Summary
- Google debuts Continue On: Android’s handoff for seamless iOS-like cross-device continuity.
- Initial rollout targets phone-to-tablet handoffs, but more could be on the way.
- It’s available starting on Android 17.
For years, Apple’s Continuity framework has set the gold standard for cross-device synchronization, using its tightly controlled ecosystem to let Mac, iPad, and iPhone users work fluidly across screens. But Android can finally soon boast a comparable level of cohesiveness throughout its ecosystem.
During an Android developer session at Google I/O, Google introduced “Continue On,” a feature that enables seamless cross-device continuity. Closely mirroring Apple’s acclaimed Handoff feature, Continue On lets users start an activity or task on one Android device — such as a smartphone — and pick it up exactly where they left off on another.
While Android manufacturers like Samsung have attempted to fill this void with proprietary Continuity-style features, Google’s platform-level approach will hopefully democratize the feature across all supported Android hardware.
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How Android’s version of Continuity will work
It’s a bit restrictive for now, but we’re expecting continued development
In its initial rollout, Continue On operates with specific limitations, focusing primarily on mobile-to-tablet transitions. When a user interacts with a compatible app on their phone, a handoff suggestion will appear in the taskbar, offering a one-tap shortcut to resume the task on the linked device.
Developers can utilize an “activity deeplink” to open the native app on the receiving device, or use a web fallback to open the task in a default browser if the app isn’t installed. Alternatively, developers can choose a “direct-to-web” approach.
The current implementation prioritizes Android-to-Android handoffs, but the framework lays the groundwork for future expansion. It is highly anticipated that Google will eventually scale this feature to include other major platforms, hopefully bringing ChromeOS, Windows, and Googlebook laptops into the fold.
Android’s Continue On feature will be available on Android 17 or higher, and developers can implement it in their apps starting with API level 37.
