What you’ll see
The moment you switch away during Focus Mode, the Dynamic Island shows how many tasks are left. Every couple of minutes it expands with a short check-in and the name of your task, something like “sat here for 2 min, might grow mushrooms soon.” Lock your phone and the same Live Activity is waiting on the Lock Screen.
How to show your to-do list on the iPhone Lock Screen
- Add a few tasks in FocusDo.
- Tap Focus and pick the task you’re working on.
- Switch to another app. Your task appears in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen, and goes away when you come back to FocusDo.
For a permanent list, add the widget: touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, then add the rectangular FocusDo widget under the clock. It shows your next three tasks.
Nudges, not lockouts
FocusDo never blocks apps and needs no Screen Time permission. Go wherever you like; your task simply comes with you. Nudges arrive every 2 minutes on the free plan, and Pro lets you choose 1, 3, 5 or 10.
Live Activity or widget?
They do different jobs. The Live Activity only exists while you’re away from a focus session: it appears when you switch to another app, carries your task and the nudges, and disappears the moment you come back. Widgets are always there. The rectangular Lock Screen widget shows your next three tasks, and the Home Screen widget comes in three sizes; on the medium and large ones you can tap a checkbox to cross a task off without opening the app.
Does my iPhone have a Dynamic Island?
The Dynamic Island is the pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen on iPhone 14 Pro and most newer models. If yours has a notch instead, nothing is missing: the same Live Activity shows up on your Lock Screen.
Getting the nudges right
- Need quiet for a while? Tap the gear in the top-left corner of Focus Mode and turn off Focus Reminder. Your task stays behind when you leave until you turn it back on.
- Want a different pace? Pro lets you set the interval to 1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes.
- Name the task clearly. “Reply to Sam” in the Dynamic Island pulls you back faster than “Email”.
Wondering why you drift in the first place? Read why you keep getting distracted while working.