---
title: "Apple iPhones Feature Pill-Shaped Cutout for Face ID Sensors"
url: https://newscentral.site/apple-iphones-feature-pill-shaped-cutout-for-face-id-sensors/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Technology"
published: 2026-10-11T00:30:00.000Z
updated: 2026-10-11T03:31:22.884Z
id: 37b561db-1be3-4e73-a52f-60581bd1e113
source: "Engadget https://www.engadget.com/2280381/how-to-enable-live-activites-iphone-carplay/"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/apple-iphones-feature-pill-shaped-cutout-for-face-id-sensors/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Apple iPhones Feature Pill-Shaped Cutout for Face ID Sensors

The pill-shaped cutout on Apple's flagship devices has a functional purpose beyond aesthetics.

iPhones have adopted a distinctive design feature over the past few years: a long pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen that houses more than just a camera. This design element has become synonymous with Apple's flagship devices.

The reason behind this unique design is not purely aesthetic; it also serves a functional purpose. The pill-shaped cutout accommodates multiple sensors necessary for Face ID, allowing users to unlock their phones securely and quickly.

To address the potential awkwardness of this design feature, Apple introduced Dynamic Island in recent iOS updates. This innovative feature repurposes the surrounding area above the cutout as an interactive display that can be used to showcase various types of information.

On iPhones, users can view Live Activities on the Dynamic Island when their phone is in use. These activities provide real-time updates from associated apps without requiring constant switching between screens. They can include features like timers, navigation directions, and music playback information.

As a result of the growing popularity of this feature, many third-party apps have adapted to utilize the Dynamic Island for displaying Live Activities. This includes food delivery services, flight tracking software, and other types of apps that benefit from real-time updates being readily accessible on users' screens.

If Live Activities aren't showing up for certain apps on your iPhone, it's possible that they've been turned off by mistake. To check this, navigate to Settings > Apps and select any app that's not displaying Live Activities as expected. Make sure the toggle next to Live Activities is enabled.

Enabling notifications for an app can also be useful if you're not seeing the expected updates. Although Live Activities work independently of regular notifications, having notifications enabled may help ensure that you receive timely updates from your apps.

When you're not actively using your iPhone, Live Activities will appear on the Lock screen as well. To confirm this feature is enabled, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and scroll down to the Allow Access When Locked section. Make sure the toggle next to Live Activities is switched on.

Enabling Live Activities also makes it possible for these updates to be displayed on your CarPlay Dashboard while driving. This can be particularly useful when tracking a food delivery or flight status, as you can quickly access vital information without getting too distracted from the road.

When using an app that covers the entire screen in CarPlay, Live Activities will still appear as notifications at the bottom of the display. If these updates become too distracting while driving, it's easy to turn off the feature in CarPlay or disable Live Activities for specific noisy apps on your iPhone.

To ensure Live Activities are visible on iPhone and CarPlay, navigate to the Settings app within CarPlay and verify that the toggle for Live Activities is enabled. Additionally, confirm that Suggestions in CarPlay (or Suggestions in Dashboard) is turned on.

Customizing your CarPlay experience also includes adding widgets for quick access to information and controls from various apps without having to open them. These widgets are located in the leftmost section of the CarPlay Dashboard, and further personalization options can be found by spending more time within the Settings app.

---
Source: [Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2280381/how-to-enable-live-activites-iphone-carplay/)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/apple-iphones-feature-pill-shaped-cutout-for-face-id-sensors/