On iPhone, Burst Timers shows the run in progress as a Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, so you can follow along without opening the app.
Requirements
- iPhone running iOS 26.0 or later
- Live Activities allowed for Burst Timers in the Settings app
- For alerts in the background: Play Sounds turned on in Burst Timers Settings
The Dynamic Island is only available on iPhone models that have one. On other models, the Live Activity appears on the Lock Screen and in Notification Center. Availability on iPad depends on iPadOS.
What It Shows
- The label, icon, and color of the current period
- The time left in the period, with a progress bar
- Which segment you're on, Paused when paused, or All timers complete when the run is over
- Buttons to pause or resume and to end the run
In the Dynamic Island, the compact view shows the period's icon and the countdown. Touch and hold it to see the full view with the buttons.
Controls
- Pause/Resume: pauses or resumes the run, without unlocking your iPhone.
- End (X): ends the run immediately. There is no confirmation from the Live Activity.
Alerts in the Background
When Burst Timers isn't on screen or your iPhone is locked, the Live Activity lights up the screen and plays the work, rest, or completion sound at each change. The alert shows the new period, the segment, and its length.
Live Activity alerts always play a sound, so they are only used when Play Sounds is on. With sounds off, the Live Activity still updates, but the screen doesn't light up.
Apple Watch Smart Stack
If you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, the Live Activity from a run on iPhone can also appear in the Smart Stack on your watch. This is separate from running Burst Timers on the watch itself.
When the Run Ends
When a run is complete, the Live Activity shows Done and stays on the Lock Screen for up to 15 minutes. When you end a run early, it disappears right away.
"Open Burst Timers to Catch Up"
If iOS stops updating the Live Activity for a while, it shows Open Burst Timers to catch up. Open the app, and the timer and Live Activity catch up to the correct period and time.
Turning Live Activities On or Off
Open the Settings app, tap Apps, choose Burst Timers, and turn Live Activities on or off. The change applies from the next run.