications, either. It’s available to any third-party app that implements the necessary APIs. This deep, system-level integration is possible because Apple controls the software across its entire device lineup, reinforcing a key advantage of its closed ecosystem.
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