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Google Finally Matches Apple’s Handoff With Android 17 Continue On Feature

Pearl Doshi - Gujarat Bureau Published May 21, 2026, 01:21 AM Updated Sep 18, 2026, 07:11 AM

Google has confirmed that Android 17 will introduce “Continue On,” a cross-device app continuity feature similar to Apple’s Handoff. It allows users to start an activity on their Android phone and seamlessly continue it on a tablet, with support for web fallbacks if the app isn’t installed.

On May 20, 2026, Google unveiled Continue On during its Android 17 rollout. The feature marks a major step toward tighter ecosystem integration, enabling Android users to switch tasks between devices without losing progress.

How Continue On Works

Sender device: The phone where the activity begins.
Receiver device: The tablet (or other Android device) where the activity continues.
Handoff process: Runs in the background, requiring no manual setup.
If the app is installed on both devices, the activity deep-links directly to the same screen.
If the app isn’t installed, a web fallback opens the equivalent experience in the browser.
Example: A Google Docs file opened on a phone can instantly resume on a tablet. Gmail can hand off from the app to the full web interface, opening the same email thread.

Current Limitations

At launch, Continue On supports mobile-to-tablet transitions only. Google has confirmed bidirectional support is planned, but tablet-to-phone handoff is not yet available. Developers can already begin building support for the feature in Android 17’s release candidate builds.

Strategic Importance

This move positions Android closer to Apple’s ecosystem by:
Offering cross-device continuity for productivity and communication apps.
Encouraging developers to integrate deep-linking and web fallback options.
Laying groundwork for expansion to Googlebook laptops and broader device interoperability.

Key Highlights

•⁠ ⁠Android 17 introduces “Continue On,” Google’s version of Apple’s Handoff

•⁠ ⁠Allows seamless transition of app activity between phone and tablet

•⁠ ⁠Web fallback ensures continuity even if apps aren’t installed

•⁠ ⁠Currently limited to mobile-to-tablet transitions, bidirectional support planned

•⁠ ⁠Developers can start implementing support in Android 17 RC1 builds

•⁠ ⁠Potential expansion to laptops and wider Android ecosystem integration

Sources: Digital Trends, Firstpost, Android Developers, Android Police, Android Headlines

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