The Apple ecosystem is quite vast and includes many features that are simply irreplaceable. You may not know you need one of these features, until you try it for the first time. And then it changes the way you get work done in a way simply not possible with other platforms.
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This is one of the biggest benefits to getting into Apple’s ecosystem, as you can start work on your iPhone, then pick it up on your iPad. And if you have a Mac, you could even go from your iPhone to your iPad then to your Mac, or any of those variations back and forth.
Contents
What is Handoff?
Getting work done between devices requires Apple’s Handoff functionality, which is nestled under the Continuity branding. Under Continuity, there are a slew of different features:
- Auto Unlock
- Continuity Camera
- Handoff
- Instant Hotspot
- iPhone Cellular Calls
- SMS/MMS Messaging
- Universal Clipboard
- Continuity Sketch
- Continuity Markup
If you’re using the same apps across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, then you can hand the work off to another device and keep going. This works for text documents, emails, and even Safari tabs so you can just pick things up on a new device.
How to set up Handoff
Before you can start using Handoff, you’ll need to make sure that your iPhone and iPad are properly set up to do so. Plus, you’ll need to make sure that you own a device that is even capable of using Continuity as a whole. Here are the prerequisites and compatible devices that can take advantage of Continuity and Handoff.
Prerequisites
- Both your iPhone and iPad are signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID.
- Each device has Bluetooth turned on.
- Each device has Wi-Fi turned on.
- Both devices have Handoff turned on.
Compatible Devices
iPhone
- iPhone 5 or newer (running at least iOS 8)
iPad
- iPad Pro (all models)
- 4th generation iPad or newer
- iPad Air or newer
- iPad mini or newer
Set it up
Provided that your iPhone and iPad are compatible, and the necessary settings are enabled, you’ll need to turn Handoff on. Here’s how you can turn Handoff on:
![Set up Handoff on iPhone](https://appletoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Set-up-Handoff-on-iPhone.jpg)
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and iPad.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Tap AirPlay & Handoff.
- Toggle Handoff to the On position.
![Set up Handoff on iPad Pro](https://appletoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Set-up-Handoff-on-iPad-Pro.jpg)
After this is enabled, you’ll be able to start work on device, and then pick it up on another iOS or macOS device easier than ever.
What to do if Handoff is not working
Since it’s so amazing what Apple has done with Continuity and Handoff, it can be a huge bummer to run into issues. There are instances that
Verify Handoff is turned on
If you’ve already set up Handoff in the past and you start experiencing issues, the first thing you’ll want to do is to ensure that it’s still turn don. Here’s how to verify whether Handoff is enabled:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and iPad.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Tap AirPlay & Handoff.
At the bottom of the list, you will want to make sure that the Handoff option is turned on. If not, this is why you have not been able to use Handoff between your iPhone and iPad successfully.
Turn on “Suggested” with your iPad
This step is just for your iPad, but you’ll need to make sure that the Suggested options are enabled. This is the area on the dock where the necessary apps will appear and that you can open them on your iPad from your iPhone.
![Enable Suggested Apps on iPad Pro](https://appletoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Enable-Suggested-Apps-on-iPad-Pro.jpg)
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Scroll down and select Home Screen & Dock.
- Under Multitasking & Dock, enable Show Suggested and Recent Apps in Dock.
Moving forward, you will see apps appear at the right-end of your dock, if they can be used in Handoff and with Continuity.
Force restart your iPhone and iPad
If your various devices are not acting normally, a good way to kick things back into gear is to “force” a restart. Even if you can interact with these devices, a force restart can help knock out any potential cobwebs or bugs that are happening.
Force restart your iPhone:Â
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
- When the logo appears, release the Side button.
Force restart your iPad:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.
- When the logo appears, release the Side button.
Check for a software update
While the news headlines focus on the big feature additions when it comes to updates, Apple puts a lot of work in on the backend. There are various bugs that affect many users and the updates include fixes to get your devices working the way Apple (and you) intended.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap General.
- Tap Software Update.
If an update is available, you can follow the necessary prompts to install the update on whatever device needs it. If not, try rebooting to see if you can get it working, but if not, proceed with the next option.
Sign out of iCloud
The final option that you will want to try is to sign out and then back into iCloud from both your iPhone and iPad. Here’s how you can do so from your devices:
![Sign out of iCloud on iPhone](https://appletoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Sign-out-of-iCloud-on-iPhone.jpg)
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and iPad.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
- Enter your Apple ID password.
- Tap Turn Off.
- Select the data that you want to keep a copy of on your device.
- Tap Sign Out.
- Tap Sign Out again to confirm.
After you have signed out, you will want to restart your iPhone and iPad. Then, sign back in with the same Apple ID and password on both devices.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
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