The iPhone 18 Pro can display up to three simultaneous Live Activities in the Dynamic Island, but the extra slot has a significant limitation. According to code explorer pdfu, the third Live Activity in iOS 27 can only be used by a system activity, such as Now Playing or navigation. A third-party app cannot occupy that position.

That means the feature does not provide support for three independent app-based Live Activities. Instead, the Dynamic Island can combine activities from apps with one additional system status when the relevant feature is active.

How the third Live Activity works

Live Activities provide ongoing information in supported apps, including updates that users can monitor without opening the full app. On iPhone 18 Pro models, Apple has reduced the size of the cutout associated with the Dynamic Island, creating room for up to three activities at the same time.

However, the reported behavior in iOS 27 separates the third position from the first two. The third activity is reserved for built-in system functions. Examples identified in the report include Now Playing, which can show media playback information, and navigation, which can surface directions or related travel updates.

Another app-based Live Activity cannot use that third position. Users who expected to see three activities from different apps will therefore see fewer app activities than the headline capability might suggest.

What iPhone 18 Pro users can expect

In practical terms, the Dynamic Island may show two app activities alongside a system activity. The exact combination will depend on which supported activities are running and whether a system feature such as media playback or navigation is active.

If no qualifying system activity is running, the third position will not become an additional place for another app. This explains why some iPhone 18 Pro owners may not see three Live Activities despite the device and operating system supporting the display of three simultaneous items.

Why the limitation matters

The restriction makes the feature more limited than a simple count of three might imply. Users who track several deliveries, sports events, timers or other app updates may still be limited to two app-based Live Activities at once. The third slot is useful when a system activity is present, but it does not expand the number of third-party apps that can appear simultaneously.

The finding comes from code analysis of iOS 27 by pdfu. It describes how the operating system handles the third Dynamic Island activity, rather than indicating that every situation will display three items. Apple has not been quoted as announcing a separate change to the Live Activities rules in the available information.