You’re using your iPhone Lock Screen wrong – simple hack you need to know

YOUR iPhone has a seriously handy secret that you should be taking advantage of.

It makes your iPhone Lock Screen much smarter – and it’s easy enough to set up.

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We’re talking about Live Activities, which work alongside the Lock Screen widgets.

Widgets were introduced in September with the iOS 16 update, allowing you to deeply customise the Lock Screen for the first time ever.

Then late last year, Apple launched iOS 16.1 – and with it came a brand new type of widget.

They’re called Live Activities and they offer up real-time info on ongoing events.

The big advantage of this is that live sports scores can be display directly on your Home Screen.

Live Activities will work on any iPhone that can upgrade to iOS 16.1.

For instance, you could set an NFL widget to show you the latest American Football scores.

Live Activities aren’t just limited to sporting fixtures, of course.

“Live Activities is a new feature that helps users stay on top of things that are happening in real time, such as a sports game, workout, ride-share, or food delivery order, right from the Lock Screen,” Apple explained.

That means you’ll also be able to track how far your food delivery is from your address, or how you’re getting on during exercise.

These Live Activity widgets will be temporary and live at the bottom of your iPhone Lock Screen – as opposed to the current widgets that persist at the top of the display.

Apple’s iOS 16.1 is available to try right now, so install the update by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

How to add Widgets to iPhone Lock Screen

1. Touch and hold the Lock Screen until the Customise button appears, then tap Customise.
2. Tap the box above or below the time to see the widgets you can add to your Lock Screen.
3. Tap or drag the widgets you want to add.
4. Tap Done.

Sadly not all iPhone models can get iOS 16, and so won’t get iOS 16.1 and the sports widgets either.

iOS 16 supported models

Apple can’t support all iPhones forever – so very old iPhone models often lose access to iOS updates.

Sometimes these old iPhones don’t have the power to support new features, or not enough people are using them to warrant providing an update.

Now the iPhone 6S, iPhone 7 and 1st-generation iPhone SE will be cut off by Apple.

These handsets were compatible with 15.6.1, but won’t get iOS 16.

If you’re using older iPhones than that, you’re already cut off, so you should upgrade to a newer model immediately.

Here’s the full list of iOS 16 supported devices:

• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone Xs
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

Not being able to get the latest iOS means you’ll lose access to the most up-to-date security fixes.

These are vital patches that close holes used by hackers to access your systems.

So using a very old iPhone that can’t be updated could put you at risk.

If you can’t update to iOS 16, consider upgrading your iPhone sooner rather than later.

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