Live Activities, introduced with iOS 16, are a dynamic way to stay updated on real-time events directly from your iPhone's lock screen and dynamic island (on supported iPhone models). Instead of constantly opening apps to check progress, Live Activities provide a glanceable, persistent view of ongoing actions. Think of it as a constantly refreshing mini-app on your lock screen, offering at-a-glance information without requiring you to unlock your phone.
How Do Live Activities Work?
Live Activities leverage the power of widgets and background processes to keep you informed. Compatible apps can send updates to the lock screen, displaying relevant information such as:
- Current score of a sports game: See the score, time remaining, and any significant events as they happen.
- Ride-sharing progress: Track your ride's estimated time of arrival (ETA) and the driver's location.
- Food delivery updates: Monitor the status of your order—from preparation to delivery.
- Flight status: Get real-time updates on your flight's departure and arrival times, gate changes, and delays.
These updates are displayed concisely, often with simple icons and numerical data. The level of detail displayed depends on the app and the specific event. You don't need to interact with the Live Activity; it passively updates in the background.
What Apps Support Live Activities?
Currently, a growing number of apps support Live Activities. The list is constantly expanding as developers integrate this feature into their apps. You'll find support for many popular apps in categories like:
- Sports: Major sports leagues and apps often support Live Activities to provide real-time game updates.
- Ride-sharing: Uber and Lyft typically include Live Activities for tracking rides.
- Food delivery: Services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and others often utilize Live Activities to display order status.
- Travel: Flight tracking and other travel apps often implement Live Activities to give real-time travel updates.
To find out if an app supports Live Activities, check its app description in the App Store or look for the feature mentioned in its in-app settings.
How to Use Live Activities?
No special setup is typically required. If an app supports Live Activities, it will automatically display them on your lock screen and Dynamic Island when an eligible event is running. Simply glance at your lock screen or the Dynamic Island to see the update. You can also interact with the Live Activity in some cases (though the interaction is limited to keep it glanceable). For example, you might be able to tap a Live Activity to open the related app for more details.
Which iPhones Support Live Activities?
Live Activities are compatible with iPhones running iOS 16 or later. However, the visual presentation and integration are optimized for iPhones with the Dynamic Island, specifically the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. On older iPhones without the Dynamic Island, the Live Activities appear directly on the lock screen.
What are the limitations of Live Activities?
- Battery Consumption: While Live Activities are designed to be efficient, they do consume a small amount of battery power. Excessive use of numerous Live Activities might slightly reduce your battery life.
- App Dependency: Live Activities rely entirely on the app developer's implementation. Not all apps will support them, and the level of detail provided can vary greatly between apps.
- Privacy: The information displayed through Live Activities is subject to the privacy policies of the individual apps. Review the privacy settings and policies of each app you use with Live Activities.
Live Activities represent a valuable addition to the iPhone's functionality, offering a more efficient and user-friendly way to stay informed about events happening in real-time. As the feature matures and more apps integrate support, its usefulness will only grow.
