Apple’s Dynamic Island, introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro series, is a highly interactive element designed to show live updates, background activities, or app data in real time. For many, it’s a clever piece of UI innovation that enhances multitasking. However, not all users find it helpful — especially when it displays *match scores* or sports updates you didn’t ask for. If you’re frustrated with these persistent match scores popping up on your Dynamic Island, you’re not alone.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
If you’re seeing unwanted football, basketball, or other match scores on your iPhone’s Dynamic Island, there’s a good chance it’s coming from the built-in Apple TV app or a third-party sports app. Disabling Live Activities and notifications from specific apps like Apple TV or Sports apps can remove those alerts. You can manage what appears on Dynamic Island through Settings > Notifications & Live Activities. Removing active sessions and tweaking app permissions will usually stop the updates immediately.
Why Am I Seeing Match Scores on My Dynamic Island?
Most commonly, match scores appear on your Dynamic Island due to *Live Activities*, a feature that lets apps deliver real-time updates right on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island area.
The main suspects behind these updates are:
- Apple TV app: Subscribed teams or sports can bring live score updates automatically.
- Sports or betting apps: ESPN, SofaScore, Flashscore and similar apps often use Live Activities.
- Siri Suggestions: Siri may proactively start showing scores based on your past activity or searches.
How to Remove Match Scores from Dynamic Island
There are several ways to stop match scores from appearing. Below are the most effective methods, starting from the quickest to more permanent solutions.
1. Dismiss the Live Activity
If a score is visible right now in your Dynamic Island, follow these steps:
- Tap and hold the Dynamic Island.
- An expanded view will appear — look for an “X” or a close button within the view.
- Tap it to dismiss the Live Activity.
This is only a temporary fix and doesn’t prevent future updates, but it’s useful when you’re in a hurry.
2. Disable Live Activities from the App Sending the Scores
This is the method most users will find effective.
Apple TV App
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on TV (or Apple TV).
- Tap on Live Activities.
- Toggle Allow Live Activities to off.
Other Sports Apps (like ESPN, Flashscore)
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down to the app (e.g., ESPN).
- Tap Live Activities and disable it.
Note: If you can’t find the Live Activities toggle, make sure your iPhone is on iOS 16.1 or later, which introduced Live Activities support.
3. Remove Team Subscriptions in the Apple TV App
If you’re subscribed to specific sports teams in Apple TV, the app will push score updates automatically.
- Open the Apple TV app.
- Go to the Sports tab.
- Select your team and choose Unfollow.
Removing your team subscriptions will stop targeted score alerts.
4. Turn Off Sports Notifications Entirely
Another permanent way to solve the issue is to simply turn off notifications for sports updates.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Scroll down and choose the offending app — Apple TV, ESPN, etc.
- Turn off Allow Notifications, or at least disable Live Activities and Lock Screen alerts.
5. Disable Siri Suggestions for Sports
Siri can also be a culprit in some cases, especially if you often search for sports results.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Siri & Search.
- Scroll down to the sports-related apps.
- Disable options like Learn from this App or Show Suggestions from App.
This ensures that Siri doesn’t anticipate and promote match scores based on previous behavior.
Advanced Tips for Managing Live Activities
If you’re still seeing unwanted scores despite following the solutions above, try the following advanced settings.
System Wide: Disable Live Activities
To completely turn off Live Activities from all apps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Face ID & Passcode.
- Enter your device passcode.
- Scroll down to the Allow Access When Locked section and disable Live Activities.
This is a nuclear option but may be necessary if you’re inundated with multiple sources of match scores.
Focus Mode Configuration
You can use Apple’s Focus Mode to filter which apps are allowed to send notifications — including those that trigger Dynamic Island updates.
- Go to Settings > Focus.
- Select an existing mode (e.g., Do Not Disturb) or create a new one.
- Choose Allowed Apps and ensure none of the sports or TV apps are enabled.
- Enable this mode when you want a distraction-free experience.
What if the Match Score Keeps Coming Back?
If all else fails and match scores continue to haunt your Dynamic Island, try the following general troubleshooting steps:
- Restart your iPhone: Always a good first step after changing critical settings.
- Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and make sure you’re on the latest iOS version.
- Check Recently Installed Apps: Delete any app you suspect might be sneakily pushing match updates.
Can This Be Customized Further in Future iOS Versions?
As of iOS 16 and 17, Apple offers limited granularity over what appears in the Dynamic Island. Future updates may bring more fine-tuned control. Based on demand, Apple could introduce options to personalize which types of Live Activities are permitted — sports vs. flights, rideshare status, timers, etc.
Until then, the only effective solution is to manage app-level permissions aggressively and make use of Focus Modes where appropriate.
Conclusion
Apple’s Dynamic Island is a powerful UI tool but presents challenges for those who value a minimalist experience. If uninvited match scores are cluttering your iPhone’s screen space, manage Live Activities permissions, check your app subscriptions, and don’t hesitate to leverage Focus Modes.
Following the steps above will not only help you reclaim your attention but also improve your control over what your iPhone chooses to surface. While it might take a bit of initial tweaking, the end result — a cleaner, distraction-free Dynamic Island — is well worth the effort.