macOS 27.3 Beta Adds Live Activities to Menu Bar on Macs Without Dynamic Island
Apple silicon Macs without a Dynamic Island can now show live updates in the menu bar, and third-party developers can adopt the feature.
Apple's first macOS 27.3 developer beta, released this week, adds Live Activities to the menu bar on Apple silicon Macs without a Dynamic Island. Several built-in apps, including Apple Music, Clock and Voice Memos, as well as screen recording, now surface live updates there. Third-party Mac developers can also adopt the feature. The update is expected to ship in December, and it extends a capability macOS 26 already offered for Live Activities mirrored from iPhone.
Why it matters
Mac users without a Dynamic Island get a menu bar surface for live updates that previously appeared mainly for iPhone activities mirrored to the Mac. Built-in apps such as Apple Music, Clock and Voice Memos, along with screen recording, are the first to use it, so people who rely on those apps will see the change first. The feature is still in an early developer beta and is expected to reach users in December, so its reach beyond Apple's own apps is not yet clear.
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