Duolingo Used iPhone’s Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Summary:

Duolingo sparked controversy by displaying ads in iPhone’s Dynamic Island—the pill-shaped area near the front camera that normally shows system alerts (e.g., timers, Face ID). This violates Apple’s strict guidelines, which reserve Dynamic Island for functional interactions only. Common triggers include receiving push notifications while the app runs in the background or unlocking your device. Ads persisted until manually dismissed, blocking access to critical system features like media controls.

What This Means for You:

• Impact: Disrupted user experience with intrusive ads blocking system tools.
• Fix: Disable Duolingo notifications via Settings > Notifications > Duolingo.
• Security: Unauthorized Dynamic Island use suggests potential overreach in data access.
• Warning: Apps violating Apple’s guidelines risk data breaches or sudden removal.

Solutions:

Solution 1: Restrict Dynamic Island Access

Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Live Activities. Toggle off Duolingo to revoke Dynamic Island permissions. This prevents any Live Activity—including ads—from appearing in this area.

Note: This doesn't affect standard banner notifications.

Solution 2: Deny All Notifications

Go to iPhone Settings, select Notifications > Duolingo, and disable “Allow Notifications.” Apps can’t trigger Dynamic Island content without notification permissions. If you still want badges, enable Badges Only mode here.

Solution 3: Downgrade the App

If you have automatic updates enabled, Duolingo may have pushed this ad feature silently. Revert to a previous version by uninstalling the app and sideloading an older IPA file via tools like AltStore. This requires disabling automatic updates afterward.

⚠ Warning: Sideloading bypasses App Store security checks.

Solution 4: Report to Apple

Submit a complaint via Apple’s App Store Report Form, selecting “Report a scam or fraud.” Include screenshots of the ad and mention policy violation HIG 3.4: “Ads must not obscure system UI elements.”

People Also Ask:

• Q: Is Duolingo still safe to use? A: Yes, but limit notification access and review privacy settings.
• Q: Are there free Duolingo alternatives? A: Try Memrise (offline mode) or Busuu with stricter ad guidelines.
• Q: Will Apple remove Duolingo? A: Unlikely unless repeated violations occur.
• Q: Can I sue Duolingo for this? A: Possibly under California’s CCPA if ads harvested personal data.

Protect Yourself:

• Check Live Activities weekly under Settings > Privacy & Security.
• Use Screen Time > App Limits to restrict Duolingo’s background activity.
• Install ad blockers like Lockdown Privacy (Firewall Ads feature).
• Report suspicious app behavior directly from App Store listings.

Expert Take:

“This is a dangerous precedent—monetizing reserved OS space breaches trust. Apple must enforce guidelines consistently to prevent the iPhone’s UX from becoming ad bloatware.” – UX Designer, former Apple Human Interface team member

Tags:

• Duolingo Dynamic Island ad violation
• Disable Duolingo Live Activities iPhone
• Apple design guideline 4.1 policy breach
• How to block ads in Dynamic Island
• Report Duolingo to Apple App Store
• Dynamic Island ad security risk

*Featured image via source

Edited by 4idiotz Editorial System