How do i permanently turn off driving mode on my iphone

• Driving Focus is an iPhone mode that acts like Do Not Disturb while you're driving.  
• When enabled, Driving Focus temporarily limits notifications like calls and texts.
• You can turn Driving Focus on and off on your iPhone, or set it to turn on automatically.

iPhones can be a serious distraction when you're trying to get work done or even when you're having dinner with a friend. Silencing notifications can help decrease distractions. 

When it comes to driving, there's a feature tailored specifically for keeping your eyes on the road and off your iPhone: Driving Focus. 

You might know it as Do Not Disturb While Driving, though with newer iOS updates it's part of a Focus feature that includes Do Not Disturb, Driving, Sleep, and more. 

Here's what you need to know about Driving Focus and how to use it. 

Driving Focus is an iPhone mode that helps eliminate distractions while you're driving. When Driving Mode is on, texts and other notifications are limited or silenced completely. 

Incoming calls will only go through when your iPhone is connected to CarPlay, a car's Bluetooth system, or a hands-free accessory. If any text messages come in, you can ask Siri to read them to you so that you can keep your eyes on the road.

How to turn Driving Focus off 

1. Open the Settings app. Tap Focus.

2. Tap Driving.

3. Tap the toggle next to Driving to turn it off. When Driving Mode is off, the toggle is black.

4. Alternatively, turn off Driving Mode in the Control Center.

5. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen. Touch and hold the Focus button, then tap Driving to turn it off.

How to turn Driving Focus back on

1. Open the Settings app. Tap Focus.

2. Tap Driving.

3. Tap the toggle next to Driving to turn it on. When Driving Mode is on, the toggle is green.

4. Alternatively, turn on Driving Mode in the Control Center. 

5. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen. Touch and hold the Focus button, then tap Driving to turn it on.

6. To turn on Driving Mode automatically tap While Driving, then select Automatically, When Connected to Car Bluetooth, or Activate with CarPlay.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a contributing writer for Insider based in New York. She loves a good glazed donut and nerdy deep dives into the science of food and how it's made. 

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With iOS 15 and later, the Driving Focus helps you stay focused on the road. When you turn it on, text messages and other notifications are silenced or limited.

When you have the Driving Focus set up, you can ask Siri to read replies to you, so you don't have to look at your iPhone. Incoming calls are allowed only when iPhone is connected to CarPlay, a car Bluetooth system, or a hands-free accessory.

Set up a Driving Focus

1. Go to Settings > Focus, then tap Driving.
2. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your options, like Allowed Notifications.

Turn the Driving Focus on or off

If you already have the Driving Focus set up, you can quickly turn it on or off from Control Center:

1. Open Control Center.
2. Touch and hold Focus, then tap Driving to turn it on or off.

When the Driving Focus is on, the Driving icon 

Turn on the Driving Focus automatically

1. Go to Settings > Focus, then tap Driving.
2. Tap While Driving under Turn on Automatically, then select one of these options: 
   • Automatically: Driving will be activated based on detected motion.
   • When Connected to Car Bluetooth: Driving will be activated when your iPhone is connected to car Bluetooth devices.
   • Manually: Driving can be activated manually from Control Center.
   • Activate With CarPlay: Driving will be activated automatically when your iPhone is connected to CarPlay.

Customize your notifications

To allow or silence notifications from certain people: 

1. Go to Settings > Focus, then tap Driving.
2. Under Allowed Notifications, tap People.
3. Tap Allow Notifications From or Silence Notifications From.
4. Tap Add People, then select the contacts that you want to allow or silence notifications from.

Share your Focus status

When you set up the Driving Focus, you can turn on Focus status so that apps display that you have notifications silenced when people message you. Since apps only know that you have notifications silenced but not which Focus is on, the name is never shared. Focus status is shared in apps when you have a Focus on and after you give an app permission.

To turn Focus status on: 

1. Go to Settings > Focus. 
2. Tap Focus Status. 
3. Turn on Driving.

Turn on Auto-Reply

With Auto-Reply, favorites and those you allow notifications from will get an auto reply when you have the Driving Focus on. They can choose to notify you anyway by sending "urgent" as an additional message.

1. Go to Settings > Focus, then tap Driving.
2. Tap Auto-Reply.
3. Select an option, like No One, Recents, Favorites, or All Contacts.

From here, you can customize the auto-reply message that people get when they message you while a Driving Focus is on.

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Published Date: September 12, 2022