Google is quietly building something that sounds very familiar if you live in Apple’s ecosystem.
With Android 17, a new cross-device continuity feature called “Handoff” is on the way, and it aims to let you start something on one Android device and pick it up instantly on another.
Yes, that kind of handoff.
But this isn’t just a copycat move. It signals something bigger about where Android is heading in 2026.
What Android 17 handoff actually does
Google describes Handoff as a background feature paired with a developer API. In simple terms, it allows you to:
- Start an app activity on one Android device
- Transition that same activity to another nearby Android device
If the same native app is installed on the second device, Android can launch it directly and deep-link you into the exact activity you were using.
That means if you’re halfway through composing an email, editing a document, or browsing a product page, you won’t just reopen the app. You’ll jump right back into the specific screen you were on.
Google says the launcher and taskbar will surface available activities from nearby devices, which hints that this will be especially useful on foldables, tablets, and larger-screen Android hardware where a taskbar already exists.
There’s a web fallback too
If the receiving device doesn’t have the app installed, Android 17 will support an “app-to-web Handoff” fallback.
In that case, instead of launching the native app, Android can open the relevant web experience. It’s a practical move and makes the feature more flexible, especially across different device types.
Google clearly wants this to work across phones, tablets, foldables, and potentially desktop-style Android environments.
You can already imagine the pitch: Start drafting an email on your phone, then finish it on your Android tablet or laptop without emailing yourself a draft like it’s 2012.
What developers need to do
For developers, Handoff support works on a per-activity basis.
They’ll need to call the setHandoffEnabled() method for a specific activity. If extra state data is needed, they can implement the onHandoffActivityRequested() callback to pass along the required details so the receiving device can properly restore the session.
In other words, this won’t magically work across every app overnight. Developers will need to opt in and properly configure it.
That also means the real impact will depend heavily on adoption. If Google’s own apps fully support it from day one, that could give it momentum.
Nothing live yet in beta
So far, Android 17 Beta 1 doesn’t show any visible signs of Handoff in action. There’s no detailed documentation beyond what Google has shared, and we don’t yet know exactly which device categories will support it at launch.
The mention of a taskbar suggests larger devices are a priority. Foldables and tablets make obvious sense, but this could get much more interesting if it ties into desktop Android or ChromeOS.
And if that happens, Android’s continuity story suddenly becomes much more serious.
The bigger picture: Android’s ecosystem play
This isn’t just about convenience, it’s about ecosystem glue.
For years, Apple has leaned hard into continuity features like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and AirDrop to make switching away from iPhone harder. Android has had pieces of this puzzle, but it hasn’t always felt unified.
Android 17 Handoff suggests Google wants to tighten that experience across devices, especially as foldables and multi-device setups become more common.
If this works smoothly, it could become one of those subtle features that quietly changes how people use their devices every day.
And if it doesn’t, it’ll just be another checkbox feature that most users forget exists.
Either way, Android 17 is shaping up to be more than just a visual refresh. It looks like Google is thinking bigger about continuity, productivity, and keeping users inside the Android ecosystem without friction.
Now we just need to see it actually work.
