Google’s upcoming handoff-like feature in Android 17: Handoff for Android devices

Over the years, Apple users have enjoyed a seamless and interconnected eco system on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and features such as Handoff allow users to begin work on one device and reliably pick up where they left off on another. This cross-device integration has been a major competition feature to Apple as it creates smoothness in the work processes and increased productivity among the users. Android users have, however, been left behind when it comes to enjoying such a complete continuity, having to go to outside solutions or experience fragmentation. 

At this point, Google is yet to publicly confirm or officially announce an official Handoff-like feature in Android. Nonetheless an article by Android Authority on 27 September 2025 , confirms that Google is indeed working on this kind of feature under an internal codename of Task Continuity. This can be supported by the code of Android 16 system indicating the presence of cross-device services and beta versions of Google Play Services having strings of task handoff, notification synchronisation, and file sharing among Android devices.

The Android ecosystem’s challenge with continuity

The emerging trends show that change is coming. Microsoft has also launched Cross Device Resume, a functional feature that resembles Handoff by Apple whereby tasks including media playback, tradition, and application use can be seamlessly transferred between Windows 11 computers and Android smart phones. The main emphasis of Microsoft Build 2025 was on Cross Device Resume, which is an addition to Windows 11 that allows one to continue the session regardless of device type, including support of Android apps. Although Microsoft demonstrated how Android applications such as Spotify can integrate the activity directly to a Windows PC, it can be viewed as a parallel or antithesis to the notion of Handoff.

Nonetheless, the conference did not specifically mention the existence of a so-called Handoff-like feature of Android devices by Google. The Microsoft announcement focused on Microsoft integration of its own ecosystem between Windows and Android applications using tools such as Continuity SDK, enhancing the multi-device productivity of Windows users. These talks expressed advancements in cross-gadget multi-tasking and application continuity but did not mention Google advancements and a direct Android ecosystem-wide Handoff. The strategy of Microsoft is about how to bridge Android and Windows and possibly have close cooperation with Google in future.

Users of Android or Windows PC have long been deprived of such fluidity on the other side. Although Android devices are great in variety and customisation, transferring work, media and applications seamlessly across the phone, tablet, and PC has been uneven and patchy. Until recently, the solutions were third-party apps that were bulky or feature-limited and could not easily sync app state and context.

During Microsoft Build 2025, the company introduced Cross Device Resume, a new feature that is to be introduced fully with Windows 11 updates and Android companion apps. With this technology, users are able to continue where they left off on the supported applications on Android devices and windows computers. To demonstrate this, an example is a Spotify song, stop playing on a phone, then simply clicking an icon in the Windows taskbar, the song plays immediately on a PC. WhatsApp conversations and other workflows can also easily be moved across devices.

Handoff for Android devices: Android 17 and Google’s Role

Indications in the Android 16 and 17 system code suggest Google is working on its own cross-device services, to add similar Handoff-like functionality to Android natively. Combined with Windows, such initiatives ensure that there will be a closer relationship between Android phones and PCs, which will be enabled by the association of Microsoft and the decision of Google to harmonise the ChromeOS and Android desktop experiences. Such a partnership would eventually give Android users some degree of device continuity that was previously only enjoyed by Apple.

A unified tech life

Individuals who are tech enthusiasts and have numerous applications and gadgets in their daily lives will not have the luxury of cross-device integration, but a necessity. The Cross Device Resume pioneered by Microsoft alongside future upgrades of Android systems can be viewed as a huge positive move towards an interconnected digital lifestyle with blurred device boundaries to enhance productivity and user ease.

Finally, though Apple is still ahead of the game in terms of cross-device integration with its Continuity features, Android users will also have the similar features in the near future. Cross Device Resume, which will work with future Android advancements, is a milestone move urging Microsoft to an ecosystem that cuts across the bounds of devices, sponsored by Google. The trend will transform the efficiency of multitasking both at mobile and desktop platforms in the coming years. Major Android version updates and other announcements are usually announced in the I/O developer conferences or special Android release events hosted by Google. The feature is likely to be introduced with Android 17; therefore, more factual data or official statements may be disclosed earlier in that period of time.

Thus, although it is known that Google is working on it behind the scenes, it has not yet published any news or statement about this matter.