iOS 18 is bringing live sports scores to your iPhone lock screen

Just in time for football season

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iOS 18andwatchOS 11will bring live sports scores to the iPhone andApple Watchlock screen,Applehas announced ahead of the company’smajor product event on September 9.

The news will come as a welcome boost for iPhone or Apple Watch-using NFL fans, as the football season is due to begin on September 5 with the title-holding Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Baltimore Ravens.For soccer fans, Apple has also confirmed that the Champions League and Europa League will be making their way to the Apple Sports app in September. These competitions will join the NFL and 14 other football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer leagues in being lock screen-compatible.

In a press release, Apple detailed how a free update to the Apple Sports app in iOS 18 and watchOS 11 will bring a number of new features – most prominently the ability to check live scores without unlocking your device.

The score cards, delivered via Apple’s Live Activities feature, will also include short play-by-play updates, and you’ll be able to track multiple games at the same time.

AsZDNETreports, the update will also bring these features to the top 25 American college football teams, with this list updated weekly.

The update brings drop-down navigation for the main scorecard views, which Apple says will speed up switching between the My Leagues, My Teams, and favorited leagues feeds. Additionally, an improved search function for matches in leagues outside of the ones you already follow is on the way.

Apple Sports is available in the US, UK, and Canada, with no signs that Apple is looking to add more countries any time soon.

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The Apple Sports app provides scores, updates, and betting data for these leagues for the duration of their respective seasons. Live betting odds can be turned off at any time in settings.

Apple TV owners hoping for live scores on the big screen will be disappointed, though – the press release’s small print confirms that Live Activities will not be available on Apple TV with the introduction of iOS 18.

Apple is expected to reveal theiPhone 16lineup andApple Watch Series 10at the company’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event on September 9. For details onhow to watch the iPhone 16 launch eventandwhat we’re expecting to see, check out our dedicatedApple Eventpage and more generaliPhonecoverage.

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Jamie is a Mobile Computing Staff Writer for TechRadar, responsible for covering phones and tablets. He’s been tech-obsessed from a young age and has written for various news and culture publications. Jamie graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Since starting out as a music blogger in 2020, he’s worked on local news stories, finance trade magazines, and multimedia political features. He brings a love for digital journalism and consumer technology to TechRadar. Outside of the TechRadar office, Jamie can be found binge-watching tech reviews, DJing in local venues around London, or challenging friends to a game of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

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