How to Use the Dynamic Island on iPhone

The Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro and later replaces the notch with an interactive display that shows alerts, Live Activities, and controls right at the top of your screen.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Start playing music to see the Dynamic Island in action
2.Tap the Dynamic Island for controls
3.Try it with a timer
4.Use it with navigation
5.Monitor delivery or ride status

Start playing music to see the Dynamic Island in action

~15s

Open any music or podcast app and start playing. The Dynamic Island will display a small music note animation and the song title.

Tap the Dynamic Island for controls

~18s

Tap the Dynamic Island while music is playing. It expands to show the full song name, artist, and playback controls (play/pause, skip). Tap again to collapse it.

Quick Tip

Long-press the Dynamic Island instead of tapping to get an even larger expanded view with a scrubber to jump to any part of the song.

Try it with a timer

~15s

Ask Siri to "Set a 5-minute timer" or use the Clock app. The Dynamic Island will show the countdown. Tap it to expand and see the exact time remaining.

Use it with navigation

~15s

Start turn-by-turn directions in Apple Maps or Google Maps. The Dynamic Island will show your upcoming turn and distance while you use other apps, so you never miss a direction even when your screen is showing something else.

Monitor delivery or ride status

~15s

Order food or request an Uber/Lyft. Apps that support Live Activities will show status updates in the Dynamic Island automatically. Tap it to go directly to the delivery or ride app.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use the Dynamic Island on iPhone

Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

The Dynamic Island is a pill-shaped cutout at the top center of the screen on iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, and later models. Unlike a regular notch that is purely decorative, the Dynamic Island is interactive — it expands, shrinks, and animates to show useful information and alerts.

What it displays

: - Music controls when you are playing something - A timer counting down - Directions when navigation is active - A phone call in progress - A sports game score in real time - A food delivery or ride-share status - AirDrop transfers - Silent/vibrate mode toggle alerts - Face ID status

How to interact with it

: - Tap the Dynamic Island to expand it and see more detail about the current activity - Long-press to see a larger expanded view with controls (like music playback controls) - Swipe down from the Dynamic Island to jump directly to the related app

Apps that support Live Activities can send ongoing updates to the Dynamic Island. For example, a food delivery app can show your order status ("In the kitchen," "Out for delivery") right in the Dynamic Island without you needing to open the app.

The Dynamic Island works automatically — you do not need to set it up. Just be aware it is there and tap it when you see it showing something relevant.

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

iphone

dynamic island

live activities

iphone 14 pro

ios tips