How to enable Resume feature on Windows 11

You can now pick up documents where you left of on your computer from your phone, and here's how to enable the feature.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
Pureinfotech Logo
Windows 11 resume
Windows 11 resume / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To enable Resume on Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Resume, and turn on “Resume” and “OneDrive.”
  • To disable the feature, open Settings > Apps > Resume, and turn off “Resume.”

On Windows 11, you can enable Resume, and I will show you how in this guide. The Resume feature is a simple integration that allows you to resume documents from your OneDrive account on your computer that you started editing on your iPhone or Android phone.

The concept of the feature isn’t entirely new. On Windows 10, when “Timeline” and “Cortana” were available, the feature tracked your activities from files on your OneDrive account, and you could pick up where you left off. However, since the features weren’t popular, Microsoft gradually deprioritized them.

The feature is still under development and available starting on Windows 11 build 22635.4515 (KB5046756) in the Beta Channel, but it’s expected to roll out for both versions 23H2 and 24H2. However, at the time of this writing, you will have to have a device enrolled in the Windows Insider Program to access it.

In this guide, I will outline the steps to enable and get started using Resume. In addition, I will explain the simple steps to disable it.

Enable Resume on Windows 11

To enable the Resume feature on your computer, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on Apps.

  3. Click the Resume app.

  4. Turn on the Resume toggle switch.

    Enable Resume

  5. Turn on the OneDrive toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, assuming you’re using the same Microsoft account on your computer and the OneDrive app on your mobile device, you will receive a toast notification with a link to resume editing a document you started working on iPhone or Android within the last five minutes after unlocking your device.

Resume notification
Resume notification / Image: Microsoft

When you click on the notification, the document won’t open the associated app already installed on your computer. Instead, the file will resume from OneDrive using the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps online, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. You can also resume PDF files.

Finally, for the feature to work as intended, you have to have the OneDrive app open on your phone when your computer is locked. Only when you unlock your computer (within five minutes after accessing the file on your phone) will the system show you the toast notification.

Disable Resume on Windows 11

To disable the Resume feature on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Apps.

  3. Click the Resume app.

  4. Turn off the Resume toggle switch.

    Disable Resume

After you complete the steps, the feature will turn off, and you will no longer be able to resume files you started working on your iPhone or Android device.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].