Android 17 takes a big step toward Apple-style ecosystem continuity with ‘Continue On’

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Google has introduced a new Android 17 feature called Continue On that lets users move apps between Android devices and continue where they left off.
• The feature will initially support phone‑to‑tablet handoffs, with app suggestions appearing directly in the tablet taskbar.
• Continue On is part of Google’s broader push to improve Android’s cross‑device ecosystem and better compete with Apple’s continuity features.

Overview

Google announced the Continue On feature on the sidelines of I/O 2026. It is designed to make moving tasks between Android devices smoother, allowing you to start using an app on one device and then seamlessly continue the same work on another.

The capability was detailed in a developer blog post and is part of Google’s ongoing effort to improve Android’s cross‑device services across phones, tablets, and eventually other form factors.

How Continue On Works

• Bidirectional handoff – Supported Android devices can both send and receive app sessions.
• App suggestions – When you pick up a tablet after using an app on your phone, Android suggests the same app directly in the tablet taskbar. Tapping the suggestion returns you to the exact point where you left off.
• Multiple handoff paths – Some apps open directly in the native Android app on the second device, while others may hand off to a web experience.
• Fallback to web – If the receiving device doesn’t have the native app installed, Continue On opens the task in a web browser, ensuring continuity.

Supported Devices at Launch

• Phone → Tablet handoffs are supported out of the box.
• Future updates aim to enable handoffs across a broader range of Android form factors.

Demonstrations

• Google Docs – A document opened on a phone continues on a tablet in the same tab and document state.
• Gmail – An email thread opened in the Gmail Android app on a phone transitions to the Gmail web interface on a larger‑screen device, preserving the thread context.

Availability

Continue On will be available with the rollout of the Android 17 release candidate in the coming weeks.

References

• Continue On developer documentation
• Google Gemini announcements (I/O 2026)
• Android 17 overview