development
Live Activities
Real-time, updating content displayed on the lock screen and Dynamic Island that keeps users informed about ongoing events from your app.
Live Activities, introduced in iOS 16.1, let apps display real-time, glanceable information on the lock screen and in the Dynamic Island. They suit events with a clear beginning and end - food delivery tracking, sports scores, ride-sharing progress, or workout timers. The feature uses the ActivityKit framework and relies on push tokens for remote updates.
How They Work
A Live Activity starts when triggered by an in-app event and shows an updating banner on the lock screen. On devices with Dynamic Island, it also appears as a compact or expanded view around the front camera area. Updates arrive locally from the app or through remote push notifications. Each session can run for up to 12 hours and stays visible on the lock screen for up to 4 hours after completion.
Growth and Engagement Impact
Live Activities keep your app visible during time-sensitive moments, driving re-engagement without relying on traditional push notifications. Users who interact with these updates return to the app more often, strengthening retention metrics. For App Store Optimization (ASO), showcasing this feature in screenshots or preview videos signals cutting-edge platform adoption. Doing so can improve conversion rates and raise the chance of being featured by Apple, especially in categories where real-time updates are central to the user experience.