System requirements for Continuity on Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch
Here's what you need to use Auto Unlock, Continuity Camera, Handoff, Instant Hotspot, iPhone Cellular Calls, SMS/MMS messaging, Universal Clipboard, Continuity Sketch, and Continuity Markup.
Auto Unlock
Auto Unlock works with these devices and operating systems:
watchOS 3 or later
macOS Sierra or later
Apple Watch (1st generation)
Apple Watch Series 1
Apple Watch Series 2
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple Watch Series 4
Apple Watch Series 5
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 (all models)
Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
To use Auto Unlock with Apple Watch Series 3 or newer, 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.
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 newer
iPad Pro (all models)
iPad (4th generation) or newer
iPad Air or newer
iPad mini or newer
iPod touch (5th generation) or newer
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 (all models)
Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
Apple Watch (1st generation)
Apple Watch Series 1
Apple Watch Series 2
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple Watch Series 4
Apple Watch Series 5
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 newer
iPad Pro (all models)
iPad (4th generation) or newer
iPad Air or newer
iPad mini or newer
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 newer
iPad Pro (all models)
iPad (4th generation) or newer
iPad Air or newer
iPad mini or newer
iPod touch (5th generation) or newer
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 (all models)
Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
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.
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 newer
iPad Pro (all models)
iPad (4th generation) or newer
iPad Air or newer
iPad mini 2 or newer
iPod touch (6th generation) or newer
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 (all models)
Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
Universal Clipboard can also copy entire files from one Mac to another. Each Mac requires macOS High Sierra or later.