app
dB Pulse Live Activity — decibel readings on the Lock Screen
dB Pulse includes a free Live Activity that makes meter information glanceable on the Lock Screen while metering. It presents current and peak readings with a sound category; it is a display surface, not a separate microphone or a guarantee of uninterrupted background measurement.
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| Question | What to know |
|---|---|
| Input | Meter information provided by the iPhone app. |
| Access | Free; subject to iOS Live Activity authorization. |
| Updates | Managed by iOS; no fixed update interval promised. |
| History | Use a saved session rather than a Live Activity as your record. |
Make an active check easier to glance at
A Live Activity reduces the need to reopen a full app screen simply to look at the meter. Begin by opening dB Pulse and allowing microphone access. The app requests a Live Activity as part of its metering workflow when the system permits activities. Check the actual Meter screen first so you know the phone has a current input.
The activity uses meter data supplied by the app. It does not independently listen from the Lock Screen. Keep that distinction in mind whenever you switch tasks, lock the device or return after a break: a visible number is not proof that the microphone has been measuring continuously throughout the interval.
Recognize the presentation
The app implements a Lock Screen presentation and compact, minimal and expanded Dynamic Island presentations on devices that support them. The information includes the current decibel reading, peak and a plain-language category. Device capabilities and iOS presentation decisions determine which surface you see.
A category is an approximate interpretation of the meter reading, not a medical judgment about your surroundings. The peak describes a different aspect of the sound from the current value. Neither can establish a person’s total exposure from a single glance.
Foreground measurement is the current boundary
The reviewed app lifecycle stops metering and ends the Live Activity when the app becomes inactive or moves to the background. Do not interpret the Lock Screen feature as a promise that sound continues to be sampled after locking the phone. Return to Meter for a fresh reading and verify the behavior on your device.
Understand system control
Live Activities require system authorization. If an activity does not appear, check that Live Activities are allowed for the app and verify the meter is actually running. Reopening dB Pulse is a useful way to distinguish a missing presentation from a missing microphone reading.
iOS controls activity updates and may throttle them. Do not expect every change shown inside Meter to appear with identical timing on the Lock Screen. This is a convenience display, not a continuously sampled instrument screen with a guaranteed update interval.
Choose activity, widget or saved session
Use a Live Activity for an ongoing glanceable check. Use Home Screen or Lock Screen widgets when you want the latest shared snapshot with its update context. Use Sessions when you need measurements that can be reviewed after the activity has ended. These are distinct workflows, even when they display similar numbers.
Live Activity is included in the free app. You do not need Pro merely to see the feature. If you need an independently measured workplace exposure record or unattended safety monitoring, choose equipment intended for that purpose rather than relying on the phone’s display or background behavior. dB Pulse readings remain approximate and are not Class 1 or Class 2 certification.
Sources
Phone and browser readings are estimates. For formal decisions, use the specified equipment and procedure; see the accuracy notes.
Try the next check
Noise dose calculator can help with this question. See the matching dB Pulse feature.