HT204681: Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac

Learn about Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac
SterndesSüdens

Q: Handoff activity icon is not visible

I followed the instructions of this support document to activate continuity on my iPhone 5s and my MacBook Pro (Mid 2014).

SMS and phone are working fine on my Mac, but when I'm using Safari, Mail etc., the icon of the app is not shown on the other device.

 

Both devices are able to use Continuity, are connected to the same WiFi-Network and have Bluetooth enabled.

 

How is it possible that only some parts of Continuity are working?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 5, 2015 5:26 AM

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Q: Handoff activity icon is not visible

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 5, 2015 8:17 AM in response to SterndesSüdens
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    May 5, 2015 8:17 AM in response to SterndesSüdens

    Did you check the Allow Handoff box in the General preference pane?

  • by SterndesSüdens,

    SterndesSüdens SterndesSüdens May 5, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 5, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Yes. On both devices

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 5, 2015 9:53 AM in response to SterndesSüdens
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    May 5, 2015 9:53 AM in response to SterndesSüdens

    First, if Handoff has never worked, verify that the Mac is capable of using it. Hold down the option key and select System Information... from the Apple menu. In the System Information window, select Bluetooth from the list on the left. Near the top of the summary of "Hardware, Features, and Settings," you should see this line:

              Handoff Supported: Yes

    In rare cases, you might not see that indication, even though you have one of the models that is supposed to support Handoff. That could happen because of a hardware fault or a corrupt OS X installation.

    Follow the instructions in this support article. All the devices using Handoff must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If the Mac also has an Ethernet connection, disconnect the Ethernet cable.

    If Handoff still doesn't work, on the mobile device, turn Handoff off and back on as directed in the linked article. On the Mac, turn Bluetooth off and back on. You might have to restart a mobile device to get it working.

    No Continuity feature will work if either of the devices is connected to a VPN.

    If the above steps don't solve the problem, or if they're not applicable, continue.

    Back up all data.

    Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C:

    /var/db/CoreDuet

    In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

    A folder named "CoreDuet" may open, containing one or more files with names beginning in "coreduetd." Move those files to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Restart the computer and test.

    Handoff is not yet completely reliable, and any improvement may only be temporary.

  • by SterndesSüdens,

    SterndesSüdens SterndesSüdens May 5, 2015 10:11 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 5, 2015 10:11 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Linc Davis wrote:

     

    First, if Handoff has never worked, verify that the Mac is capable of using it. Hold down the option key and select System Information... from the Apple menu. In the System Information window, select Bluetooth from the list on the left. Near the top of the summary of "Hardware, Features, and Settings," you should see this line:

              Handoff Supported: Yes

    My Mac supports handoff.

     

    Linc Davis wrote:

    Follow the instructions in this support article. All the devices using Handoff must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If the Mac also has an Ethernet connection, disconnect the Ethernet cable.

    If Handoff still doesn't work, on the mobile device, turn Handoff off and back on as directed in the linked article. On the Mac, turn Bluetooth off and back on. You might have to restart a mobile device to get it working.

    Did not help. And none of my devices is connected to a VPN.

     

    Linc Davis wrote:

    Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C:

    /var/db/CoreDuet

    In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

    A folder named "CoreDuet" may open, containing one or more files with names beginning in "coreduetd." Move those files to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Restart the computer and test.

    Didn't change anything :-(

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 5, 2015 12:42 PM in response to SterndesSüdens
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    May 5, 2015 12:42 PM in response to SterndesSüdens

    Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or click the Support link at the top of this page.

  • by Bobbypoz,

    Bobbypoz Bobbypoz Oct 24, 2015 8:12 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Audio
    Oct 24, 2015 8:12 PM in response to Linc Davis

    #6 above worked for me.  Thanks Linc