iOS Live Activities Explained: How Apps Use Them

Imagine glancing at your iPhone and seeing live updates from your favorite sports game, food delivery, or ride-hailing service — all without unlocking your phone. That's the power of iOS Live Activities!

This new feature in iOS 16 lets apps display real-time information on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. But how exactly do apps use Live Activities? 

In this article, we will dive into Live Activities, explaining how it compares with other mobile marketing trends and how developers can leverage them to keep their users informed and engaged.

What Are Live Activities?

Live Activities are one of the new features available on iOS 16. They are a type of real-time interactive notification that updates users even when their device is locked. With Live Activities, users can keep track of various details at a glance.

It is easy to mistake Live Activities with a push notification or a widget. However, each one is distinct and serves different purposes. 

• Widgets are like a mini version of your app that you can add to your home screen or lock screen. They provide details like battery percentage, weather reports, news headlines, reminders, etc. One distinct feature of widgets is that you can edit and customize them to your taste.
• Push notifications pop up at the top of the screen with information from a specific app. They will remain in your notifications bar until you delete or interact with them.
• Live Activities differ from both by providing dynamic, real-time updates directly on the lock screen. They continuously refresh with new information, allowing users to monitor ongoing events, such as a live sports game score, ride-sharing updates, or food delivery status, without needing to unlock their device or open an app. 

How Does Live Activities Work?

Live Activities as a feature is turned on by default on supported devices. To confirm this, go to your Settings app and select “Face ID & Passcode.” Scroll down until you see Live Activities. 

However, before receiving Live Activities from any app, you must install the app on your phone. After installation, go to your Settings app, select the app, and enable Live Activities, if it's not enabled by default. 

For an app to send Live Activities, it must have been in use before the phone got locked. That way, the app sending the update will run in the background. It is also important to note that apps can send Live Activities even when the device is in 'Focus' or 'Do not Disturb' mode. Here's a breakdown of how Live Activities work:

• Live View at a Glance:  Live Activities provide a compact window into compatible apps directly on your Lock Screen. They are only available on iOS 16 and Dynamic Island (from iPhone 14 Pro upwards). This always-on display lets you see sports scores, ride-hailing ETAs, or updates on your delivery progress without unlocking your phone.
• Real-time Updates: The key feature of Live Activities is that they constantly refresh to keep the user updated. The app sends periodic updates to the Live Activity, ensuring you always have the latest information.
• Interactive Elements (Optional): In some cases, Live Activities can also include interactive elements. For instance, with one tap, you should be able to pause a workout timer or see more details about a delivery on a map.

In essence, Live Activities acts as a mini-app extension on your Lock Screen, providing real-time updates without the need to open the app or unlock your phone fully.

Benefits of Live Activities

Thanks to its many amazing features, Love Activities offers enviable benefits to users and app developers:

Glanceable Information

Users can enjoy updates on information that matters without unlocking their phones. Apps for ride-hailing services, food deliveries, sports and games, workout updates, and even weather updates can provide important information at a glance.

Reduced Notification Overload

Instead of getting a new notification for every update, Live Activities can reduce the barrage by continuously updating a single display. This will help to reduce clutter and help you stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed.

Increased Engagement

Live Activities provide a more interactive way to follow ongoing events within apps. This can enhance user experience and make apps feel more engaging. In turn, this will translate to increased user satisfaction and loyalty.

Real-time Interaction

Including interactive elements allows users to take actions directly from the Live Activity, streamlining the user experience. Users can receive information and track details on the spot without having to refresh the app or wait for specific updates.

Enhanced App Visibility

With their prominent placement on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, Live Activities can significantly enhance an app's visibility and user engagement. The constant visibility will always leave the app on the mind of each user.

Improved Accessibility

For users with visual impairments or those who struggle to unlock their phones constantly, Live Activities offers a way to stay informed with important updates without interacting with the device physically.

Increased Personalization

Customer satisfaction is a top priority with Live Activities. An app can tailor the information displayed in Live Activities to match each user's preference. For instance, a sports app can provide updates about a user's favorite team rather than giving generalized updates.

How Apps Use Live Activities: 5 Great Examples

Live Activities can have a positive impact on your customers’ lifecycle marketing when done right. From the moment users open your app until they complete a purchase, you can keep them engaged and informed on the journey. Here are 5 examples showcasing how e-commerce apps can leverage Live Activities:

Food Delivery Apps: Real-time Order Tracking

You can keep users updated on the progress of their order with constant updates from the point of departure till it reaches their location. Provide an estimated time it will take their meal to travel through the delivery network.

Travel Apps: Itinerary Updates

Reduce wait time for travelers by providing timely notifications on flight updates, changes, and important details. As a trusted live flight tracker, you should give your users live info on flight delays, boarding gate changes, late arrivals, etc.

Navigation Apps: Navigation and City Mapping

Provide useful info on how to navigate turns and get directions for walking, scootering, and public transport. With Live Activities, your app can provide the estimated arrival time and even provide information on the nearest subways, bus stops, etc.

Fitness Tracker Apps: Health and Stats Updates

Motivate your users to keep fit by updating them on their workout progress and health metrics. With one tap on the screen, they should get details of their beats per minute (BPM) and easily track their heart rate.

News Apps: News Updates

Deliver news updates as they happen by updating your live activity feature. Some users are constantly on the move or in noisy spaces, so they should trust you to dish out timely and relevant information.

How to Drive User Engagement with Live Activities: Best Practices for Apps

Now you know how it can help improve your app engagement and app experience, it's time to learn how to use Live Activities and enjoy the benefits and traction that come with it. Here are the six best practices to keep in mind when setting up Live Activities:

1. Provide Timely And Relevant Updates

The main purpose of the Live Activities feature is to provide your users with real-time updates on different activities. Ensure you update your app constantly to match information as it is happening. Also, ensure that the information you display in your Live activities is relevant to the user at that moment. Unnecessary information will make the user ignore the update and even make the notification look crowded.

2. Prioritize Usability and Design

Your live activity notification should be appealing and readable. Use colors that will be visible and properly convey your brand message. Also, use legible fonts; this is not the time to start displaying your artistic prowess. Try different color schemes in your display, especially for light and dark mode users. Ensure that the notification remains visible either way and always conveys the right information.

3. Test Every Live Activity Presentation 

Live Activities have three presentation formats: compact, minimal, and expanded. The compact mode is the smallest and usually appears on the screen on both sides of the front camera. The minimal mode is a little bigger and appears when more than one live activity is active. The expanded mode is the largest possible presentation format and can be activated by pressing and holding the live activity. Before you launch your live activity feature, test that your notification will remain visible no matter how it appears on the screen.

4. Know When to Start and End the Live Activity Notification 

Every live activity notification should serve a specific purpose. It could either be for weather tracking, event tracking, city navigation, fitness leaderboards, or countdown. The duration of the live activity notification should coincide with the duration of the event. Once the event has ended, the notification should leave the screen at least 15 to 30 minutes afterward. No live activity should be active for more than 8 hours, no matter the update it is providing.

5. Do Not Display Sensitive Information 

Do not use your live activity feature to display clients' personal information, such as their address,  phone number, and other contact details. It could be very embarrassing for a user to have their details on display while in a public space.

6. Incorporate Deep Linking

Live Activities should not just direct users to your app; they should direct them to relevant and specific locations in your app. With deep links, you can create a seamless user experience while providing valuable information.

Do not use your live activity to run ads or display promotional content. You can leave all that in your app; the live activity feature is for relevant information only.

Live Activities vs Push Notifications: When to Use?

Both Live Activities and push notifications are valuable tools for shaping user behavior and keeping them engaged with your app. However, they each have distinct strengths and weaknesses. Here's a breakdown to help you decide which one to use:

Live Activities

Live Activities sometimes feature buttons or other interactive features that can streamline user actions. They also incorporate icons, progress bars, or small images for better context than text-based notifications. However, some limitations hinder the functionality of Live Activities. 

They have a smaller footprint on the Lock Screen, which restricts the amount of information you can display at a time. It is also a relatively new feature accessible only to users with iOS 16 versions and above. They also rely on app integration for their running and maintenance. The best time to use Live Activities is for:

• Real-time Updates: Use Live Activities for situations where information changes constantly, like sports scores, ride-hailing ETAs, or delivery progress.
• Glanceable Info: Live Activities are perfect for conveying essential, concise information that users need to see at a glance.
• Engagement: If you want to encourage user interaction with the update, Live Activities with interactive elements might be the way to go.

Push Notifications

Mobile push notifications work on all smartphones, regardless of device or OS version, thereby maximizing reach for your campaigns. You also enjoy more flexibility in conveying your messages as you can use more text, images, and even emojis.

Push notifications can link directly to specific app sections or actions, driving users deeper into your app. With push notifications, you can schedule and automate specific messages at different times and reach the right audience. You should use push notifications if you want:

• Broader audience reach: Push notifications are the clear choice if you need to reach all your users regardless of their device type—Android, Windows, or iOS.
• More complex messages: Push notifications offer more flexibility for in-app messages with more details, instructions, or images.
• Targeted campaigns: You can leverage Reteno's segmentation features to send targeted push notifications based on user behavior or preferences.
• Driving specific actions: Push notifications with deep linking can drive users directly to specific app sections or actions you want them to take.
• Scheduled communication: Schedule push notifications for promotions, reminders, or time-sensitive announcements.

It is important to note that Live Activities and push notifications don't have to be mutually exclusive. You can use a combination of both to create a comprehensive user engagement strategy.

Reteno’s powerful push notification features can be a great starting point for many app developers. However, app developers can explore Live Activities as a future option for iOS 16 users.

Final Thoughts

Live Activities are a newer and trendier way of sending notifications and grabbing user attention. While they are effective, they are unavailable for all users and can limit your marketing efforts. So before you hop on the trend, ensure you are well-prepared to handle your users' needs and requests. That way, you can keep them engaged no matter your notification style.

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