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How to Fix iPhone Handoff Not Working in iOS 27 or Later

Check Handoff settings on both devices, use a supported app, confirm Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple Account details, then retry with the task visible and devices nearby.
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If Handoff is not appearing between your iPhone and another Apple device, first check the documented basics: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, both devices use the same Apple Account, Handoff is enabled on both, and the app supports Handoff on both devices. Then retry with the source device unlocked and the active task visible.

1. Make sure the app and task can be handed off

Handoff is a built-in Apple Continuity feature; it does not require a separate app. The task must be in an app that supports Handoff, and that app must be installed on both the source and receiving devices. Apple lists apps including Calendar, Contacts, FaceTime, Keynote, Mail, Maps, Pages, Numbers, Reminders, Safari, Clock, Freeform, News, Notes, and Stocks. Some third-party apps support it too, but not every app or every action does.

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Decide which device should receive the task, then confirm the same app is available there. Keep the task itself open on the source device for the test.

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2. Turn on Handoff on both devices

On iPhone or iPad

  1. Open Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity.
  2. Turn on Handoff.

Depending on the software version, Apple’s support instructions may show the section as AirPlay & Handoff.

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On Mac

  1. On macOS Ventura 13 or later, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > AirDrop & Continuity (or AirDrop & Handoff).
  2. Enable Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.

On older macOS versions, Apple’s documented route is System Preferences > General.

3. Check Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple Account

  • Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices.
  • Confirm both are signed in to the same Apple Account.

Apple’s documented requirements say Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be on; they do not state that the devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

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4. Retry with the task visible and devices nearby

  1. On the source device, open a supported app and display an active task, such as a page in Safari or a document in Pages.
  2. Leave that app in front and keep the source device unlocked.
  3. Bring the devices within 30 feet (10 meters), Apple’s stated proximity limit for the Mac Handoff workflow.
  4. Look for the Handoff control on the receiving device.

Its location depends on the destination: on iPhone, check the bottom of the App Switcher; on iPad, check the Dock; on Mac, check the right side of the Dock, or the bottom if the Dock is positioned on a screen edge. On Mac, pressing Command-Tab can also show the Handoff app icon.

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5. Confirm the devices support the feature

Apple lists Handoff support for iPhone 5 or later with iOS 8 or later; iPad Pro, iPad (4th generation or later), iPad Air, and iPad mini models; iPod touch (5th generation or later); Apple Watch models; and Mac models meeting Apple’s listed model-year minimums with OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later. Check Apple’s compatibility list for the exact Mac model and requirements before considering replacement.

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FaceTime call handoff has stricter software minimums than ordinary task handoff: iOS or iPadOS 16 or later and macOS Ventura 13 or later.

6. Review VPN settings if the other checks pass

Apple notes that a VPN configuration that prevents local networking may interfere with some Continuity features. If a VPN is active, check its configuration or ask its provider whether it blocks local networking. This is a possible cause, not evidence that every VPN disrupts Handoff or that one universal setting will fix it.

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What not to try first

Apple’s documented Handoff guidance covers app support, settings, account identity, connectivity, proximity, device eligibility, and the local-networking VPN caveat. It does not establish resetting network settings, signing out of your Apple Account, or erasing your device as first-line Handoff fixes.

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Quick Recap

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