How to Use Continuity

1 START SETTING UP AUTO UNLOCK

Ensure your Mac’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on, then that your Mac and Watch are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID (go to ‘ > System Prefs > iCloud’ on your Mac, and in the Watch app on your phone, go to ‘General > Apple ID’).

2 MORE AUTO UNLOCK SETTINGS

If you haven’t already, set up a passcode in the Watch app on your iPhone, head to ‘Passcode’. In ‘ > System Prefs > Security & Privacy’ on your Mac, enable ‘Allow your Apple Watch to unlock...’ and wait for the feature to activate.

3 SET UP HANDOFF

To use Handoff, a Mac’s Wi-Fi must be turned on, even if it’s using Ethernet for networking. On your Mac, go to ‘ > System Prefs > General’ and turn on ‘Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices’.

4 SWITCH DEVICES FOR A TASK

Enable it on iOS in ‘Settings > General > Handoff’. To move a task from iOS to Mac, click the Dock icon left of the Finder icon. Another way to do this is to swipe up from the app icon on the Lock screen, or double-click Home and tap the banner.

5 SET UP INSTANT HOTSPOT

On your iPhone, go to ‘Settings > Mobile Data’ and turn on the Personal Hotspot feature. From the Wi-Fi icon on your Mac, choose the name of your iPhone. On another iOS device, tap your iPhone’s name in ‘Settings > Wi-Fi’.

6 PHONE CALLS ON ALL DEVICES

Sign in to FaceTime on each device using the Apple ID you use for iCloud. Ensure your iPhone and other devices are on the same network. In ‘Settings > Phone > Calls on Other Devices’ on the iPhone, enable ‘Allow Calls on...’.

7 CHOOSE DEVICES FOR CALLS

Pick devices on which to make and receive calls. Turn on ‘Calls From iPhone’ in FaceTime’s prefs on your Mac, and in ‘Settings > FaceTime on other iOS devices’. Incoming calls show as a notification on a Mac and a call screen on iOS.

8 SMS AND MMS, EVERYWHERE

Your iMessage account in Messages’ prefs (Mac) and Apple ID in ‘Settings > Messages > Send & Receive’ (iOS) must match. In iPhone’s ‘Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding’, enable devices and then enter the code they receive.