Transfer spreadsheets with Handoff

When your Mac and iOS devices are near each other, you can use Handoff to pass a spreadsheet you’re working on from one to the other. For example, if you’re working on a Numbers spreadsheet on your iPhone and are near your Mac, you can pick up the spreadsheet on your Mac and finish it there.

Handoff requires:

You set up Handoff in System Preferences on the Mac (in General preferences, select “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices”) and in Settings on your iOS device (go to General > Handoff & Suggested Apps, then turn on Handoff).

Hand off a spreadsheet to iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch

  1. On a Mac or other iOS device, open a spreadsheet.

    When another iOS device or a Mac is near the iOS device you want to hand off to, a Handoff icon for Numbers Handoff button appears in the bottom-left corner of the device’s Lock screen.

    Note: Only the app you’re currently using can hand off your work.

  2. On the iOS device to which you handed off the spreadsheet, swipe up on Handoff button to open the spreadsheet.

    The spreadsheet opens on your iOS device.

You can also see the Handoff icon when you double-click the Home button to reveal the multitasking screen. Tap Numbers at the bottom of the screen to pick up where you left off.

Hand off a spreadsheet to a Mac

  1. On an iOS device or another Mac, open a spreadsheet.

    When the device or other Mac is near the Mac you want to hand off to, Handoff button appears on the left side of the Dock.

  2. Click Handoff button.

    The spreadsheet opens on the Mac the spreadsheet was handed off to.

For additional instructions on setting up and using Handoff, click the desktop to switch to the Finder, choose Help > Mac Help (from the Help menu at the top of your screen), then search for “Handoff.”