What is iPhone Handoff?

Move between phones with one number

Switch phones back and forth with zero hassle. Your number, calls and messages are ready to go depending on whichever phone you decide to take with you.

Keep your brand new iPhone safe

Don't want to risk taking your expensive new iPhone to that festival weekend or all-day hike? iPhone Handoff lets you keep it safe at home and switch to your other model instead.

Save on paying for a separate SIM

Have a second phone without the hassle of managing another number. iPhone Handoff is included in our Full Works Plus for iPhone plans. Or it’s £5 a month on a rolling contract.

Only on EE. The UK’s best network

iPhone Handoff is only available on EE, so you can get it before anyone else. It’s another way to get the edge with 5G+ on the UK’s best network.

How to set up iPhone Handoff

Confirm iPhone eligibility

You need two compatible iPhones (iPhone 11 or later), running the latest version of iOS 27 or above. They need to be signed into the same Apple Account. To keep messages synced across both iPhones, you’ll also need to have Messages in iCloud enabled.

Confirm EE eligibility

You need to be on an eligible EE mobile plan (any plan that has unlimited and uncapped data). Your main or primary iPhone must be using an eSIM (if it’s not, you can follow these steps to set up an eSIM). Both phones must also be connected to WiFi.

Activate iPhone Handoff

Activating iPhone Handoff depends on whether you are setting up a brand new iPhone or whether you’ve already set it up and you are activating iPhone Handoff later. We recommend you check out our Help page to choose the suitable steps for you.

Move between devices

When you unlock one iPhone, your phone number becomes active on that iPhone. Calls, voicemail and messages automatically move with it, your iCloud account syncs between both phones and apps work across both phones too, following their own syncing behaviour. Roaming is not supported.

Learn more about iPhone Handoff

iPhone Handoff lets eligible EE customers seamlessly move their mobile service between two compatible iPhones, without moving a SIM card. Your mobile number, calls, texts and mobile service move to the iPhone you choose to use. 

To use iPhone Handoff, you’ll need two compatible iPhones, an eSIM on your primary iPhone and an eligible EE Unlimited and Uncapped plan. Both iPhones must also meet Apple’s software and account requirements. 

To use iPhone Handoff, you’ll need two iPhone 11 or later devices and be using eSIM. Both devices also need to be running the latest version of iOS 27.

Yes. Your primary iPhone needs to use an eSIM. If you currently have a physical SIM, you’ll need to switch to an eSIM before setting up iPhone Handoff. 

You can set up iPhone Handoff through Settings on iPhone after you set up your device. Both iPhones need to be connected to Wi-Fi and signed in to the same Apple Account during setup. You’ll also need to sign in with your EE ID to complete the EE activation.

Just unlock the iPhone you want to use. It will become your active device, with your EE mobile number, calls, texts and mobile service moving across with you. 

No. Only one of your linked iPhones can be active on the EE network at a time. When you switch devices, your calls, texts and mobile service move to the iPhone you’re using. 

Yes, if you have Messages in iCloud switched on. This keeps your messages backed up and synced across both iPhones. Without iCloud syncing, your message history may not be the same on each device. 

iPhone Handoff is included with a Full Works Plus plan, or costs £5 a month when added to an eligible EE Unlimited or Uncapped plan. Setting it up creates a linked line on your EE account, which is used to enable and bill for the service. 

iPhone Handoff is useful when you want the flexibility to use a different iPhone without moving your SIM or changing your number, whether you’re heading to a festival and want the best low light photos with iPhone 18 Pro, or you’re ready for a big day of productivity with the versatility of iPhone Duo.  

The legal bit

During your minimum term the monthly price for your plan will be as-per the prices above. After your minimum term, your plan price will increase on 1st March each year. 

Out of bundle charges will increase by 5% on 31st March each year. See prices-explained  for details.

Other terms, prices, and products may also change during your contract, but we’ll tell you about important changes in advance.

Click here to view our short marketing terms, here for our price guides, or here to verify all our comparative advertising claims.