Seeing a focus timer on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island

The practical answer

A Lesscue Live Activity is a glanceable view of the current focus session on the Lock Screen and, on supported iPhones, Dynamic Island. It is Pro-only and requires iOS permission plus the app’s Start with focus setting. It displays a session; it does not replace the app’s protection or ending controls.

A setup to try

1. Open Settings → Widgets & Live Activity in Lesscue. Confirm Pro eligibility and the Start with focus preference before beginning a new session.
2. Check the iPhone’s per-app Live Activities permission if the app reports it disabled. A normal notification permission is not the same switch.
3. Start a short focus session and inspect the Lock Screen. A device without Dynamic Island can still have a different available system presentation; do not judge every model by an Island screenshot.
4. Tap the activity to return to the current focus context. Use the in-app ending flow when needed, and distinguish dismissing a system display from ending protection.

Is the Lock Screen timer included in the Free plan?

The current Lesscue plan makes the actual Live Activity a Pro feature. Free still includes the in-app full-screen timer and unlimited focus sessions. The sample Lock Screen design in Settings is a preview, not evidence that a real activity has started for a Free session.

Why does my iPhone show no Dynamic Island timer?

First check whether the iPhone model has Dynamic Island, then check Pro, Live Activities permission, and Start with focus. A missing Island display alone does not prove the session failed. Open Lesscue to inspect the actual running session and its protection state.

Do I need to allow normal notifications to enable Live Activities?

The settings are distinct. Lesscue checks the system’s Live Activity availability and its own preference before requesting a session display. Allowing an end reminder does not automatically authorize a Live Activity, and a Live Activity is not proof that notification banners or sounds are enabled.

If I swipe away the Live Activity, does the focus session end?

No. Dismissing the system display is not a Lesscue release command. The session’s actual state remains in the app. Lesscue also avoids recreating a dismissed display on every update, so use the app to check the timer rather than repeatedly swiping the same activity.

Why does the Live Activity not reappear every time I reopen Lesscue?

Lesscue respects dismissal for the current session rather than treating each app opening as permission to recreate it. The next session, or an explicit preference change, is a separate opportunity to request one. This keeps a glanceable surface from becoming a persistent interruption.

Can I end a Locked session directly from Dynamic Island?

Lesscue’s activity opens the current focus context; it does not provide a bypass for the in-app release policy. Locked has no ordinary early ending. Its permitted Emergency flow remains under Settings → Protection and requires its eligibility checks and deliberate confirmation process.

Does the Lock Screen display stream my timer to a Lesscue server?

The current Live Activity uses a local session payload and ActivityKit; Lesscue does not use a dedicated remote Live Activity push service. The payload is a compact timing and presentation summary, not your entire history, selected-app list, or Apple authentication session.

What should happen to the activity after a normal session ending?

The app requests that its owned activity end as the session finishes, with related cleanup paths for entitlement loss, Emergency, and reset. iOS presentation is a separate runtime behavior. If a stale display remains, open the app and compare it with the actual recorded outcome.

Can a Live Activity continue displaying a session from another synced iPhone?

Lesscue does not sync live timers or active protection through iCloud. A Live Activity belongs to the local session that created it. Imported history from another phone is different data and should not be presented as a currently running timer on this device.

Is an active Live Activity evidence that all selected apps are blocked?

No. It shows a local session display, while enforcement depends on Screen Time authorization and the selected policies. Test an actual selected app when validating a setup. A polished countdown cannot substitute for checking the system shield and the protection state inside Lesscue.