How to Turn Off Driving Mode on iPhone

Last updated on October 24, 2022 by John Adebimitan

iPhones have evolved so much lately, and with iOS 16 arriving with many new and amazing features, there's no telling what future iOS updates will bring. While some have already become familiar with the newly added features, others are still stuck trying to understand them, and the rest don't even know they exist.

Questions about how to use some of these new features have been circulating. One of them is how to turn off driving mode on iPhones. If you don't already know the answer to this question, you're in luck. This article answers the question and even offers something for Android users.

How to Enable Driving Mode on iPhone

To enable driving mode on iPhone iOS 15, go to Settings >> Focus >> Driving and enable it. You can also turn Driving Mode on or off on iPhone by swiping down from the top right corner of your screen to access Control Center. Next, press and hold the Focus button and select Driving to turn it on – press again to turn it off.

The same method works on iOS 16, but if you've customized a lock screen for driving focus, you can press and hold your lock screen and swipe right or left to select the lock screen you want. have customized for driving focus. This action will activate it, and you can deactivate it by switching to another lock screen.

To customize a lock screen for driving mode on iPhone iOS 16;

Go to Settings >> Focus >> Driving

In the Customize Screens section, tap Choose under the screen you want to customize (you can also customize your Apple Watch screen).

You can create a new screen by tapping Gallery under Create a new lock screen or choose from existing screens.

After customization, you can simply move to the driving mode lock screen to enable it.

To turn it off, try unlocking your phone and click I'm not driving to turn it off.

Another way to turn it off is to tap the Driving icon at the bottom of your lock screen, then tap Driving again to turn it off.

You can also customize Driving Mode settings on iPhone. For example, you can choose to have it activate automatically based on movement, when you connect to your car's Bluetooth, when you're connected to CarPlay, or manually. You can also choose who notifications and calls go to and set an auto-reply message and who to send them to.

To set an auto-reply message and know who to send them to, go to Settings >> Focus >> Driving >> Auto-Reply. You can choose to use the default message or enter your own. Additionally, you can select Recents, Favorites, or All Contacts to send automatic replies.

To customize which notifications are allowed, return to the Driving page and tap People under Allowed Notifications. Next, tap the plus sign to add people whose notifications can be received in driving mode and tap Calls under Also Allow to allow calls from Everyone, Favorites, or All Contacts in driving mode.

Think of Driving Mode as a “Do Not Disturb” mode designed specifically for driving. It's part of the iPhone's new ‘Focus' feature that allows users to customize a ‘Do Not Disturb' mode for different purposes.

Best Ways to Disable Driving Mode on iPhone iOS 12, 11, 10, 8

To disable driving mode on iPhone iOS 12 and 11;

Go to Settings >> Do Not Disturb

Scroll down and tap Turn on under Do not disturb while driving.

Select manually

You should now see a car icon in your Control Center.

Swipe up from the bottom of your phone screen to access Control Center and tap the car icon to turn it on or off.

If you don't see the car icon in your Control Center after following the steps above, you'll need to add it yourself. To do this ;

Go to Settings >> Control Center >> Customize Controls.

Tap the plus sign next to Do Not Disturb While Driving.

Swipe up from the bottom of your phone screen to access Control Center; the icon should be there now.

Note that if you choose Automatically instead of Manually, as explained in the steps above, this method will only disable driving mode temporarily – if your phone detects driving motion, it will automatically re-enable it. And if you instead select When connected to car Bluetooth, it will be reactivated accordingly.

NOTE: Driving mode on iPhone is only available starting with iOS 11.

Use driving mode on your iPhone to focus on the road.

iPhone Driving Mode is a feature that lets you focus on the road, leaving calls, texts, and other notifications on the back burner until later. This feature is available on iOS 15 and above. Once enabled and properly configured, it silences all notifications according to your preferences and allows you to ask Siri to read replies to you. Additionally, you can choose to allow calls/texts from certain people, allow repeat calls, or silence all notifications.

Additionally, the Driving Focus feature can send automatic responses on your behalf. You can use the default auto-reply message or type your preferred message. It also allows you to choose who to send the automatic reply to.

To enable and customize your driving focus settings;

Go to Settings >> Focus

Tap the plus sign in the upper right corner of the screen.

Select Driving >> Customize Focus

You can also choose to share your focus status in apps – this means you can allow apps to share that your notifications are turned off when you use driving focus or any other focus profile . So if anyone wants to contact you through one of the apps you've allowed to share your update status, they will be informed that your notifications are turned off and you will receive them later.

To share your focus status, go to Settings >> Focus >> Focus Status and toggle Driving.

Equivalent functions of driving mode on Android devices

One of the best and most popular equivalents of iOS Driving Mode for Android devices is Google Assistant Driving Mode. This feature makes texting and calling easier, so you don't spend too much time on your phone while driving. It also allows you to group all your music and make the buttons larger/more visible.

It can also read your texts and tell you who's calling so you don't pick up your phone when you don't need it. You can also add a Driving Mode shortcut to your home screen. Once driving mode is activated, the following shortcuts will be displayed on the home page;

A search bar to search for your destination

“Make a call” widget.

“Send a message” widget

Media widget

Google Assistant

App drawer

If you open the app drawer, you'll see that you can also make a call, send a message, or access your media from there. You'll also see driving-friendly apps that open in a simpler version of themselves.

To find and customize Google Assistant driving mode;

Go to Settings

Scroll down and select Google

Scroll down and select Google apps settings > Search, Assistant & Voice > Google Assistant.

Scroll to the bottom and select Transport

Scroll again and select Driving Mode

Here you can choose how to activate driving mode; you can choose to enable it when navigating Google Maps, when connected to the car's Bluetooth, or when driving is detected. You can also choose the “Hey Google” detection option; Driving mode will be activated when you say “Hey Google, let’s drive”.

We recommend that you enable the When you navigate in Google Maps option and one of the other two.

If you choose the latter option, you can also choose to ask before launch in cases where you are not the driver – this option is also available for the second option.

On this page, you can also enable the Allow incoming calls while driving and Get help with messaging while driving options to allow Google Assistant to read your messages to you.

To prevent driving mode from turning on automatically, turn off the When navigating in Google Maps option, select Do nothing for the “When connected to car Bluetooth” and “When driving detected” options, and enable the “Hey Google” detection option.

Here are some other Driving Mode equivalents for Android devices;

AutoMate

This might be the best option if you're a fan of old-school apps with older UI standards. Even though it may not seem like it, AutoMate is a great Android Auto replacement. It offers a simple look with tabs at the bottom for navigation, phone, homepage, media and shortcuts. However, it is important to note that it has some bugs and is unlikely to be updated.

AutoZen can be considered a modern version of AutoMate, with a similar layout, better user interface and more features. It offers a dedicated notifications panel, auto-reply options, more supported apps, and apps dedicated to weather and calendar appointments.

Moving to a single option, Drivemode has taken a different direction with its interface and features. Instead of tabs, buttons or widgets, Drivemode allows drivers to easily and safely access their phone's most important functions with a simple swipe or voice navigation. It might take a little time to get used to this app, but if you can, it might be the best option for you.

This is not an app option but an already built-in Android feature. If you have a modern Android device, you've probably already figured out that you can split your screen in half for two different apps. By doing this, you can make your phone more suitable for driving by having Google Maps on one side and your favorite music player on the other. This feature works in both portrait and landscape mode.

• Android Auto App Mode/Android Auto

Android Auto App mode allows you to project the interface of your smartphone onto the touch screen of your car's dashboard. This option is only available for compatible vehicles. If your car is incompatible, you can use standard Android Auto with your phone's screen.

Conclusion

Now that you're a little more familiar with Driving Mode on iPhone, you can use it to protect yourself and stay focused on the road. You can also teach your friends, family, and colleagues how to use and turn off Driving Mode on iPhone.