Google Announces Android 17 Handoff Feature Continue On

Google has recently announced a new feature for Android 17 called ‘Continue On’, which functions similarly to Apple’s Handoff feature. This feature allows users to seamlessly transition tasks between multiple Android devices, as long as they are logged into the same Google account.

According to the details provided on Google’s Android Developer website, Continue On enables users to start a task on one device and effortlessly continue it on another device. For example, if you are browsing a website in Chrome on your Google Pixel 10 with Android 17, you can easily switch to your Pixel Tablet and pick up right where you left off. A Handoff Suggestion will appear on the tablet taskbar, allowing you to continue the task with just a tap.

The same smooth transition between devices is also demonstrated in Google Docs, showcasing the potential productivity boost that the Continue On feature can offer. This feature is designed to work seamlessly between the same apps installed on both devices, but it can also be adapted to work with web interfaces if the apps are not installed on both devices.

For instance, if you are checking an email in the Gmail app on your Android phone, tapping the Continue On prompt on your tablet will take you to the web Gmail app instead. Despite the switch from an app to a web app, the same email thread will be instantly accessible.

Google’s introduction of the Continue On feature comes after Apple introduced Handoff back in 2014, allowing users to sync tasks between iOS and OS X devices. This feature has been a key functionality for iPhone and Mac users ever since. Google’s version of Handoff has been in the works for some time, with mentions of an ‘App Cast’ function appearing in Google Play Services last year.

Android 17 is expected to bring Google’s iteration of Handoff, along with other enhancements, when it is launched in June or July. This feature is poised to offer Android users greater flexibility and productivity in managing tasks across multiple devices seamlessly.