What are the changes to live activities in iOS 18?

In iOS 18, live activities have been enhanced to integrate more seamlessly with Apple Watch. Here are the key changes:

1. Automatic Appearance on Apple Watch: When a live activity begins on your iPhone, it automatically appears at the top of the smart stack on Apple Watch, allowing you to track its progress by simply raising your wrist. This integration is designed to provide timely and relevant information directly on your Apple Watch.

2. Customization for Apple Watch: Developers have the opportunity to customize the live activity view specifically for the Apple Watch. This includes adapting the view for the smart stack and ensuring it works well with the always-on display feature.

3. Update Synchronization: Updates to live activities on iOS are automatically synchronized with Apple Watch. This means developers do not need to manage separate push tokens or add extra code to protect battery life. The update frequency and budget are similar to those on iOS, and high-frequency updates are supported when requested in the iOS app.

4. Interactive Widgets: In watchOS eleven, widgets can be interactive, allowing users to perform actions directly from the widget, such as turning on a light with a home widget.

These changes aim to enhance the user experience by providing more interactive and timely information on both iOS and watchOS devices.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the sessions:

• Bring your Live Activity to Apple Watch (Customize for Apple Watch)
• Design Live Activities for Apple Watch (Smart Stack)