Home How-To-Guides Unlocking the Power of Handoff: Transferring FaceTime Calls Between Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Unlocking the Power of Handoff: Transferring FaceTime Calls Between Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Posted: November 16, 2023

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Introduction to Handoff Feature

The Handoff feature is an advanced capability provided by Apple devices to ease multitasking and enhance user experience. Handoff caters to the seamless transition of various applications, including FaceTime calls, between Apple devices.

Handoff's Ability to Transition FaceTime Calls

FaceTime Handoff is a neat addition to Apple's software features, aimed at making video-calling more fluid and convenient. The ability to transition your FaceTime call from one Apple device to another without disconnecting or interjecting the conversation is extremely beneficial. This feature enables shifting the call to any device in your vicinity connected to the same Apple ID and Wi-Fi network, minimizing the disruptions that come with a change in devices.

iOS Version Compatibility for FaceTime Handoff

Despite being a powerful feature, Handoff is only compatible with specific software versions. For the feature to work effectively, devices must operate on macOS Ventura, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16 or more recent versions. FaceTime Handoff represents Apple's evolving efforts to enhance its software, still further elevating FaceTime's status in the video-calling segment.

Requirement of Same Apple ID across Devices

To enable FaceTime Handoff, a critical requirement is having the same Apple ID signed in on all devices. Only Apple devices using the same Apple ID can use the Handoff feature, ensuring seamless synchronization and preventing interruptions in FaceTime calls when shifting between devices. Furthermore, enabling Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff on your devices and having them connected to the same Wi-Fi network and within the Bluetooth range adds to the unhindered functioning of FaceTime Handoff.

Enabling Handoff on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

To use the Handoff feature for a hassle-free transition of your FaceTime calls, it is crucial to ensure that Handoff is enabled on all your devices. This can be easily done in a few simple steps on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Steps to Enable Handoff on iPhone and iPad

To activate Handoff on your iPhone or iPad, follow the steps mentioned below:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Choose the 'General' option.
  3. Tap on 'AirPlay & Handoff.'
  4. Ensure that the toggle next to 'Handoff' is enabled. If it's not, switch it on.

With these steps, Handoff should be up and running on your iPhone or iPad, ready to transition your FaceTime calls without a hitch.

How to Enable Handoff on Mac

If you wish to transition your FaceTime calls to a Mac, Handoff must also be enabled on it. Here's how:

  1. On your Mac, open System Settings.
  2. Click on General.
  3. Select the 'AirPlay & Handoff' option.
  4. Find the 'Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices' option and ensure it's switched on.

By following the steps above, Handoff on your Mac will be enabled, enhancing your experience on FaceTime by facilitating swift and smooth transitions of calls between devices.

Transferring FaceTime Calls Between Devices

With the Handoff feature enabled across all your devices, transferring FaceTime calls between them is a breeze. This process showcases Apple's robust integration of services and devices, allowing you to switch devices mid-call seamlessly.

Procedure to Transfer FaceTime Calls from iPhone to Mac

To hand off a FaceTime call from your iPhone to your Mac, simply follow these steps:

  1. A notification will likely appear on your Mac when a FaceTime call starts on your iPhone.
  2. This alert will have a green 'Switch' button on the top right corner of your Mac screen. Clicking this will transfer the FaceTime call from your iPhone to your Mac.
  3. If the notification does not appear automatically, tap the camera button at the top left of the FaceTime call window on your iPhone and then tap 'Switch.'
  4. Finally, select your Mac from the displayed list of devices to transfer the call.

This method provides a hassle-free transfer of your ongoing FaceTime call from your iPhone to your Mac.

Steps to Transfer FaceTime Calls from Mac to iPhone or iPad

In the event of needing to transition a FaceTime call from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad, you can conveniently do it as well:

  1. Press the camera button at the top left of the FaceTime call window on your Mac.
  2. Click the 'Switch' button in the drop-down menu.
  3. Select your iPhone or iPad from the list of devices to invoke the transfer.

Note: Ensure that your iPhone or iPad is within Bluetooth range of your Mac and connected to the same Wi-Fi network for a flawless transition of the FaceTime call.

Using iPhone Cellular Calls on Other Devices

Apple's integrated ecosystem doesn't just allow for the easy transfer of FaceTime calls amongst devices - it extends to cellular calls as well. This functionality lets you make and receive iPhone calls on your other Apple devices, as long as they all use the same Apple ID.

Requirement of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions for Answering iPhone Calls on Other Devices

The ability to answer iPhone calls on other devices requires the latest software on your devices. Specifically, your iPhone needs to run iOS 16, your iPad should have iPadOS 16, and your Mac should run macOS Ventura or higher. This requirement is crucial, as devices running incompatible or outdated versions will not support this feature. For instance, if your iPhone is running iOS 16, but your iPad is still on iPadOS 15, you cannot answer your iPhone's calls on the iPad.

Steps to Enable the "Allow Calls on Other Devices" feature on iPhone

First, you must ensure that Handoff is enabled on all your devices. Once this is done, follow the steps below to activate the "Allow Calls on Other Devices" feature:

  1. On your iPhone, go to Settings.
  2. Tap on the 'General' option.
  3. In General settings, select 'AirPlay & Handoff.'
  4. Ensure the toggle for 'Handoff' is enabled.

With these steps, your iPhone is set to allow calls on your other Apple devices connected with the same Apple ID.

Making and Receiving Cellular Calls on Mac

Once the feature above is enabled on your iPhone, you can readily make and receive cellular calls on your Mac, provided it has macOS Ventura or higher. The process for making a call is the same as using FaceTime - you just need to select the contact you wish to call. To answer incoming calls, click the green button on your screen when a call comes in. Be it your home or workspace, you can effortlessly take and make calls from the device that's most convenient for you.

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