With the release of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, users received a number of useful features, but the Handoff function caused the greatest delight. The technology works on smartphones, tablets and Apple computers, automatically transferring data about user actions from one device to another.
Handoff is an almost inseparable life with iDevices. When your iPhone or iPad on iOS 8 is near your Mac, the feature lets you start work on one Apple device and finish on another. Synchronizing data with OS X Yosemite is done entirely in automatic mode. For example, you can open a web page or map on your smartphone and continue browsing from the same place on your Mac. Or, for example, transfer a letter from iPhone to laptop in order to quickly complete it on a device with a comfortable keyboard. You can even receive and make calls directly from your iPad or Mac, as long as your iPhone is in the same WiFi networks.
In order to start working with Handoff, you need to log in on all devices under one account.
Step 1 A: First of all, make sure your Mac with OS X Yosemite supports Handoff. The technology does not work on all computers. Handoff requires Bluetooth 4.0/LE wireless module, which was first implemented in Mac in mid-2011.
Go to Apple Menu –> About This Mac –> Overview –> System Report –> Bluetooth. The line opposite "LMP Version" should read "0x6".
Step 2: Open System settings–> Bluetooth. If the wireless module is off, turn it on.
Step 3: Go to the Basic menu. Check the box at the bottom next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
Step 1: On an iOS 8 mobile device, go to Settings and turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Step 2: Go to General –> “Handoff and Suggested Software” section and enable Handoff.
Make sure your iPhone and iPad are in the same wireless network with Mac.
To send data from Mac to mobile device, open one of the native programs on your computer - Safari, Mail, Calendar, Maps, iWork, Notes and others. The icon of the active application will appear on the lock screen of your iOS device. Swipe up to continue working.
Open Safari on Mac:
Safari icon on iPad lock screen:
You can also continue working with the application on your iPhone or iPad from the multitasking panel by swiping right from the main page.
Safari in the iPad multitasking bar:
Once you start on your smartphone or tablet, you can continue on your Mac. Having opened a browser, Maps or mail on the gadget, on the computer to the left of the dock panel you will see a new icon. To continue working within Handoff, click on it.
Open Maps on iPad:
Maps Icon on Mac:
If you have done all the above, but Handoff does not work, the first thing to do is turn off and then turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your computer and iDevice. In some cases, reconnecting to the same Wi-Fi network helps. Finally, you can repeat the login procedure with the same account. To do this, in iOS 8 you need to go to the menu Settings –> iCloud, and in OS X Yosemite – System Preferences –> iCloud. As a rule, this leads to the desired result.
The Continuity and Handoff features, introduced in iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan, allow you to combine various devices Apple into one ecosystem. They allow you to get fast access to the modem mode of the iPhone, for example, on the iPad, or receive and send SMS, continue working on one device, starting on another.
While these features work well in general, there are occasional glitches and bugs that cause things to break. Therefore, we will analyze the cases and show you how to deal with Continuity and Handoff malfunctions.
Check system requirements
First of all, you need to make sure that your devices are running the latest version of the OS: these are iOS 9 and higher (for smartphones and tablets), as well as OS X El Capitan and newer (for computers). In addition, even if the system version is suitable, not all hardware gadgets can work with new features.
Suitable Macs:
MacBook Air (Mid 2012 and later)
MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 and later)
MacBook 12 (early 2015 and later)
iMac (late 2012 and later)
Mac Mini (late 2012 and later)
Mac Pro (2013 and later)
Suitable iOS devices:
iPhone 5 and later
iPad Pro
iPad 4
iPad Air and later
iPad Mini and later
iPod Touch 5 and later
If your device is not listed, then the problem is solved. Otherwise, we move on.
It is important to enable Wi-Fi on your device, cellular communication is not suitable for Continuity and Handoff. Some people just don't understand the difference in how they connect to the internet. It is necessary that there is a Wi-Fi logo near the operator's sign, and the corresponding button is pressed in the Control Center (to do this, you need to swipe up from the bottom edge of the display and look). The same goes for the Bluetooth connection.
Check that your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
If your devices are connected to Wi-Fi, then this does not mean that both of them work on the same network. Perhaps one of them switched to another connection due to weak signal. To make sure that the Wi-Fi selection is correct, go to the settings of your smartphone or tablet.
Make sure Handoff is enabled on your devices
If Handoff doesn't work, the first thing you need to do is make sure it's enabled at all. Someone unknowingly or for the sake of greater autonomy turned off the toggle switch, and then was indignant why the function did not work. Also, in power saving mode, Handoff is automatically disabled.
To check, go to “Settings” -> “General” -> “Handoff” and make sure the toggle switch is on.
If after all the manipulations Continuity does not work, then the problem may be in the Mac computer. We will deal with its problems a little later.
Make sure your mobile operator supports modem mode function
If your iPhone carrier doesn't support hotspot mode, you won't be able to surf the internet from your iPad or Mac. To clarify this issue, you need to go to the device settings. If everything is fine there, but Continuity still does not work, try contacting your operator.
Check if message forwarding is enabled
In order for SMS received on the iPhone to be displayed on other devices, you need to enable forwarding. To check the activation of this function, you need to go to “Settings” -> “Messages” -> “Forwarding”. There will be a list of all available devices. You need to select the desired device by switching the toggle switch to the on position.
Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on
Both iOS devices and Mac must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. Their status can be viewed in the menu bar at the top. To see detailed information, click on the icon.
Make sure iOS and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network
Continuity works when devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. To check the connection, you need to find the corresponding icon in the status bar and click on it. The Wi-Fi status and network name will be written there. Make sure the iOS device is connected to the same connection.
Make sure Handoff is enabled on Mac
It is also worth determining if Handoff is enabled. To do this, go to Settings - General, there will be a corresponding item. Be sure to enable the feature if it is disabled.
Make sure FaceTime on Mac allows you to receive phone calls
If iPhone calls are not coming to your Mac, then you should check the settings where this feature is enabled. To do this, run facetime app and go to options. There should be a checkmark next to "Calls from iPhone".
Sign out and sign in to your iCloud account
If you have reached this point, then the problem is really serious. We have no choice but to advise you to log out of your iCloud account, and then log into it again. To do this, go to Settings - iCloud. Select the “Exit” item there and wait for the exit to complete. Then click "Login" and enter your details account.
- new program for Mac. It was developed by Metakine Inc. It appeared relatively recently and is very similar in its functions to the Little Snitch application for Mac OS X.
Hands off! is a powerful firewall. But the system already has a native solution for all these tasks, why then install another firewall? The point is that the built-in firewall from apple good in everything, but it is very difficult to set up, as it requires knowledge command line and has no GUI at all.
Program Hands Off! very similar to Little Snitch, but only at first glance. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that Hands Off! not only differs from the competitor, but also surpasses it in order. The main advantage is that Hands Off! is able to monitor not only outgoing traffic, as Little Snitch does, but also all incoming traffic. In addition, the program from Metakine Inc. has the ability to control attempts to penetrate and connect to your computer, block reading, as well as writing information third party applications and websites to your HDD.
Setting up the Hands Off! - very simple. After installing the program, you will receive requests for permission or blocking network connection for each separate application. This is how it is formed simple rules that help the Hands Off! navigate yourself, so that in further work everything happens automatically. Also Hands Off! knows how to work in a "multi-user" environment, which, for example, the same Little Snitch does not yet know at all.
Of course, all these firewalls are an add-on to Apple's native solution in Mac OS X, but they have a friendly interface (GUI) and are easy to manage, which cannot be said about the embedded system.
As a result, of all programs of this class in Mac app Store, the application is the most interesting solution, it does not slow down the system and does not torment you with excessive meticulousness, so everyone who needs an advanced one should definitely take a closer look at Hands Off! from Metakine Inc.
Type: Safety.
Devices: MAC
Hands off! - excellent firewall and worthy analogue, although more expensive. The program monitors any application activity, allowing the user to monitor the Internet activity of programs, as well as reading and writing files. I would say that the Hands Off! unlike Little Snitch, it was created for more advanced users, for whom the safety of information is paramount.
Hands off! allows you to create both global rules and more specific ones. It monitors any activity and notifies the user to create a rule, and you can create both permanent rules and before exiting the application or restarting the computer. In addition, Hands Off! allows you to prohibit / allow applications to write information to disk, which allows you to somewhat protect important documentation from accidental overwriting or modification.
In general, Hands Off! - a great tool for monitoring the activity of applications in Mac system OSX.
Rules configurator and application activity 
Enabled option to monitor network activity (black box)
Most major electronics manufacturers and operating systems Recently, they are trying to create an “ecosystem” from their products, in which all devices will be interconnected. Apple continues to follow this path, developing the function "Continuity"(Continuity), which allows you to continue working with similar applications on different devices.
In contact with
"Continuity" is a set of features that allow Apple devices to communicate with each other.
Possibilities "Continuity" are constantly expanding. Currently, it allows you to conveniently switch between devices using Handoff, forward SMS / MMS messages and iPhone cellular calls, activate Instant Hotspot "fast tethering" mode, copy and paste data using a universal sizing buffer, use AirDrop as a tool for share content, pay with Apple Pay from any Apple device, take pictures with Continuity Camera, and turn on Mac auto-unlock with Apple Watch.
In this article, we will talk about how to set up "Continuity" for different scenarios:
This feature allows you to complete work you start on one Apple device on another nearby device from the same location.
1. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open one of the programs that support Handoff. It could be "Mail", "Cards", safari, "Reminders", "Calendar", "Contacts", Pages, numbers, Keynote or third party software.
2. Start creating some task in the program, for example, create email or document.
You can now continue the task on another device.
To continue working on a Mac (if you started, for example, on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch), click on the icon of the program you are using in the panel Dock.
To continue working on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, in iOS you will need to open the program switcher (task list or also called multitasking mode), and then activate the shortcut of the desired program at the bottom of the screen.
Handoff function supports:
You can use this functionality on a computer with macOS, as well as on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple Watch. They are required to comply system requirements(see above). Handoff works when the devices are close and set up properly.
On a Mac, go to the menu Apple . Here, check the box next to .
and enable this option.
For Apple Watch in the Apple Watch app on iPhone in the menu "Basic" activate the parameter "Enabling Handoff". Smart watch support data transfer using the Handoff feature on a smartphone or PC running macOS Yosemite or later.
Activating the Handoff function also activates the option Universal Clipboard.
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This feature allows you to copy information (text, images, videos, links) on one Apple device and paste it on another.
On one of your devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Mac), copy text, image or other information to the clipboard in the usual way.
Universal Clipboard allows you to copy entire files from one Mac to another. However, this will require macOS High Sierra or later installed on both devices.
The copied information will automatically be transferred to the clipboard of a nearby device.
Universal Clipboard after some time is automatically deleted or replaced by new copied content.
On the second device, content can be pasted in the desired location in the normal way.
Or an example with an image:
Function supports:
Universal Clipboard can be set up on any Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. They only need to meet the system requirements (see above). For the function to work, devices must be located close to each other and pre-configured:
And here's how to enable this feature on the devices themselves:
On a Mac, go to the menu Apple→ System settings → General. Check the box here "Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices".
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings → General → Handoff and enable this option.
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The feature allows you to make and receive calls using your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch. They need to be connected to the same network as the iPhone.
The iPhone (Cellular Calls) feature requires an iPhone with installed iOS 8.1 or newer and active tariff plan cellular communication. If these conditions are met, you can transfer calls between iPhone and the devices listed below.
1. Hover your mouse over the desired phone number in the program "Contacts", "Calendar" or in safari, as well as in any application that automatically provides such data.
2. Press the handset button or the arrow in the frame around the number, and then select the menu "Call the number<выбранный номер>from iPhone".
In the application "Contacts" on Mac :
In the application face time on Mac:
You can launch the FaceTime app, enter the desired phone number in the search box, and then click "Audio".
In a programme "Contacts", "Calendar", safari or any other that automatically detects such data, click on the phone number.
You can launch FaceTime by clicking on the icon «+» , enter the phone number in the search bar and click the button "Audio", almost like on macOS (screenshot above).
If Phone receives incoming call, a notification will appear on your Mac in the upper right corner. The user can accept this call, redirect it to an answering machine, or send a message to the caller.
On an iPad or iPod touch, just slide the slider to receive a call, just like on an iPhone.
This feature can be used on any computer or Apple device that meets the system requirements (see above). It will work when the devices are located next to each other and configured as follows:
Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on each device.
On each device, sign in to FaceTime with the same Apple ID.
Turn on Wi-Fi on each device.
Each device must be connected to the same network with using Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
On an iPhone, go to the menu Settings → Phone → On other devices, activate the parameter "Allow Calls" and indicate which devices it can be sent to .
On an iPad or iPod touch, select Settings →face time and activate the option "Calls from iPhone".
On a Mac computer, launch the program face time and go to the menu facetime →Settings and activate the menu "Calls from iPhone".
To stop receiving calls from other devices, turn off the "Calls from iPhone"(see above).
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When you receive an SMS or MMS message on your iPhone, it will appear in a green cloud. iMessages, on the other hand, are shown in a similar but blue frame. Function setting "Redirect" allows SMS/MMS messages received and sent on iPhone to be displayed on Mac, iPad, and iPod touch. You can continue the conversation directly from these devices.
For the function to work Forwarding requires an iPhone with iOS 8.1 or later and an active cellular plan. If these conditions are met, you can send and receive SMS messages and MMS from the Apple devices listed below.
On an iPad or iPod Touch, select Settings → Messages → Send/receive.
On a Mac, launch the program "Messages" and in it select Messages → Settings →iMessage. To enter iMessage Use the same Apple ID on all your devices.
On the iPhone, open the app Settings, go to section Messages and select Forwarding. Here, specify the devices that will be allowed to exchange text messages with iPhone. If your Apple ID doesn't have two-factor authentication, you'll see a verification code on all devices. It must be entered on the iPhone.
As long as iPhone is active and connected to the Internet, you can use the devices you've added (Mac, iPad, or iPod Touch) to send and receive new SMS/MMS messages. The chat history will be stored in iCloud and synced across all your devices.
If the iPhone doesn't show the option "Forwarding”, go to the menu Settings → Messages and turn off the option iMessage, and then activate it again. After that click "Send/Receive", select "Your Apple ID for iMessage" and try signing in again with the one you use on other devices Apple ID ID.
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Function instant hotspot allows an iPhone or iPad equipped with a Cellular module (with a SIM card) to modem mode"share" the Internet to other devices in the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch) without entering a password.
The "Instant Hotspot" function supports:
Smart tethering mode "Instant Hotspot" can be used on any computer or Apple device that meets the system requirements (see above). The function will work when the devices are located next to each other and configured as follows:
On the Cellular-enabled iPhone or iPad (SIM-enabled version) that will be "sharing" the internet, open the app Settings, go to section Modem Mode and activate the corresponding switch.
In case in Settings iPhone section Modem Mode missing, please read.
On Apple devices to which the Internet will be "distributed":
On a Mac, in the menu bar, click on wifi icon and select the device name of the iPhone or iPad with activated Modem mode.
On an iPad, other iPhone, or iPod touch, select the menu Settings →Wi— fi, and then tap the name of the iPhone or iPad device with activated Modem mode.
If a password request window appears during the connection, make sure that the devices are configured according to the instructions above.
When you connect your iOS device or Mac to the Internet using Modem mode, the Wi-Fi icon will change to a Hotspot icon (two chain links shown) and will remain so as long as the device is connected not to a wireless network directly, but to another device with an active Modem mode.
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If you own an Apple Watch, then your Mac will be able to recognize your presence nearby and allow you to automatically log in without entering a password.
Wake up your computer and no password is required. You will need to enter it only when you first log in to the system and after logging out, turning on or restarting the computer. The rest of the time, Apple Watch will help with authorization, doing it automatically.
This feature requires you to wear an unlocked watch and be in close proximity to your Mac.
To find out if your Mac supports auto-unlock, press the key Option (Alt) and holding it in this position, select Apple → System Information. On the sidebar, select the Wi-Fi section and look for the line on the right "Auto unlock: supported".
1. Make sure your computer and Apple Watch itself meet the system requirements for this feature (see above).
2. Apple ID must use two-factor authentication, not two-step verification.
3. Make sure the devices are configured correctly:
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