Continuity features and requirements for Apple devices

Continuity features make it seamless to move between your Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. These are the device and operating system requirements for each feature.

AirDrop

Use AirDrop to wirelessly send documents, photos, videos, websites, map locations, and more from one Apple device to another.

AirPlay to Mac

Use AirPlay to Mac to stream or mirror content to your Mac from an iPhone, iPad, or other Mac.

iOS 14 or later

  • iPhone 7 or later

iPadOS 14 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

macOS Monterey 12 or later

To use this feature, your Mac must be set up to be an AirPlay receiver:

You can also use AirPlay to Mac to mirror your view on an Apple Vision Pro to your Mac. And starting with visionOS 2, other devices can use AirPlay to mirror their screen or view to Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Pay

Use Apple Pay on your Mac to shop online, then complete your purchase using Apple Pay on your iPhone or Apple Watch.

Auto Unlock

Use Auto Unlock with your Apple Watch to get instant access to your Mac when wearing your Apple Watch, or quickly approve other requests to enter your Mac administrator password.

watchOS 3 or later

Using Apple Watch to approve requests for the Mac administrator password requires watchOS 6 or later.

macOS High Sierra 10.13 or later

Apple Watch Series 2 and earlier can use Auto Unlock with macOS Sierra 10.12 or later. Approving requests for the Mac administrator password requires macOS Catalina 10.15 or later.

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

Continuity Camera: Use iPhone as a webcam for Mac

Use your iPhone as a webcam for Mac. Some video effects and mic modes have different requirements.

iOS 16 or later

macOS Ventura 13 or later

Continuity Camera: Use iPhone or iPad as a webcam for Apple TV

Use your iPhone or iPad as a webcam for Apple TV.

iOS 17 or later

iPadOS 17 or later

tvOS 17 or later

Continuity Camera: Use iPhone or iPad to take photos or scan documents on Mac

Use your iPhone or iPad to take photos and scan documents on Mac.

iOS 12 or later

iPadOS (all versions)

macOS Mojave 10.14 or later

Continuity Sketch and Continuity Markup

Use Continuity Sketch and Continuity Markup with your iPhone or iPad to add sketches, shapes, and other markup to a Mac document, and see the changes live on your Mac.

iOS 13 or later

iPadOS (all versions)

macOS Catalina 10.15 or later

Handoff

Use Handoff to start work on one device, then switch to another nearby device and pick up where you left off.

iOS 8 or later, or iPadOS (all versions)

Handing off a FaceTime call requires iOS 16 or later, or iPadOS 16 or later.

OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later

Handing off a FaceTime call requires macOS Ventura 13 or later.

watchOS (all versions)

You can also hand off a FaceTime call to and from Apple Vision Pro.

Instant Hotspot

Use Instant Hotspot to connect to the Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) from your other Apple device without entering a password.

Requirements for the device providing the hotspot

iOS 8.1 or later, or iPadOS (all versions)

The iPhone or iPad must have an activated carrier plan providing Personal Hotspot service.

  • iPhone 5 or later

  • iPad Pro (all models)

  • iPad (4th generation) or later

  • iPad Air (all models)

  • iPad mini (all models)

Requirements for the device connecting to the hotspot

iOS 8 or later, or iPadOS (all versions)
  • iPhone 5 or later

  • iPod touch (5th generation) or later

  • iPad Pro (all models)

  • iPad (4th generation) or later

  • iPad Air (all models)

  • iPad mini (all models)

OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later
  • MacBook introduced in 2015 or later

  • Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later

  • All other Mac models introduced in 2012 or later

visionOS (all versions)
  • Apple Vision Pro (all models)

iPhone Cellular Calls

Use iPhone Cellular Calls to make and receive calls from your Mac or iPad when those devices are on the same network as your iPhone.

iOS 8 or later, or iPadOS (all versions)

The iPhone that you’re using to relay calls to and from your other devices requires iOS 8.1 or later and an activated carrier plan.

OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later

visionOS (all versions)

iPhone Mirroring

Use iPhone Mirroring to wirelessly interact with your iPhone and its apps from your Mac, as well as receive notifications and Live Activities from your iPhone. Your iPhone stays locked, so no one else can access it or use it to see what you’re doing.

iOS 18 or later

macOS Sequoia 15 or later

Live Activities from iPhone requires macOS Tahoe 26 or later.

iPhone widgets on Mac

Use widgets from your iPhone right on your Mac, without needing the corresponding app to be installed on your Mac.

iOS 17 or later

macOS Sonoma 14 or later

Mac Virtual Display

Use Mac Virtual Display to use Apple Vision Pro as a private, portable 4K display for your Mac.

visionOS (all versions)

macOS Sonoma 15 or later

Mirror My View

Use the Mirror My View feature on Apple Vision Pro to mirror what you see on Apple Vision Pro to an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or AirPlay-compatible smart TV.

visionOS (all versions)

Starting with visionOS 2, other Apple devices can use AirPlay to mirror their screen or view to Apple Vision Pro.

iOS 17 or later

iPadOS 17 or later

macOS Monterey 12 or later

tvOS 14.5 or later

Mirror My View also works with AirPlay-compatible smart TVs.

Sidecar

Use Sidecar to use your iPad as a second display that extends or mirrors your Mac desktop, or as a tablet input device to draw with Apple Pencil in Mac apps.

iPadOS 13 or later

macOS Catalina 10.15 or later

Text Message Forwarding

Use Text Message Forwarding to send and receive SMS, MMS, or RCS text messages from your iPhone on your Mac or iPad.

iOS 8 or later, or iPadOS (all versions)

OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later

visionOS (all versions)

Universal Clipboard

Use Universal Clipboard to copy content such as text, images, photos, and videos on one Apple device, then paste the content on another Apple device.

iOS 10 or later, or iPadOS (all versions)

macOS Sierra 10.12 or later

To use Universal Clipboard to copy entire files from one Mac to another, each Mac requires macOS High Sierra 10.13 or later.

visionOS (all versions)

Universal Control

Use Universal Control to use the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad of your Mac to control up to two other nearby Mac or iPad devices, and work seamlessly between them.

To use your Mac computer's keyboard and trackpad to work on your Mac within Apple Vision Pro, use Mac Virtual Display instead.

iPadOS 15.4 or later

macOS Monterey 12.4 or later