Apple’s New Driving Mode Feature | Use Driving Mode with Watch and Maps

Apple’s New Driving Mode Feature Explained | How to Use Driving Mode with Watch and Maps

Perhaps the best new feature (and the safest) is the Do Not Disturb/Driving mode feature that is available with the iOS 11 update. You can now turn off the distractions when you are driving. No more temptation, no more excuses.

Do Not Disturb Feature While Driving

I know this isn’t well received by everyone, and it definitely has a ways to go before it’s a seamless and helpful iOS 11 feature. You can easily turn this feature off on your phone if you’d rather not have it, and you can easily force this feature onto your child’s phone if you’d like. And yes, you can make an emergency call when necessary.

What is it? This feature is activated when your phone connects to a car’s Bluetooth system–it puts it into Do Not Disturb mode and only rings if someone from your Favorites list calls more than once. Ideally it’s a great system to keep you from being distracted from everyday notifications while you are driving. It is easily disengaged for those of you who don’t want to try out this new feature.

How to Use It: Like I said, there is room for improvement–like when my husband pulls my car into the garage after a workout and it automatically connects to my phone in the kitchen. And when I’m passenger in my car it turns on as well–but I can quickly as easily turn it off (see the Brand New Control Center, above). But the Driving Mode automatically begins when it connects to your car.

How to Turn Off Apple’s Driving Mode

Like I said before, if Driving Mode is not your cup of tea there is a really simple way to just turn off Driving Mode so that you don’t have to deal with it at all! Check out this simple path so you’re ready to customize iOS 11 to your perfect settings.

How to turn off Apple’s Driving Mode: Head to Settings > Do Not Disturb > Activate and set your preferences. You can also set preferences for phone calls that are allowed to get through and if you’d like to add an auto-responder.

You can easily turn this off for your drive by tapping, “I’m not driving.”

Try this:

Go connect your phone to your car and sit in the driveway for a few minutes. Getting to know this new feature is the first step to loving it, and keeping everyone safer on the roads.

Tip: It seems that most people aren’t thrilled about not being able to easily change their music when this is on, but here’s where you can rely on Siri and her new DJ skillzzzzz to help you out. Set up Hey Siri and let your personal assistant help keep you both safe and entertained.

How to Turn On Apple’s Driving Mode

How to add Driving Mode to your teen’s phone: Using their phone, turn on Restrictions (you’ll need to set a password for it), then turn on Driving Mode. Head to Settings > Do Not Disturb > Activate and set your preferences. You can also set preferences for phone calls that are allowed to get through and if you’d like to add an auto-responder.

Driving Mode and Apple Watch

You’re probably wondering if you can use your Apple Watch while Driving Mode is engaged. Yes! The Apple Watch is kind of a great tool while driving when it comes to directions, notifications, and more. It’s able to give you haptic feedback when you should be eyes up, looking for your next turn, etc.

Tip: You can use Driving Mode and Apple Watch at the same time if you use the Siri function to get info and alerts. If you have Siri enabled you can still get the same interaction that you usually do with your Apple Watch.

Turning off the Drive Mode function in your phone will also handle this feature on your Apple Watch. With the system turned off your devices function as usual.

Driving Mode and Maps

How it works: Driving Mode is not a end all/quit all situation. It will still allow the phone to function for AirPlay and Bluetooth car connectivity as well as features like navigation and maps. You can also customize the feature to make sure that all the notifications you do not want muted will come through!

Tip: You can set up certain contacts with permission so that they always come through. If you don’t want to miss emergency notifications from certain family members or your kids school you can allow those contacts to be pushed through no matter what.