> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/handoff/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.vapi.ai/_mcp/server.

# Handoff tool

> Transfer a Vapi call between assistants with the handoff tool, covering destination types, context management, and configuration for multi-agent squads.

The Handoff tool transfers a live call from one assistant to another. This section covers where a handoff can go, what conversation context and variables travel with it, what the caller hears while it happens, and what to check when a handoff never fires.

## Overview

The Handoff tool transfers calls between assistants during a conversation. You can:

* Transfer to a specific assistant by ID or by name (within a squad)
* Transfer to an entire squad with a designated entry assistant
* Support multiple destination options for the AI to choose from
* Determine the destination dynamically at runtime via a webhook
* Control what conversation history the next assistant receives
* Extract structured variables from the conversation for downstream use
* Configure spoken messages for each phase of the handoff
* Reject handoff attempts based on conversation state

## In this section

#### [Configure handoff destinations](/squads/handoff/destinations)

Declare where a handoff can go, from a fixed assistant to a runtime webhook decision.

#### [Pass context and variables](/squads/handoff/context-and-variables)

Control which conversation history and extracted variables reach the next assistant.

#### [Configure messages and rejection rules](/squads/handoff/messages-and-rejection)

Set what the caller hears during a handoff and when a handoff attempt is blocked.

#### [Troubleshoot handoffs](/squads/handoff/troubleshooting)

Diagnose handoffs that never fire, starting with the system prompt.

> Transfer the call to another assistant, squad, or dynamically determined destination

## Docs

- [Configure handoff destinations](https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/handoff/destinations.md): Declare handoff destinations by assistant ID or name, offer the model several options, resolve one at runtime by webhook, or hand off to a whole squad.
- [Pass context and variables](https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/handoff/context-and-variables.md): Choose the conversation history a destination receives and pass variables through handoff arguments, tool results, or extraction.
- [Configure messages and rejection rules](https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/handoff/messages-and-rejection.md): Set the messages an assistant speaks at each phase of a handoff, and block handoff attempts using regex, Liquid, or grouped conditions on conversation state.
- [Troubleshoot handoffs](https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/handoff/troubleshooting.md): Fix handoffs that never fire or route to the wrong assistant, starting with the system prompt instructions that tell the model when to call the handoff tool.