Windows 11: Enabling the Resume Feature

General
1

Hey everyone,

Did you know Windows 11 has a cool feature called “Resume” that makes it easier to work with your OneDrive files across different devices? It’s designed to let you start a document on your phone or tablet (iOS or Android) and seamlessly pick it up on your PC, or vice versa. Think of it as Microsoft’s take on something similar to Apple’s Handoff.

Basically, if you’re editing a Word doc, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation, OneNote page or PDF on your phone, you’ll get a notification on your Windows 11 PC that lets you jump right back into it.

A couple of things to keep in mind: both your phone and PC need to be signed into OneDrive with the same Microsoft account. Also, it doesn’t work with work or school accounts, only personal ones.

Ready to try it out? Here’s how you can enable or disable it:

Enabling/Disabling Resume

Enabling or disabling Resume is pretty straightforward through the Settings app. Here’s how:

  1. Head to Settings > Apps.

Settings App
Settings App1272×715 50.1 KB

  1. Click on the ‘Resume’ option in the Apps settings.

Resume option
Resume option1245×700 33 KB

  1. Toggle the switch to turn the feature on or off. By default, it should be enabled after a Windows update, but it’s always good to double-check!

Toggle Resume
Toggle Resume1223×688 26.5 KB

Using Resume

So, how does this “Resume” thing actually work? It’s pretty simple:

  1. Open a supported file (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, or PDF) on your phone or tablet using the corresponding app. Make sure your PC is locked when you do this.

  2. Unlock your PC within 5 minutes of accessing the document on your phone. You should then see a notification pop up on your PC, giving you the option to resume working on that document.

Resume Notification
Resume Notification1203×677 619 KB

  1. For the smoothest experience, make sure you’re also logged into OneDrive in your default browser on your PC. Clicking the notification will usually open the file directly in OneDrive in your browser.

It’s worth noting that while “Resume” is similar to Apple’s Handoff, it does have some differences. For instance, Apple’s Handoff works even when both devices are unlocked.

Keep in mind that this feature is still rolling out, so you might not see it on your PC just yet. The quickest way to check is by going to the “Apps” section in the Settings app, as described above. Also, always ensure that your Windows installation is up to date with the latest updates.