How do you show your steps on the iPhone Lock Screen and Dynamic Island?
The iPhone has no built-in step counter in the Dynamic Island, so you need a step app that offers a Live Activity. Allow Live Activities for that app, start one, and your steps appear on the Lock Screen and, on iPhones with a Dynamic Island, at the top of the screen. For a permanent glance, add a step widget instead.
Key takeaways
- Live Activities show live progress on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island; widgets show a persistent snapshot.
- iOS has no built-in step count in the Dynamic Island; a step app that offers a Live Activity provides one.
- A Live Activity can run for up to 8 hours, then stays on the Lock Screen for up to 4 more (Apple developer documentation).
- If nothing shows, check that Live Activities are allowed in the app’s page in Settings, then open the app once.
- On a Dynamic Island iPhone, touch and hold the island to expand the activity.
What are the ways to see steps without opening an app?
There are three iPhone surfaces that can show steps at a glance, and they suit different jobs.
| Surface | Where it shows | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Activity | Lock Screen, Dynamic Island (supported iPhones), StandBy | Watching progress while you walk | Runs up to 8 hours, then ends; must be started by the app or you |
| Lock Screen widget | Small slots under or above the clock | An always-there daily total | Refreshes on a system schedule, not continuously |
| Home Screen widget | Home Screen and Today View | A bigger snapshot with goal or week | Same refresh limits as other widgets |
If you want the theory behind the two technologies, our explainers cover Live Activity vs widget for a step counter and how a step counter can live in the Dynamic Island.
Which iPhones have the Dynamic Island?
The Dynamic Island arrived with iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max and is on later models that have the pill-shaped cutout instead of a notch. Not every newer model has it: iPhone 16e, for example, has a notch. On iPhones without a Dynamic Island, Live Activities still appear on the Lock Screen. Apple’s iPhone User Guide explains how to use it on your model.
How do you put a step counter in the Dynamic Island?
- Install a step app that offers a Live Activity. Not every pedometer app does; check its App Store description for “Live Activities” or “Dynamic Island”.
- Allow Apple Health access to steps when the app asks. A step viewer only needs read access to step count (see what HealthKit permission a step counter needs).
- Allow Live Activities for the app. Open Settings, find the app (under Settings › Apps on iOS 18 and later) and make sure Live Activities is on.
- Start the activity. Some apps start one automatically when you open them; others have a button.
- Lock your phone or go to the Home Screen. The activity appears on the Lock Screen and, on supported iPhones, in the Dynamic Island.
- Touch and hold the Dynamic Island to see the expanded view; tap it to open the app.
StepIsland, the walking app we make at Upmoat, works this way: according to its support page it starts a Live Activity automatically, and its page describes your companion and progress on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island on supported iPhones. The page lists “your companion live in the Dynamic Island” among the features of StepIsland Plus.
How do you add a step widget to the Lock Screen?
- Touch and hold the Lock Screen, then tap Customise.
- Choose the Lock Screen, then tap the widget area under the clock.
- Pick your step app from the list and choose a widget.
- Tap Done.
Home Screen widgets work similarly: touch and hold an empty part of the Home Screen, tap Edit › Add Widget, search for your app and pick a size.
How long does a step Live Activity stay on screen?
Apple’s ActivityKit documentation says a Live Activity can be active for up to eight hours unless the app or the person ends it first. After that the system ends it and removes it from the Dynamic Island, though it can stay on the Lock Screen for up to four more hours, for a maximum of 12 hours (Apple Developer). A walking app therefore has to restart its activity for a new day or a new session, rather than keeping one running forever.
How often does the step count update?
Updates depend on when the app gets time to run and on Apple’s push-update budgets, so no app can promise a refresh for every single step while your phone is locked. We explain the details in how often a Live Activity can update a step count and whether HealthKit step counts are real-time.
Why isn’t my step Live Activity showing?
- Live Activities are off for the app. Check the app’s page in Settings.
- The activity ended. After the 8-hour limit, or if you swiped it away, open the app to start a new one.
- Low Power Mode reduces background activity, so updates may arrive less often.
- Health access is off. In the Health app, tap your profile picture, then Apps, choose the app and check it can read Steps.
- No Dynamic Island on your model. You will still see the activity on the Lock Screen.
StepIsland users can follow the step-by-step fixes on the StepIsland support page.
Frequently asked questions
Can the iPhone show steps in the Dynamic Island without an app?
No. iOS does not put a step count in the Dynamic Island by itself. You need a step app that supports Live Activities.
Does a step Live Activity drain the battery?
Live Activities are designed by Apple to be lightweight, and the system limits how often they update. Battery impact depends on the app, but the system budgets updates for every app.
Why does my step Live Activity disappear?
Apple ends a Live Activity after up to eight hours. It can stay on the Lock Screen for up to four more hours, then it is removed. Open the app to start a new one.
Can I show steps on the Lock Screen without a Live Activity?
Yes. Add a Lock Screen widget from a step app by touching and holding the Lock Screen, tapping Customise and choosing the widget area.
Do Live Activities work on iPhones without a Dynamic Island?
Yes. On those iPhones the Live Activity appears on the Lock Screen only.
From the studio behind this journal
See your walk on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island.
StepIsland is Upmoat’s walking app and step counter for iPhone and Apple Watch. Pick a companion, set a goal and watch an illustrated world grow with your Apple Health steps, live on your Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, widgets and Apple Watch.
Explore StepIslandSources