Live Activities make it easy to follow food deliveries, sports scores, flight updates, and other real-time information without repeatedly opening an app.
But if those updates suddenly disappear from your iPhone’s Dynamic Island or Lock Screen, a disabled setting could be responsible.
The feature is usually enabled by default, but iOS lets you control Live Activities separately for each app. That means regular notifications can keep working even when an app’s real-time updates stop appearing.
How to turn Live Activities back on
If Live Activities aren’t appearing for a particular app, start by checking its permissions:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Apps and select the affected app.
- Find Live Activities and make sure the switch is enabled.
Not every app supports Live Activities, so the option may be missing if the developer hasn’t implemented the feature.
For updates on the Lock Screen, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and enable Live Activities under Allow Access When Locked.
It’s also worth checking the app’s notification permissions, since some services use both notifications and Live Activities to deliver updates.
How to enable Live Activities in CarPlay
Live Activities also appear in CarPlay, allowing drivers to follow supported real-time updates without switching between apps.
They can appear on the Dashboard or as banners when another app occupies the screen.
If they’re missing, open Settings directly in CarPlay and make sure Live Activities is enabled. Also check that Suggestions in CarPlay or Suggestions in Dashboard is turned on, depending on your software version.
You can disable Live Activities entirely in CarPlay if you find them distracting, or turn them off for individual apps through your iPhone’s settings.
If the feature still doesn’t appear, temporarily disabling Driving Focus may help determine whether it’s interfering with updates.
CarPlay also supports Dashboard widgets for quick access to app information, with additional customization options available in its Settings app.
