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How to Use the iPhone Dynamic Island

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Check whether your device supports it

    The Dynamic Island debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro lineup and has since expanded to newer iPhone models β€” the most reliable way to check is by looking up your exact model name.

  2. Control music playback

    When you play music or a podcast, album art and playback controls appear as a small pill in the Dynamic Island; tap and hold to expand it and control play/pause or skip tracks directly.

  3. Track timers and Live Activities

    Running a timer or using an app that supports Live Activities β€” like a sports score tracker or a food delivery app β€” automatically surfaces that information right in the Dynamic Island.

  4. Press and hold to expand and interact

    Press and hold the Dynamic Island to reveal an expanded view with more detail and controls, then tap again to shrink it back down.

  5. Show two activities at once

    When two separate activities are running at the same time, such as a timer and music playback, each gets its own icon shown on opposite sides of the Dynamic Island.

  6. More apps keep adding support

    Support was limited to Apple's own apps at launch, but a growing number of third-party apps β€” delivery, sports, navigation, and more β€” now support Live Activities in the Dynamic Island.

Stop missing progress hidden behind notifications

Instead of opening an app every time to check how much time is left on a timer or when your delivery will arrive, a quick glance at the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen tells you everything you need to know.

A design that keeps getting more useful

Because any app can adopt Live Activities, the Dynamic Island keeps picking up new use cases over time β€” it is worth revisiting your settings occasionally to see which of your favorite apps have added support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off the Dynamic Island completely?

The Dynamic Island itself is part of the screen design and cannot be hidden, but you can turn off Live Activity notifications for individual apps in that app's settings or your notification settings.

Do I need to press hard like 3D Touch?

No β€” unlike 3D Touch, which required pressure, the Dynamic Island responds to a light tap or a simple press-and-hold gesture.