The introduction of the new “Handoff” feature in Android 17 aims to enhance user experience by allowing seamless transitions of app activities between devices. This functionality is designed to operate in the background and provides an API for developers to integrate into their applications.
Users can initiate an app on one Android device and transfer it to another, provided the same app is installed on the receiving device. The feature also includes “app-to-web Handoff” as a secondary option, enhancing versatility. Developers are required to enable Handoff on a per-activity basis by using the setHandoffEnabled() method and managing additional data for state restoration.
Currently, Android 17 Beta 1 does not display this feature, and further documentation for developers is lacking, particularly regarding supported form factors. The taskbar feature is presently limited to foldables and tablets. This continuity option has the potential to facilitate workflows across devices, such as composing emails on a phone and completing them on a laptop.