What to Do If Your Mac's Continuity Camera Is Not Working

If you're running a MacBook, iMac, or Mac Mini with the latest version of Apple's desktop operating system, macOS Mojave, you can use a feature known as Continuity Camera to share documents images between your computer and iOS devices, but what happens when it stops working? We explore how to fix Mac's Continuity Camera when it is not working.

What Is Mac Continuity Camera?

Introduced with macOS Mojave and iOS 12, mobile Apple devices, such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, can scan documents or take photos, instantly sharing them wirelessly to a Mac. Continuity Camera cuts out the need to capture a photograph or scan a document, then manually transfer it to a computer.

What to Do If Continuity Camera Is Not Working

There are three primary requirements to ensure that continuity camera functions properly on your Mac. Follow each of the sections below, in order, to troubleshoot why Continuity Camera may not be working correctly.

Ensure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Are Enabled

For Continuity Camera to function, both Mac and iOS devices require their Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be switched on. On an iOS device, such as an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi states can be revealed by swiping down from the top right-hand of the screen — ensure that both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth symbols are lit up in the color blue. Otherwise, click each to enable.

On a Mac, open System Preferences from the Apple menu bar icon at the top of the screen. Click the Bluetooth button in System Preferences to ensure that your Mac's Bluetooth is enabled. To check Wi-Fi, instead select the Network button. To change the state of either,

Ensure You are Using a Single Apple ID

For Continuity Camera to work correctly, you will need to be signed in with the same Apple ID on both your iOS device and Mac. Your current Apple ID on iOS devices can be found at the top of the Settings app. On a Mac, the Apple ID currently logged in can be accessed by opening System Preferences from the Apple menu bar icon at the top of the screen, then selecting the iCloud option.

If you do not currently have an Apple ID, you can follow our easy guide to creating a free ID via iTunes, an iOS device, or the web.

Update Your Device Software

Lastly, it is essential that both your Mac and iOS device are updated to the latest version of their respective operating systems. Macs require macOS Mojave to function, while iOS devices require at least version iOS 12.

To update your devices, be sure to follow our updated guides:

• iOS Devices
• Mac Computers

Getting Additional Help

Whether you feel overwhelmed fixing Continuity Camera yourself, or if you have already exhausted the options above, you can contact Apple Support for assistance. Visit Apple's website for more information, and to utilize either their telephone support or in-store Genius Bar offerings.