Sticky WidgetsStarting a pinned note requires Premium. Live Activity lifetime and visibility are system-managed; permanent Lock Screen display is not promised.
By Tyler Hillsman · Reviewed
How to do it
Find the underlying note
Open Sticky Widgets and confirm the note is still in your active library. If it is present, the missing presentation is a separate issue.
Check whether it was unpinned or dismissed
Review the note’s current pin state and whether the activity was removed from the Lock Screen. Do not recreate the note just to recreate its presentation.
Check access and system settings
Confirm Premium access and that Live Activities are allowed for Sticky Widgets in device settings. If existing purchase access looks wrong, use ownership checks or contact support.
Pin again and observe
Use the note’s Pin action where available, then inspect the Lock Screen. If it disappears again unexpectedly, record the timing and conditions for support.
The note is separate from its activity
A Live Activity is a system presentation of information, rather than the note’s only storage location. Open the app to inspect the actual note before assuming its contents were lost.
If the note is active but the activity has ended, restarting a presentation is a different task from restoring an archived note. If the note itself is missing, use the active-library and archive checks instead.
System-managed display has limits
Live Activities may end or be dismissed, and device settings affect whether they can appear. Pinning should not be described as a permanent overlay on the Lock Screen.
A compact accessory widget is also a different surface. Seeing or adding an accessory placement does not prove a larger pinned activity is running. Identify which kind of placement is missing when asking for help.
Keep a regular widget for ongoing visibility
For a note you want to return to throughout the day, add a Home Screen widget selecting the same note. That placement gives you another route to the content even when an individual Live Activity has ended.
For time-based alerts, configure a scheduled reminder separately. Neither a Home Screen placement nor a pinned activity is a substitute for a tested notification schedule.
Capture the circumstances for support
Include the device, system version, app version, how the activity was started, and roughly when it disappeared. Mention a restart, setting change, or deliberate dismissal if one occurred. Share only note content you are comfortable disclosing.
Common questions
Can a pinned note be guaranteed to remain forever?
No. The system controls Live Activity lifetime and visibility.
Should I create a duplicate note when a pin disappears?
First find the original in the app. If it remains active, use its Pin action rather than creating unnecessary copies.
Why did a Shortcut fail to start pinning?
Starting a pinned activity requires Premium even through Shortcuts. Check access and device settings, then test the action from the app.
Need a hand?
Contact Sticky Widgets support with your device, system version, and what happened. Keep private note content out of your message.