The Dynamic Island is the pill-shaped area at the top of the screen on the iPhone 14 Pro and later models (the iPhone 16e uses a notch instead). It shows live activity from apps, like timers, music, directions, calls and sports scores, and you can interact with it: tap it to open the app, or touch and hold it to expand quick controls. When two activities run at once, it splits into two bubbles.
Quick Answer
Tap the Dynamic Island to open the app, touch and hold to see controls, and swipe left or right on it to collapse or hide an activity.
Gestures
| Gesture | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tap | Opens the app showing the activity |
| Touch and hold | Expands controls, such as play/pause or a timer’s stop button |
| Swipe left or right | Collapses or temporarily hides the activity |
| Tap the smaller bubble | Opens the second activity when two are running |
What Shows Up There
- Music and podcasts, with playback controls.
- Timers, and incoming or active phone and FaceTime calls.
- Turn-by-turn directions from Maps and supported navigation apps.
- Live Activities from apps like food delivery, rideshare and sports.
- System alerts: Face ID, AirDrop, charging, silent mode, and connected AirPods.
Control Live Activities
- Open Settings > Face ID & Passcode to allow or block Live Activities on the lock screen.
- For a specific app, open Settings > Apps > the app > Live Activities, and turn it on or off.
For the basics, see how to make a phone call on iPhone.
Troubleshooting
- Nothing appears: The app may not support Live Activities, or they’re turned off for that app.
- Accidental taps: Swipe the activity away to hide it while you work at the top of the screen.
- Timer settings? See using the iPhone sleep timer.
- Calls on hold? See placing a call on hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which iPhones have the Dynamic Island?
iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, and the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families (except the iPhone 16e) and iPhone Air.
Can I turn the Dynamic Island off?
No, but you can turn off Live Activities for apps you don’t want there.
Summary
- Tap to open the app.
- Touch and hold for controls.
- Swipe to hide an activity.
- Manage Live Activities per app in Settings.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.