Google is preparing to introduce a new feature called “Handoff” in Android 17, designed to enable seamless continuation of tasks across multiple Android devices. The feature, described as a “cross-device continuity” tool, will allow users to begin an activity on one Android device and continue it on another.
Handoff operates both as a user-facing feature and a developer API. Google intends to surface available activities from nearby devices through the launcher and taskbar, facilitating the transfer of tasks. The system is designed to launch the “same native Android app” provided it is installed on both devices, deep-linking the user directly into the appropriate activity.
As a fallback, Android 17 will also support “app-to-web Handoff,” allowing users to transition tasks to a web-based version of the application if a native app isn’t available on the receiving device. This provides a broader level of compatibility, ensuring continuity even when devices have differing app installations.
For developers, Handoff support is implemented on an activity-by-activity basis. To enable the feature, developers will call the setHandoffEnabled() method for each activity they wish to support. The system also requires developers to implement the onHandoffActivityRequested() callback, returning a HandoffActivityData object that details how the activity should be handled and recreated on the receiving device. This allows for the restoration of the activity’s state during the transfer.
The first beta of Android 17 is imminent, according to reports, but the Handoff feature is not currently live in the Beta 1 release. Details regarding the specific form factors supported by Handoff remain unclear. The Android taskbar, mentioned by Google as a surface for available activities, is currently available on foldable devices, tablets, and other large-screen Android devices. Potential applications of the technology include starting an email composition on a smartphone and completing it on an Android-powered laptop.
