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I’m fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem and use a Mac, an iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch every day. While these devices perform well on their own, their strengths are amplified when used in tandem.
From allowing me to unlock my Mac with an Apple Watch to turn my iPad into a portable Mac display, these Apple ecosystem features unlock a whole new experience and boost my productivity.
1Handoff Lets Me Move Tasks Between Devices Easily
Handoff allows you to start a task on one Apple device and continue where you left off on another. For instance, you can begin composing an email in the Mail app on your iPhone and move it to your Mac to take advantage of the bigger screen and a physical keyboard.
I use Handoff all the time. One of my most frequent use cases for the feature is to hand off browser tabs from my iPhone or iPad to my Mac. I also use it to hand off work in the Numbers app between my iPhone and iPad.
While Handoff typically works on built-in Apple apps, you can also use it to hand off tasks on many third-party apps. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Firefox are some popular names that support the feature.
To use Handoff, make sure each device is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account and has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. Next, turn on the Handoff feature. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Airplay & Continuity and turn on the toggle for “Handoff.” On a Mac, you can do this by heading to System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff and enabling the “Allow Handoff Between This Mac and Your iCloud Devices” option.
Once done, anytime you open a compatible app on one device, you’ll see it on the other device in the App Switcher (on an iPhone or iPad) or the Dock (on a Mac.) Tap or click it to open the app on that device.
I prefer hooking up my MacBook to an external monitor whenever I’m working at my desk. However, since I work remotely, I often work out of cafes. Apple’s Sidecar feature makes my life easier in such situations, allowing me to turn my iPad into a portable display that I can connect to my Mac when I need more screen real estate.
Sidecar lets you extend your Mac’s desktop or mirror it to your iPad. I mostly use my iPad as an extended display to spread out my apps and windows across both screens. That way, I can focus better on the most important task at hand.
you may use Sidecar in wired or wireless mode. For the former, you need to connect the two devices with a compatible USB cable. Meanwhile, if you prefer a wireless connection, make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on both devices and connect them to the same Wi-Fi network.
After this, click the green full-screen button on the app window you want to move to your iPad. Then, choose the “Move to [Your Name] iPad” option. Similarly, you can move windows from the iPad back to Mac by clicking the full-screen button and selecting “Move Windows Back to Mac.”
Apple iPad Air (M3)
2025’s iPad Air upgrade features an M3 chip, is compatible with a new keyboard folio case, and has support for Apple Intelligence. It’s almost identical to the previous model in terms of look and feel.
3Universal Control Lets Me Use One Mouse and Keyboard for All Devices
Although Sidecar is a handy feature, it temporarily replaces iPadOS on my iPad with macOS, which isn’t always ideal. For example, when I’m working on my MacBook, I prefer keeping team conversations in Slack, email, and reading apps on my iPad, so I can dedicate my MacBook’s entire screen estate to work apps.
For such situations, Apple offers the Universal Control feature. With it, I can use my MacBook’s keyboard, trackpad, or external mouse to control my iPad. This way, I can keep things separate and don’t have to reach over to the iPad every time I want to do something on it.
Universal Control is easy to use. First, make sure you’re signed in on all devices with the same Apple Account. You also need to make sure Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff are turned on. Once done, place the two devices side by side.
Now, use your Mac’s trackpad or external mouse to drag the pointer across the edge—to the side of the iPad or Mac—and you should see it on the iPad or Mac. Use the iPad as you’d normally do. When you want to type, click on an area and start typing on your Mac’s keyboard.
4Universal Clipboard Lets Me Copy and Paste Across Devices
Universal Clipboard makes copying and pasting items across Apple devices easy. You can use it to copy, say, a URL, text snippet, photo, or video from your iPhone and paste it into an app on your Mac or iPad. That way, you don’t have to manually transfer items or open them on the other device first.
I use Universal Clipboard for various things, but adding photos from my iPhone photo library to an app on my Mac is how I use it most often. This makes it easy to send images or documents via WhatsApp on my Mac, add them to an email, or attach them to a document or note I’m currently working on. Copying one-time passcodes from my iPhone to authenticate on an app on my Mac is another handy use case for the feature.
Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices and that they’re connected to the same network. After you do this, you can copy items from one device and paste them onto the other.
5Continuity Camera Turns My iPhone Into a Document Scanner
For times when I need to digitize a document to save it on my Mac, attach it to a document, or share it with someone,Apple’s Continuity Camera featuresaves the day. It lets me use my iPhone’s camera to scan a document, which appears instantly on my Mac, ready for use.
Continuity Camera works on most Apple apps, such as Finder, Notes, Messages, Pages, and more. To use it, simply open the supported app on your Mac, then right-click the area where you want the document and select “Scan Document.” Alternatively, click “File” (or “Insert” on some apps) and select Insert from iPhone or iPad > Scan Documents.
This will open the Camera app on your iPhone or iPad. Frame the document in the viewfinder. The app will automatically capture the document. You’ll see a thumbnail in the bottom-left corner if it was captured automatically.
MacBook Air (M4)
The MacBook Air with the M4 chip is Apple’s most powerful yet, with amazing battery life and buttery-smooth performance in a thin and light profile.
However, if it wasn’t, tap the Shutter button to capture the document manually. Tap the thumbnail to preview or edit it. Once done, hit “Save,” and the document will be inserted into the app on your Mac.
You can also use Continuity Camera to take photos on your iPhone and insert them directly into apps on your Mac. For this, select the “Take Photo” option instead of “Scan Documents” in the right-click or File menu.
6Continuity Camera Lets Me Use My iPhone as a Mac Webcam
My MacBook Pro comes with a 1080p HD camera. While it’s an upgrade from previous generations and offers workable image and video quality, for times when photo and video quality are important,I use my iPhone as a webcam for my MacBook, thanks to the Continuity Camera feature.
With Continuity Camera, you can leverage the higher-resolution rear cameras on your iPhone to capture more detailed photos and videos. I find this especially useful in low-light settings, where the built-in webcam on my MacBook can struggle.
Lock your iPhone and mount it in the landscape orientation—with its rear camera facing you—on top of your MacBook using a mount. you may also place it near the MacBook on an appropriate stand if you prefer that. Although Continuity Camera works wirelessly, you can connect your iPhone to your Mac using a cable for a more stable connection or to simultaneously charge it.
Next, open the app where you want to click a picture, record a video, or start a video call. Navigate your way through the settings to set your iPhone as the default webcam. You should now be able to take input from your iPhone’s camera on your Mac.
7Markup Documents and Images Across Devices Too
Marking up images and documents on a Mac is easy. However, I sometimes prefer using the touch input or a stylus on my iPhone or iPad, as that makes annotating and marking up easier. The Continuity Markup feature facilitates this.
Continuity Markup is supported on many apps, including Finder, Notes, Pages, and Numbers. As you use it to make changes to a document or image on your iPhone or iPad, they appear instantly on your Mac, allowing you to preview exactly how the final result would look.
To use it, select a document or image in Finder on your Mac and hit the Spacebar. Then, click the Markup icon and hit the iPhone or iPad icon to seamlessly switch to your iPhone or iPad. Annotate or sign the document or image. Tap “Done” to save the changes.
8iPhone Mirroring Allows Me to Use My iPhone on a Mac
iPhone Mirroring is a Continuity feature in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoiathat allows you to interact with your iPhone right on your Mac. I find this useful whenever I need to use an app or interact with an incoming notification on my iPhone while I’m working on my Mac.
The best part? iPhone Mirroring works wirelessly. Once connected, you can use your Mac’s keyboard, trackpad, or external mouse to interact with the iPhone’s apps and interface and perform a range of tasks. Note that mirroring only works as long as your iPhone’s screen is locked, it disconnects the moment you unlock the iPhone.
9Auto Unlock Lets Me Unlock My Mac Instantly With an Apple Watch
There are many things I dislike about the Apple Watch. However, if there’s one thing I treasure and return to the Apple Watch for, it’s Auto Unlock. The feature automatically unlocks my Mac when I have my Apple Watch on my wrist, saving me the need to authenticate using a password or Touch ID.
Auto Unlock’s benefits don’t end at just unlocking your Mac; it also simplifies authenticating into other apps and approving app installations and system changes. Similarly, you can use the feature to make Apple Pay payments, control media playback, and control presentation slides on your Mac. My favorite among these is the ability to control media playback.
Enable the feature under System Settings > Touch ID & Password via the “Apple Watch” section at the bottom of the pane.
Continuity is one of the main reasons many people swear by Apple devices. It significantly reduces the friction of using multiple devices together, allowing you to seamlessly switch to devices that can do that job well and get more done in less time. If you own multiple Apple devices, give these features a shot and get the most out of them.
