This article explains how to turn off driving mode on the iPhone after first adding Do Not Disturb While Driving to the iPhone Control Center. This information applies to iPhones running iOS 11 through iOS 14. Beginning with iOS 15, the iPhone uses Focus in the Control Center to manage driving mode.

What to Know

  • On the iPhone, open Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls.Under More Controls, tap the plus sign next to Do Not Disturb While Driving.On the Home screen, open the Control Center and tap the car icon to turn off or turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving.

How to Turn off Driving Mode

Although this driving mode offers safety benefits, you may want to disable it and make your own decisions as far as when or when not to look at your iPhone.

Do Not Disturb While Driving activates automatically when your iPhone senses that you’re driving. You can turn it on or off manually via the iOS Control Center. First, however, you neeed to add it to the Control Center options. Here’s how:

  • Open Settings on your iPhone.
  • Select Control Center.
  • Tap Customize Controls.
  • Under More Controls, tap the plus sign next to Do Not Disturb While Driving.
  • If the icon already appears under the Include heading at the top of the screen, the feature is already active.
  • Return to the Home screen.
  • On an iPhone X or later, swipe down from the upper-right corner of your iPhone display to open the Control Center.
  • On an iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
  • Tap the car icon to disable or enable Do Not Disturb While Driving.

What Is Do Not Disturb While Driving Mode?

By default, the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature disables some functionality while still allowing certain notifications and calls to go through. 

Open Settings on your iPhone.

Select Control Center.

Tap Customize Controls.

Under More Controls, tap the plus sign next to Do Not Disturb While Driving.

If the icon already appears under the Include heading at the top of the screen, the feature is already active.

Return to the Home screen.

On an iPhone X or later, swipe down from the upper-right corner of your iPhone display to open the Control Center.

On an iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.

Tap the car icon to disable or enable Do Not Disturb While Driving.

Since Do Not Disturb While Driving mode can sense when you’re in motion, it will occasionally be activated on passenger iPhones as well. If you’re the passenger, tap the I’m Not Driving button if this occurs.

  • Alarms, timers, and emergency alerts will still function as usual even when driving mode is active.
  • When a text message arrives, your iPhone screen will not light up, and your device will not make a sound. An automatic reply goes to the recipient to inform them that you’re driving at the moment. At that point, they can choose to type “Urgent,” which will bypass driving mode and force both an audible and visible notification.
  • If your iPhone is connected to your automobile’s Bluetooth, it will permit all incoming phone calls. If it’s not, however, driving mode will utilize your standard Do Not Disturb settings. You can choose to allow calls from those contacts designated as Favorites, or from anyone who makes back-to-back calls. You can configure these preferences in the Settings app.

The functionality described below assumes that you have not made any modifications to these individual settings. If you have, your driving mode experience may differ.

  • How do I turn on do not disturb while driving?
  • To set up do not disturb while driving on an iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > Driving. Next to Driving, tap the switch to turn on do not disturb while driving. To turn it on automatically, go to the Turn on Automatically section, tap While Driving, and select Automatically.
  • How do I turn off driving mode on Google Maps?
  • To turn on Google Assistant’s driving mode on Google Maps on an Android, launch Google Maps and tap the four-square icon at the bottom. Next, tap Settings > Turn off Driving Mode. Tap Turn off again to confirm.
  • What is eco driving mode?
  • Eco mode is a fuel-saving feature some car manufacturers have added. When in eco mode, the car automatically shifts into a fuel-saving program to boost efficiency. Chevy, Honda, Toyota, Ford, Kia, Lexus, Volvo, and other manufacturers have added eco or econ mode.

To set up do not disturb while driving on an iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > Driving. Next to Driving, tap the switch to turn on do not disturb while driving. To turn it on automatically, go to the Turn on Automatically section, tap While Driving, and select Automatically.

To turn on Google Assistant’s driving mode on Google Maps on an Android, launch Google Maps and tap the four-square icon at the bottom. Next, tap Settings > Turn off Driving Mode. Tap Turn off again to confirm.

Eco mode is a fuel-saving feature some car manufacturers have added. When in eco mode, the car automatically shifts into a fuel-saving program to boost efficiency. Chevy, Honda, Toyota, Ford, Kia, Lexus, Volvo, and other manufacturers have added eco or econ mode.

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