How to Enable Handoff in iOS 9

Your Apple devices are able to synchronize and work with one another in a number of different ways, often thanks to the ability to link the devices through iCloud.

One feature that you can use across multiple Apple devices is Handoff, which allows you to start working on something in a compatible app, such as Calendar, Reminders or Mail, then pick up that work on a different device.

Our guide below will show you how to turn on the Handoff feature on your iPhone so you can begin using this feature on other compatible device on which Handoff has also been enabled.

Turning On Handoff on an iPhone 6

The steps below were performed on an iPhone 6 Plus, in iOS 9.2. Once you have followed the steps in this guide, the Handoff feature will be enabled on the device.

This will allow you to start working on something on your iPhone, then have the ability to resume that task on another device, such as an iPad or a Mac.

Note that you will also need to have Bluetooth enabled on the devices with which you wish to use Handoff, and both devices will need to be using the same iCloud account. Learn how to turn Bluetooth on here. You can check your iCloud settings by going to Settings > iCloud.

Here is how to enable Handoff in iOS 9 –

  1. Open the Settings menu.
  2. Select the General option.
  3. Tap the Handoff & Suggested Apps button.
  4. Tap the button to the right of Handoff to turn it on.

These same steps are shown below with pictures –

Step 1: Tap the Settings icon.

open settings

Step 2: Scroll down and select the General option.

open the general menu

Step 3: Select the Handoff & Suggested Apps option.

open the handoff and suggested apps menu

Step 4: Tap the button to the right of Handoff. You will know that the feature is turned on when there is green shading around the button. Handoff is turned on in the picture below.

how to enable handoff in ios 9

If you are having difficulty getting Handoff to work, then you can check out this guide from Apple with further instructions.

Are there app icons that occasionally show up on your lock screen, and you would like to know how to turn them off? Learn how to disable suggested apps on your iPhone so that your device stops prompting you to use an app when you are near a location where that app is relevant.

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