Google unveils Continue On for Android 17 cross-device task handoff

Google has introduced a new feature called "Continue On" for its upcoming Android 17 operating system, designed to allow users to seamlessly transfer tasks between their Android devices. The feature was detailed during a developer session at the Google I/O 2026 conference.

Continue On enables a user to begin an activity, such as browsing a website or editing a document, on one Android device and then pick up exactly where they left off on another. For the handoff to work, both devices must be signed into the same Google account. In its initial implementation, the feature will focus on transitions between Android phones and tablets.

When a user interacts with a compatible app on their phone, a handoff suggestion will appear in the taskbar on a linked tablet. Tapping this suggestion resumes the task. Google has provided examples using Google Docs and Chrome, showing a document or a specific webpage opening automatically on the second device.

The system offers flexibility for developers. If the same app is installed on both devices, it can use a deep link to open the native app directly to the correct activity. If the app is not installed on the receiving device, developers can...