Turn on Handoff to share your clipboard across devices
Apple's Handoff feature lets you copy something on your iPhone and paste it directly on your Mac, or the other way around. It works by syncing your clipboard — the temporary storage where copied text, images, and links live — across devices that are signed into the same iCloud account.
Handoff is built into both devices and turned on by default in most cases, but you should verify it is active on both your iPhone and Mac before you rely on it. The feature works over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when your devices are near each other, and it keeps your clipboard in sync for about two minutes after you copy something.
Key Takeaways
- Handoff syncs your clipboard between iPhone and Mac when both devices are signed into the same iCloud account and Handoff is enabled.
- On your iPhone, turn on Handoff in Settings > General > AirPlay and Handoff; on your Mac, go to System Settings > General > AirPlay and Handoff.
- Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network or connected via Bluetooth, and the clipboard sync lasts about two minutes after you copy.
- If Handoff is not working, restart both devices, check that you are signed into the same iCloud account on each, and verify Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is on.
Enable Handoff on your iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General. Scroll down and tap AirPlay and Handoff. Look for the toggle next to Handoff — if it is gray, tap it to turn it on. The toggle will turn green when Handoff is active.
Make sure you are signed into iCloud on your iPhone. Go back to Settings, tap your name at the top, and check that you see your Apple ID email. If you are not signed in, tap Sign in to your iPhone, enter your Apple ID credentials, and follow the prompts.
Enable Handoff on your Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then scroll down and click AirPlay and Handoff. Look for the checkbox next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices — if it is unchecked, click it to enable Handoff.
Verify that your Mac is signed into the same iCloud account as your iPhone. In System Settings, click General again, then look at the top of the window — you should see your Apple ID name. If you see Sign in instead, click it and enter your Apple ID credentials.
Make sure both devices are on the same network
Handoff requires your iPhone and Mac to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network or paired via Bluetooth. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and confirm you are connected to a network. On your Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen and verify the network name matches the one on your iPhone.
If you prefer to use Bluetooth instead, make sure Bluetooth is turned on both devices. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and check that the toggle is green. On your Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and confirm it shows Bluetooth: On.
Test copy and paste between devices
Copy some text on your iPhone — press and hold a word, then tap Copy. Switch to your Mac and click in a text field or document. Press Command+V to paste. The text from your iPhone should appear. If it does not, move on to the troubleshooting section.
You can also test in the opposite direction. Copy text on your Mac using Command+C, then switch to your iPhone, open a text field, press and hold, and tap Paste. The clipboard sync works both ways and should be when ready when both devices are on the same network.
Troubleshoot when copy and paste is not working
If pasting between devices is not working, restart both your iPhone and Mac. On your iPhone, press and hold the side button and either volume button, then drag the power slider to turn it off. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo. On your Mac, click the Apple menu and select Restart.
After both devices restart, check that Handoff is still enabled on both by following the steps in the earlier sections. Verify again that both devices are signed into the same iCloud account and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If Handoff is still not working, sign out of iCloud on both devices and sign back in — sometimes this resets the clipboard sync.
If you have a very old iPhone or Mac, Handoff may not be supported. Handoff requires iPhone 5s or later and a Mac from 2012 or later, and both devices need to be running recent versions of iOS and macOS. Check your device model and operating system version in Settings to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste between my iPhone and iPad using Handoff?
Yes, Handoff works the same way between any Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account — iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Enable Handoff on each device in the same way, and your clipboard will sync across all of them.
Does Handoff work over cellular, or only Wi-Fi?
Handoff requires Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, not cellular. Your devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network or paired via Bluetooth to sync your clipboard. If you are away from Wi-Fi, turn on Bluetooth on both devices to keep Handoff working.
How long does the clipboard stay synced after I copy something?
Your clipboard syncs for about two minutes after you copy something. If you wait longer than two minutes to paste on the other device, the clipboard may no longer contain what you copied, and you will need to copy it again.
What if I share an iCloud account with someone else?
Handoff syncs the clipboard for all devices signed into the same iCloud account, so anyone using a shared account will see what you copy. If you need privacy, use separate iCloud accounts or turn off Handoff when you are sharing a device.
Can I copy and paste files or just text?
Handoff syncs text, images, links, and some other content types. You cannot copy and paste entire files or folders using Handoff — for that, use AirDrop or iCloud Drive to send files between devices.