Workout Summaries as Live Activities in iOS 16

With iOS 16, Apple introduced Live Activities to provide real-time updates directly on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. When a workout session concludes, fitness apps can transition these dynamic widgets into a finished state rather than abruptly removing them. This article explains how completed workout summaries display on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, the visual information they present, and how iOS manages their dismissal.

The Transition to the Finished State

When a user taps "End Workout" within a supported app, the app updates the active ActivityState to .ended. Instead of instantly disappearing, the widget switches its user interface from active tracking—which shows elapsed time, live heart rate, and current pace—to a static summary view. This provides immediate closure and confirmation of the session's completion without requiring the user to unlock their device.

Lock Screen Display

On the Lock Screen, a finished workout Live Activity transforms into a clean, consolidated summary banner:

  • Visual Status Indicators: The active timer stops, often replaced by a completion badge, checkmark icon, or the label "Workout Complete."
  • Core Metrics: The banner consolidates the final numbers, typically highlighting total active duration, total calories burned, total distance covered, and average heart rate or pace.
  • Muted Aesthetics: Dynamic visual elements—such as pulsating heart icons or animated progress rings—freeze into a static state, signaling that data collection has stopped.

Dynamic Island Presentation

On supported hardware (such as the iPhone 14 Pro series running iOS 16), the completed summary adapts to the Dynamic Island’s form factors:

  • Compact and Minimal Views: The Dynamic Island collapses into a smaller footprint showing a completion indicator, such as a checkmark or sport-specific icon, alongside a single primary metric like total distance or time.
  • Expanded View: If the user performs a long-press on the Dynamic Island, it expands into a comprehensive card showing the same detailed metrics visible on the Lock Screen widget before returning to its compact form.

Persistence and Dismissal Policies

Completed workout summaries do not remain indefinitely. Developers configure the dismissal behavior using ActivityKit’s dismissal policies:

  • Automated Removal: Apps typically set a dismissal policy using .default (which keeps the summary visible for up to 4 hours) or .after(date), which removes the summary after a specified duration (such as 15 to 30 minutes) to keep the Lock Screen uncluttered.
  • Manual Dismissal: Users can swipe left or right on the Lock Screen widget at any time to immediately discard the finished workout summary.
  • Deep Linking: Tapping anywhere on the completed summary instantly unlocks the phone and navigates directly to the full workout breakdown within the host fitness application.