iPhone Live Activities for Apple Sports: iOS 18 Requirements
Apple Sports is a free app that shows live scores, stats, and play-by-play for major leagues. To see live score updates on your lock screen or in the Dynamic Island, you need an iPhone that supports Live Activities and iOS 18 or later. This article explains exactly which iPhone models qualify and how to set it up.
Which iPhones Support Live Activities?
Live Activities are supported on all iPhones that run iOS 16.1 or later, which includes every model from the iPhone 8 and newer. However, the Dynamic Island—the pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen—only exists on iPhone 14 Pro and later models. On older iPhones, Live Activities appear as a banner at the top of the lock screen or as a small notification banner when the phone is unlocked.
For Apple Sports specifically, you need iOS 18 (the app requires it), so the practical list of compatible iPhones is:
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
If you have an iPhone 8 or X, you can’t install iOS 18, so Apple Sports won’t work at all.
What Are Live Activities on iPhone?
Live Activities are a feature introduced in iOS 16.1 that lets apps show real-time information on the lock screen, in the Dynamic Island (on supported models), and on the Always-On display. They’re designed for things like sports scores, delivery tracking, timers, and music playback. The activity stays visible even when the phone is locked, and it updates automatically without needing to open the app.
For Apple Sports, a Live Activity might show the current score, the game clock, and key stats like possession or shots on goal. You can tap it to jump back into the app for more detail. The activity disappears when the game ends, or you can manually dismiss it by swiping it away.
How to Enable Live Activities for Apple Sports
Live Activities are usually enabled by default, but you should check the settings to make sure they’re turned on for Apple Sports. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Notifications.
- Scroll down and tap Apple Sports.
- Make sure Allow Notifications is toggled on.
- Under Live Activities, ensure the toggle is on.
You can also customize whether the activity appears on the lock screen, in the Dynamic Island, or both. On iPhone 14 Pro and later, you can choose to show it in the Dynamic Island only, or as a banner as well.
What Does the Dynamic Island Do for Live Activities?
The Dynamic Island is a hardware feature on iPhone 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, and all iPhone 15 and 16 models. It’s a physical cutout that houses the front camera and Face ID sensors, but Apple turned it into a software display area. Live Activities can appear there, showing a compact version of the score or timer. You can press and hold the Dynamic Island to expand it into a larger view with more details.
On older iPhones without the Dynamic Island, Live Activities still work but appear as a small banner near the top of the screen when the phone is unlocked. On the lock screen, they appear as a full-width card at the bottom.
Common Problems and Troubleshooting
If Live Activities aren’t showing up for Apple Sports, try these steps:
- Make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 18 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update).
- Check that the Apple Sports app is updated to the latest version from the App Store.
- Restart your iPhone—this often fixes temporary glitches.
- Toggle the Live Activities setting off and on in the Apple Sports notification settings.
- If you’re on an iPhone with a Dynamic Island, try switching the Live Activities style from “Dynamic Island Only� to “Banners and Dynamic Island� in the same settings.
Also note that Live Activities won’t appear if you have Low Power Mode enabled—Apple disables them to save battery. If you’re in Low Power Mode, you’ll see a message in the app that Live Activities are unavailable.
How to Customize Apple Sports Live Activities
You can choose which games or leagues trigger a Live Activity. In the Apple Sports app, tap the star icon on a game to follow it, and it will automatically start a Live Activity when the game begins. You can also go to the app’s settings (gear icon) and select “Live Activities� to choose whether to show scores for all games or only ones you follow.
Some leagues, like the NFL or NBA, have multiple games at the same time. You can set the app to show a “scoreboard� Live Activity that cycles through all the games you’re following, or you can pin a single game to keep it on screen.
Battery Life and Data Usage
Live Activities are designed to be efficient, but they do use some battery and data. The updates are pushed via notifications, so they don’t constantly run in the background. On iPhone 14 Pro and later, the Always-On display can show the Live Activity at a lower refresh rate, which helps save battery. If you notice significant battery drain, you can disable Live Activities for Apple Sports in Settings > Notifications > Apple Sports.
Also, if you’re on a cellular connection, live score updates will use a small amount of data. Over a month of following many games, you might use a few dozen megabytes—nothing to worry about for most plans, but worth knowing if you have a low data cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple Sports work on iPhone 8?
No. Apple Sports requires iOS 18, and the iPhone 8 is not supported by iOS 18. The oldest iPhone that can run iOS 18 is the iPhone 11 (and the iPhone SE 2nd generation).
Can I use Live Activities on an iPhone without a Dynamic Island?
Yes. Live Activities work on all iPhones that support them, including iPhone 11, 12, 13, and the standard iPhone 14. On those models, they appear as a banner at the top of the screen or on the lock screen, but not in a Dynamic Island.
Why isn’t my Apple Sports Live Activity updating?
First, check that you’re following the game (tap the star). Then, make sure your internet connection is stable. If you’re in Low Power Mode, Live Activities are paused. Also, check that the app has permission to send notifications—without that, Live Activities won’t work.
Can I turn off Live Activities for Apple Sports without disabling all notifications?
Yes. Go to Settings > Notifications > Apple Sports and toggle off “Live Activities.� You can still receive normal score alerts if you leave “Allow Notifications� on.
Does Apple Sports Live Activity show on the Always-On display?
On iPhone 14 Pro and later, yes. The Always-On display can show the Live Activity at the bottom of the screen. You can disable this in Settings > Display & Brightness > Always-On Display, or by turning off Live Activities in the Apple Sports notification settings.
Will Live Activities drain my battery?
They use a small amount of battery, but Apple designed them to be efficient. If you’re concerned, you can disable them or use Low Power Mode (which disables them automatically). On models with a Dynamic Island, the display uses a lower refresh rate for the activity, which helps.
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