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Handoff doesn't work

Hi there,

I just updated my iPhone 5 and my iPad mini (retina) to iOS 8.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is on. I'm signed in with my Apple ID on both devices. iCloud is enabled, Handoff in the (General) settings is activated as well.

The thing is, handoff doesn't work. When I open "Mail" or "Calender" for example it doesn't show this little icon on the lower right corner. What am I missing here?

(By the way: why the **** is there no full photo stream in iOS 8? Just the last few pictures. That ***** big time...)

iPhone 5, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 17, 2014 3:49 PM

56 replies

deggie

Level 10

167,225 points

Oct 23, 2014 12:22 PM in response to barelyadraft

Works for me with the same trackpad connected.

resting

Level 1

32 points

Oct 25, 2014 6:50 PM in response to NickS320

i have tried logging out/in of iCloud, restarting of devices and all that didn't work.

Clicking Send File to Device under the bluetooth icon did the trick!

And its so simple! Thanks!

tlivings

Level 1

6 points

Oct 25, 2014 7:13 PM in response to PeperoniJeans

I've done quite a few dances to get this to work and what made it work for me was ensuring that I was signed in to the same iCloud account with the exact same email address (i.e. the domain was consistent as me.com or iCloud.com or mac.com etc).

Once I did this, it started working.

Oct 26, 2014 8:19 AM in response to PeperoniJeans

Like some other features of Yosemite and iOS8, Handoff, Continuity, or whatever it is called is just not ready for prime time. All my devices (MBP 2014, iPad Air 2 and iPhone 6) are logged into the same iCloud account using the same iCloud email address (between .mac, .me, .icloud, we all have so many), Bluetooth is on, Handoff is on, etc.

My MBP has Safari and Mail open. Safari and Mail (depending on which is the open app on my MBP shows up on my iPhone and iPad as expected. However, when I have all apps on my MBP closed and either Safari or Mail open on either of my iPad or iPhone, nothing shows in the dock on my MBP. It did once upon a time, but no more. Not sure why.

Apple should just admit that we are working with a Beta version of Handoff. Can't wait for iOS8.2.

Questions:

1. Does anyone know if Handoff should work between iOS devices, i.e., if Safari is open on my iPad, I should see it on my iPhone.

2. Does Handoff work through iCloud, i.e., WiFi, or Bluetooth. If Bluetooth that would explain the poor distance. Not much point handing off between my MBP and iPhone or iPad if all devices have to be within a few feet of my MBP.

Thanks!

SCalkins

Level 1

5 points

Oct 26, 2014 5:45 PM in response to PeperoniJeans

How I resolved the issue - Followed every tutorial out there

Removed com.apple.bluetooth.plist
turned off wifi on mac
turned off bluetooth on mac
Changed iPhone's Name to something with no spaced "MyNameiPhone"
Turned on Wifi on mac
turned on bluetooth on mac
Set iPhone next to mac
Launched safari and navigated to website on iPhone ( kept running )

after a few minutes my mac showed my iPhones Safari page on the finder dock

Oct 30, 2014 3:39 PM in response to PeperoniJeans

I had the problem. What I did was logout of icloud on my mac and then log back in. I turned on Bluetooth. I did NOT need to change Airdrop to Everyone. I left it on "contacts only". Handoff then started to work. I have both OS 8.1 on my iphone and Yosemite on my Mac.

rompi

Level 1

8 points

Nov 2, 2014 9:23 AM in response to lordtaboo

This seems to be the solution! Just sign out from icloud on all your devices, reboot them (just to make sure), and sign in to icloud again and handoff will work (I have bluetooth on, and airdrop visible just to the contacts).

Jack Oak

Level 1

12 points

Nov 6, 2014 6:42 AM in response to rompi

handoff seems to work fine from my mac to my iPhone....when i browse a safari webpage on my mac, I do see the little safari icon on my iPhone.

However, the other way around does not work. when i browse on iPhone, i do not see it recognize on the mac. sometimes it does after a reboot. I can almost always tell if it is not gonna work if my mac does not recognize my iPhone as an instant hotspot. When it does, then everything works fine.

I agree, handoff is not ready for primetime. too many bugs. Steve Jobs must be rolling in his grave....or ashes...was he cremated? i forget.....

Eid.

Level 1

6 points

Nov 18, 2014 2:32 PM in response to PeperoniJeans

I actually had very similar problem. The solution was to go to Bluetooth in System Preferences on my mac and in the same time open Bluetooth in Settings on my iPhone. This way the iPhone appears on my mac and gives an option to pair with it which is pretty straightforward. After I paired my iPhone with my mac the handoff started to work. Looks like it works via Bluetooth, so if on one of devices Bluetooth is off the handoff not gonna work. Good luck.

Eid.

Level 1

6 points

Nov 19, 2014 2:19 AM in response to Eid.

Little correction: the option to pair with mac appears in iPhone Bluetooth settings, not on mac. I didn't realise you are trying to enable handoff between iPhone and iPad... I assume you can try pairing them also via bluetooth. Hope that helps.

Aug 7, 2016 9:24 AM in response to EarthBender

If your airdrop is set to contacts only, then you need to make sure your contact info is in contacts with the iCloud email as part of it. Then you do not have to change the airdrop settings to all and can keep it to contact list only. I just tried this after reading your post, which gave me the idea to check my contact list. Thanks!

Handoff doesn't work