iOS 16 Live Activities Not Working; How to Fix?

iOS 16 brought a new useful feature to iPhones by the name of Live Activities. Users all around the world find this feature useful and convenient. However, at...

Ansar Ahmad

Last updated on October 2, 2023

Ansar Ahmad

Author

Ansar Ahmed is a contributing writer at Get Droid Tips. He is a commerce student and as well as tech writer who mainly likes technology primarily. He loves spending his time watching tech videos and finding new ways to discover. You can also find him playing games in his free time.

Why Is iOS 16 Live Activities Not Working?

Before moving on to any solution to fix Live Activities not working, it would be better to know the reasons why Live Activities are not working on your iOS device. Here are some main causes includes:

Poor Connection Issue: Live Activities will not work properly if there’s an unstable internet connection on your iPhone device.

Live Activities is Disabled: You might disable Live Activities on your iOS device which prevents it from showing on the lock screen. Try to enable this feature.

Incompatibility App: Live Activities works only for limited apps, so you need to verify whether the app you’re using on your iPhone device is compatible with Live Activities or not.

Software Bugs or issues: It may be possible that due to software bugs and glitches, the Live Activities won’t work anymore. In such cases, you have to restart your iPhone device.

Outdated Application: If Live Activities are not working on your lock screen, it is possible that you are running on the oldest version of the app. Make sure to update the app to the latest version.

Outdated iOS Version: You might be running on the outdated iOS version. Since Live Activities is released in iOS 16 and the older system version might not support Live Activities feature.

Fix iOS 16 Live Activities Not Working Issue

Fix 1: Make Sure Live Activities Is Enabled

It may be possible that Live Activities features may be disabled on your iOS device which prevents it from working. In this case, you should check for Live Activities enabled or not. However, if you’re running on iOS 16 or above, Live Activities need to be enabled by default on your iPhone. Make sure to verify whether the Live Activities is enabled on your device or not. Here’s how.

Head over to the Settings app on your device.

Scroll down to select Face ID & Passcode.

Again, scroll down and tap the toggle next to Live Activities to enable the feature. (If it’s disabled previously).

Now close the Settings and check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 2: Allow Live Activities for App

You also have to allow Live Activities for specific apps on your iOS device. If you don’t permit the app, Live Activities doesn’t work on your phone lock screen. Therefore, you have to check if Live Activities is enabled for the app. Simply, head over to Settings > Particular App> Live Activities. Now tap the toggle next to Live Activities and More Frequent Updates.

Fix 6: Update or Re-install App

If your app is compatible with Live Activities and you have tried force restarting your iPhone, toggling Airplane Mode, enabling Live Activities for the desired app or still you are encountering an issue with the Live Activities then it could be fix by updating the app to the latest version. Simply, head over to App Store and tap on your profile icon. Now you will see the update option next to your desired application. Just tap the Update option or Update All to proceed.

Once you have updated your desired app and still you’re experiencing an issue with Live Activities or it’s unworkable, it is worth trying to uninstall and reinstall the app. Head over to your home screen and long press the app icon you want to uninstall, choose Remove App and select Delete App and confirm it. Again, open the App Store and download the same app that you have just uninstalled.

Fix 7: Disable Low Power Mode

If you have accidentally enabled the low power mode on your iPhone device or you haven’t charged your iPhone, Live Activities may not work properly on iOS 16 or later. As power saving mode will prevent the Live Activities features from working properly. Therefore, you should disable low power mode on your iOS device and try again to see if the problem is fixed.

To disable low power mode, simply head over to Settings > Battery. Now you will see the Low Power Mode at the top. Simply tap the toggle next to Low Power Mode. Now try to check if the issue has been resolved. If the issue persists, try other solutions.

Fix 8: Enable Location Services

As you know, most applications on your iPhone devices require location services access to work properly. If you denied the permission, Live Activities might not appear on your iPhone lock screen. Therefore, you have to enable location services on your device for the particular app. Here’s how to do it.

Head over to Settings app on your device.
Scroll down and select Privacy & Security option.
Tap the Location Services option.
Scroll down and select your desired app whose Live Activities are not visible on the lock screen.
On the screen, choose either “While Using the App” or “Always.”
You also have to enable “Precise Location.” Simply tap the toggle next to it to enable.
Now close the Settings and check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 9: Enable Background App Refresh

Enabling the Background App Refresh will let you know the notification of the app or other background process even you closed the application or you have locked your screen. However, it may be seems that you have disabled this feature on your iPhone device. Make sure to enable Background App Refresh on your iOS devices. Here’s how to do it.

Head over to Settings app on your device.
Choose General.
Select Background App Refresh option.
Now tap the toggle next to Background App Refresh. Now you can enable the background app refresh for your desired application by clicking on the toggle.
Once you have enabled, try checking if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 10: Update iOS

For your information, Live Activities will not work on iOS 15, iOS 15.6 and older version. If you want to access this feature on your iPhone, you should upgrade your iPhone or iPad to the latest iOS version. If any latest update is available, try updating it on your iPhone device. Here’s are the steps to check for available updates on your iPhone device.

Head over to Settings app on your device.
Choose General.
Select Software Update at the top of the screen.
You will see an update on the screen (If available).
Simply download and install it by following the on-screen instructions.

Fix 11: Factory Reset your iPhone

If the above workarounds don’t work at all, you can try factory reset your iPhone device. Factory reset will definitely fix the Live Activities not working issue and you will be able to see the Live Activities on your iPhone lock screen. Before factory reset your device, ensure to back up your important files, media and documents. As it will delete all your personal data including photos, videos, documents and installed applications. To factory reset your device, follow these steps:

Head over to the Settings app on your device.
Choose General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Select Erase all contents and settings and confirm it.
Now your iPhone will automatically turn off and it takes several minutes to turn back on. So, please wait until it’s turned back on.

Once the iPhone is successfully reset, you have to set up your iPhone device by following the on-screen instructions. Again, try checking if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 12: Contact Apple Support

If you have tried the above solutions and Live Activities still not working on your iOS device, it’s best to contact Apple customer support team for help. They will provide the possible methods in order to fix Live Activities not working issues. You can easily connect with them through the official website or by email.

Final Words

iOS 16 brought several new features; but was also one of the buggiest iOS updates ever. One of the bugs that users face is with live activities not working or showing up on their lock screen. If you are facing this issue on your iOS device, make sure to try all the basic troubleshooting mentioned in this article before you contact Apple support.