sodcalculator

10 Tech How-To

How to Turn Off Dynamic Island on iPhone

Guide 10-13091 · Updated · Step by step

Dynamic Island is the pill-shaped cutout at the top of your iPhone that expands to show alerts, live activities, and background tasks. While it can be handy, some users prefer a cleaner look or find the animations distracting. This guide shows you how to minimize or effectively turn off Dynamic Island’s functionality on compatible iPhones, either by disabling Live Activities or by using a wallpaper to visually hide the cutout.

What You’ll Need

  • An iPhone that supports Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models).
  • iOS 16.1 or later for Live Activities settings (most devices will already have this).
  • Optional: A solid-color wallpaper image if you want to visually hide the cutout.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Disable Live Activities (The Main Way to Reduce Dynamic Island Notifications)

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on Focus (or Focus Modes depending on your iOS version).
  3. Select the Focus mode you are currently using (e.g., Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep). If you want to disable Live Activities for all Focus modes, you’ll need to repeat these steps for each one.
  4. Tap Options (usually at the bottom of the screen).
  5. Under the “Silence Notifications� section, toggle off “Live Activities�. This will stop apps from showing live updates in the Dynamic Island while that Focus mode is active.
  6. If you want to disable Live Activities entirely (not just during Focus), go to Settings > Notifications > Live Activities and toggle off “Allow Live Activities�. This will turn off all Live Activities system-wide.

Method 2: Turn Off Specific App Live Activities

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Scroll down and tap on the app you want to stop showing in Dynamic Island (e.g., Music, Phone, Timer).
  3. Tap Notifications (or Live Activities if present).
  4. Toggle off “Live Activities� for that specific app. Some apps may have a separate toggle for “Live Activities� directly in their settings.

Method 3: Use a Wallpaper to Visually Hide the Cutout

  1. Find or create a black or very dark wallpaper image. The black area should cover the top of the screen where the Dynamic Island is located.
  2. Open Settings > Wallpaper.
  3. Tap “Choose New Wallpaper� and select your dark image.
  4. Set it as your wallpaper for both the Home Screen and Lock Screen. The black cutout will blend in, making the Dynamic Island less noticeable.

Common Mistakes

  • Expecting the physical cutout to disappear: The Dynamic Island is a hardware feature. You cannot remove the physical pill-shaped cutout; you can only reduce its functionality or visually disguise it.
  • Disabling notifications instead of Live Activities: Turning off an app’s notifications does not necessarily stop Live Activities. You must specifically toggle off “Live Activities� for that app.
  • Not realizing Focus modes override global settings: If you have Live Activities enabled globally but a Focus mode has them disabled, they will be hidden during that Focus. Make sure you check both locations.

Tips

  • If you find Dynamic Island distracting during work hours, set up a Focus mode that disables Live Activities automatically at certain times or locations.
  • Use a wallpaper with a black status bar area to effectively hide the cutout. Many “OLED-friendly� wallpapers are designed for this.
  • Remember that some system features (like the Face ID lock indicator or charging indicator) will still appear in the Dynamic Island regardless of your settings—they cannot be disabled.

Troubleshooting

Live Activities toggle is grayed out: This usually means the app does not support Live Activities. Not all apps have this feature. Check if the app has been updated for Dynamic Island.

Dynamic Island still shows notifications after disabling: Make sure you have disabled “Live Activities� for the specific app, not just general notifications. Also, some alerts like incoming calls or alarms will always appear in the Dynamic Island—these are system-level and cannot be turned off.

Wallpaper doesn’t hide the cutout: The wallpaper must be pure black (#000000) and not have any gradient or pattern in the top area. Also, ensure you set it for both Home Screen and Lock Screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely remove the Dynamic Island?

No. The Dynamic Island is a physical cutout in the display. You cannot remove it, but you can disable its interactive features and use a black wallpaper to make it less visible.

Will turning off Live Activities affect my phone’s performance?

No. Disabling Live Activities only stops the display of live updates. It does not affect performance or battery life.

Why do I still see the Dynamic Island when I’m not using any apps?

System indicators like the Face ID lock icon, charging status, or when your iPhone is connected to a device will appear in the Dynamic Island. These are system functions and cannot be turned off.

Does turning off Live Activities stop the Dynamic Island from expanding?

Yes, for third-party apps. However, system alerts like incoming calls or alarms will still expand the Dynamic Island.

Can I disable Dynamic Island only for certain apps?

Yes, you can go to Settings > Notifications > [App Name] and toggle off “Live Activities� for that specific app.

Is there a way to hide the Dynamic Island without a wallpaper?

No, the only way to visually hide it is by using a black wallpaper that matches the cutout area. There is no display setting to make it invisible.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →