System requirements for Continuity on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch

Continuity makes it seamless to move between your Apple devices. These are the hardware and software requirements for each Continuity feature.

AirPlay to Mac

AirPlay to Mac works best with these devices and operating systems.

iOS 14 or later macOS Monterey or later
  • iPhone 7 or later
  • iPad Pro (2nd generation) or later 
  • iPad (6th generation) or later
  • iPad Air (3rd generation) or later
  • iPad mini (5th generation) or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2018 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2018 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2020 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2019 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2019 or later
  • Mac Studio

You can AirPlay to Mac at a lower video resolution from older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models and operating systems if the supported Mac has the AirPlay Receiver setting in Sharing settings configured to allow AirPlay for either Everyone or “Anyone on the same network”.

 

Auto Unlock

Auto Unlock works with these devices and operating systems:

watchOS 3 or later macOS Sierra or later
  • Apple Watch (all models)
  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in late 2013 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2013 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2014 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2013 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
  • Mac Studio

To use Auto Unlock with Apple Watch Series 3 or later, your Mac needs macOS High Sierra or later.

To use Auto Unlock to approve requests for your Mac administrator password, your Apple Watch needs watchOS 6 or later, and your Mac needs macOS Catalina or later.

If you're not sure whether your Mac supports Auto Unlock, press and hold the Option key while choosing Apple menu  > System Information. Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar of System Information. On the right side, look for ”Auto Unlock: Supported.”

 

Continuity Camera

Continuity Camera works with these devices and operating systems when using iPhone as a webcam:

Using iPhone as a webcam for Mac

iOS 16 or later macOS Ventura or later
  • iPhone XR or later
    (All iPhone models introduced in 2018 or later)
  • iPhone 11 or later for Center Stage
  • iPhone 11 or later (excluding iPhone SE) for Desk View
  • iPhone 12 or later for Studio Light
 Any Mac compatible with macOS Ventura or later:
  • MacBook introduced in 2017 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2017 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2017 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2019 or later
  • Mac Studio


Continuity Camera works with these devices and operating systems when using an iOS device to take photos and scan documents.

Using an iOS device to take photos or scan documents on Mac

iOS 12 or later macOS Mojave or later
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • iPod touch
  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
  • Mac Studio

 

Continuity Sketch and Continuity Markup

Continuity Sketch and Continuity Markup work with these devices and operating systems:

iOS 13 or later iPadOS macOS Catalina or later
  • iPhone 6s or later, including iPhone SE
  • iPod touch (7th generation) or later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad (5th generation) or later
  • iPad Air 2 or later
  • iPad mini 4 or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
  • Mac Studio

 

Handoff

Handoff works with these devices and operating systems:

iOS 8 or later OS X Yosemite or later  watchOS 1.0 or later
  • iPhone 5 or later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad (4th generation) or later
  • iPad Air or later
  • iPad mini or later
  • iPod touch (5th generation) or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2012 later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
  • Mac Studio
  • Apple Watch (all models)

To hand off a FaceTime call, your devices need macOS Ventura, iOS 16, or iPadOS 16 or later.

 

Instant Hotspot

Instant Hotspot requires one of these devices and operating systems:

iOS 8.1 or later

The device must also have an activated carrier plan providing Personal Hotspot service.

  • iPhone 5 or later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad (4th generation) or later
  • iPad Air or later
  • iPad mini or later

You can then use Instant Hotspot to connect to your Personal Hotspot from these devices:

iOS 8 or later OS X Yosemite or later 
  • iPhone 5 or later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad (4th generation) or later
  • iPad Air or later
  • iPad mini or later
  • iPod touch (5th generation) or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
  • Mac Studio

 

iPhone Cellular Calls

iPhone Cellular Calls requires any iPhone using iOS 8.1 or later and an activated carrier plan. You can then relay calls to and from that iPhone from these devices:

  • Any Mac using OS X Yosemite or later. Mac mini and Mac Pro require an external microphone or headset.
  • Any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iOS 8 or later.

 

Sidecar

Sidecar works with these devices and operating systems:

iPadOS 13 or later macOS Catalina or later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad (6th generation) or later
  • iPad mini (5th generation) or later
  • iPad Air (3rd generation) or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2017 or later, or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2019
  • Mac Studio

 

SMS and MMS messaging

SMS and MMS messaging requires an activated carrier plan on any iPhone using iOS 8.1 or later. You can then send and receive SMS and MMS messages from these devices:

  • Any Mac using OS X Yosemite or later. 
  • Any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iOS 8 or later.

 

Universal Clipboard

Universal Clipboard works with these devices and operating systems when copying text, images, photos, and video from one Apple device to another.

iOS 10 or later macOS Sierra or later
  • iPhone 5 or later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad (4th generation) or later
  • iPad Air (all models)
  • iPad mini 2 or later
  • iPod touch (6th generation) or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2012 or later
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
  • Mac Studio

To use Universal Clipboard to copy entire files from one Mac to another, each Mac requires macOS High Sierra or later. 

 

Universal Control

Universal Control works with these devices and operating systems:

iPadOS 15.4 or later macOS Monterey 12.3 or later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad (6th generation) or later
  • iPad Air (3rd generation) or later
  • iPad mini (5th generation) or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
  • MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
  • Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
  • iMac introduced in 2017 or later, plus iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro introduced in 2019 or later
  • Mac Studio
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