iOS 16 Live Activity for Lock Screen Now Available with Latest Beta

While iOS 16 brings with it many different changes and new additions, one of the most important things for Apple is the lock screen. Obviously the new widgets that can be implemented are a highlight, but also a brand new feature called “Live Actions”. At first glance, the whole point is to provide the user with even more easily digestible information.

But developers who are building their apps for the upcoming major software release haven’t been able to try out this new feature yet. Today, however, this is finally changing. Apple has finally sent the fourth beta to developers, and with it launched the Live Activity API and the new ActivityKit framework.

Apple launched the new API and framework along with a white paper for developers, which reads in part:

Live actions help people stay up to date with what’s happening in your app in real time, right from their lock screen. You can now get started with Live Activity and the new ActivityKit framework, both available in iOS 16 Beta 4.

You can see a brief description of the Live Activity in the image above. With this new feature, developers will be able to create lock screen widgets that display real-time information about a variety of things. This includes tracking an order you’ve placed with Starbucks, for example, which will let you know when it’s available. Or for the likes of DoorDash, who can show you where your food delivery is halfway through. Or, if you follow a sporting event, the Live Activity widget can show you the score right on your lock screen.

Live Activity is definitely one of the most anticipated features in iOS 16. However, the wait will be a bit longer. Apple has already confirmed that Live Activities won’t be available to the public at the launch of iOS 16, but will instead come with a subsequent software update some time after launch.

Here’s how Apple describes it:

Please note that Live Activity and ActivityKit will not be included in the initial public release of iOS 16. Later this year they will become public in an update and you will be able to send your apps using Live Activity to the app. Keep.

Are you looking forward to this feature?