Many iPhone users on Reddit have voiced frustration with the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature not working as expected after recent iOS updates. Some report that it no longer activates automatically when driving, while others say calls and notifications still come through despite the setting being enabled. Whether it’s a bug, a setting change, or a focus mode issue, users are searching for reliable solutions to regain distraction-free driving.
In this guide, we will explore the most common causes and provide guidance on how to address them.
Quick fixes:-
- Enable Driving Focus
- Set Activation Method-
- Allow Notifications Override
- Disable Share Across Devices – In Settings > Focus, turn off Share Across Devices if syncing causes conflicts.
- Update iOS
- Reset All Settings
- Restart iPhone
Troubleshooting Do Not Disturb While Driving has stopped working
Quick Pre-Requisition Solutions and Exceptions
- iPhone 5S unable to use Do Not Disturb While Driving feature on automatically.
- CarPlay users cannot activate Do Not Disturb while driving until they turn on the “Activate with CarPlay” Feature. Read fix 2 in this article.
- Motion Sensor on iPhone must be turned on. Go to Settings > Privacy > Motion & Fitness > Fitness Tracking > Enable the Toggle > That’s it.
- iPhone will deliver Emergency Notification, Alarm, Timer, and Alerts after enabling Do Not Disturb on iPhone.
- Useful: Message notification can’t wake up your iPhone screen, Screen will go black, but if the sender sends a message with the Word “Urgent“, then your iPhone will show the notification on your iPhone and you can read it or say Siri to read it to you.
- Map Navigation will stay enabled when Do Not Disturb is turned on. And your iPhone will see a notification on the lock screen [Turn by Turn guide].
- If you are not driving the Car, then you can turn it off: you must tap I’m Not Driving to turn it off.
The first and foremost point is that you should confirm that the ” Do not disturb while driving is turned on/Green. If the toggle is already enabled, please disable it, wait for five seconds, then enable it and test again.
Fix #1. Check for Software Update when Do Not Disturb While Driving Not Working
You should check for a new available update. Cause sometimes, on your device running the operating system comes with bugs. (Hint to solve error – unable to check for update iOS)
- Settings → General → Software Update
Fix #2: Enable The Settings for CarPlay Users
Steps for turning on Do Not Disturb while driving on iPhone, iPad
in iOS 15, Apple introduced an extension of the Do Not Disturb function called Focus. Our Full Guide will help you to teach how to use Focus on iPhone and Apple Watch.
STEP TO ACTIVATE DO NOT DISTURB WHILE DRIVING FOR IOS 15 USERS
- Open Control Center
- Tap on Focus
- Click on Driving
- to get more settings, click on the More option (…) next to the Driving option, A settings tab appears, click on Settings to open all settings for DO Not Disturb while Driving.
Now, on your iPhone screen, open up with Driving function feature into Focus Settings Page,
- Open the settings app on iPhone > Scroll to the Focus option. > Select Driving
- Under the Automation section, > Click on While Driving
On your iPhone screen, under the Activate section, three options are seen,
- Automatically,
- When connected to the car’s Bluetooth,
- Manually
If you choose automatically, when you’re driving on the street, your phone’s driving mode will be activated automatically based on detected motion.
Lastly, a new option is Activate with CarPlay
- Turn the toggle green next to Activate with CarPlay, which means your phone’s driving mode will be activated automatically while connected to CarPlay.
Change Do Not Disturb While Driving Message
Depending on your reasons, you can send an auto-reply message while driving. With this feature, iPhone users can send messages to various contact groups, including Recents, Favorites, and all contacts.
- Open the Settings app > Focus.
- Select “Driving”> Scroll to the “Auto-Reply” option. And see the auto-reply message body.
- Tap on it to change the text. Also, most people like to set funny ‘do not disturb’ signs or humorous auto-reply text messages. Here are some examples that we can copy and paste into the box.
Funny Do Not Disturb Signs and Messages
Here are some auto-reply, funny, do not disturb while driving messages. Just copy the text by long touch and hold, select the text, and copy. Then, paste it into the Auto-Reply message box.
- I am busy in my 🚗
- I am on a long drive 🚙
- I am not driving 🏎
- Don’t punish me 🚕, I am driving
- I am on my Job 🛻
- I am moving hardly ♿︎
- Don make me angry while driving 😬
- I think I am on my way to home or Office 🛣
- I am stuck on Road, Wait a little more ⚠️
- I am stuck on Signal or Traffic, Call you soon🚦
- i am struggling in heavy traffic, can’t call you 🛑
- i can’t speak 🙊, Becuase i am on drive.
STEP TO ACTIVATE DO NOT DISTURB WHILE DRIVING FOR IOS 14 and Earlier USERS
If you are using your Mobile Device with CarPlay, find the settings that work perfectly for Do Not Disturb while driving. This bypasses the software issues on the iOS device, also some Old Car systems are unable to work perfectly with the car Bluetooth. Follow the steps below,
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
- Scroll to find Do Not Disturb settings.
- Scroll to the Activate option.
- Try to use it when connected to the Car Bluetooth, not automatically. Also, we can use Manual settings.
- Important Settings for CarPlay users is, Activate With CarPlay toggle. Please enable it. After that, Do Not Disturb While Driving can be activated automatically while connected to CarPlay.
- That’s it.
Fix #3. Restart Your Device
Restarting your iOS device can resolve the subtle glitch.
To restart your iPhone – Pressing and holding the Power Button until the screen appears, and then drag the slider to power off. Pull to the right side and power of your iPhone. Next up, again follow the same practice to power on Phone as you usually do. Get here – How to Restart the iPhone Without Power Button.
Fix #4: Reset All Settings to Default
Do Not Disturb while driving settings are based on your location services. Sometimes internal software issues create the problem for the Enable Do Not Disturb service. Try to Reset all settings, This option will not erase the more or less important Device data. This resets the custom settings on the device only. Follow the steps below on your iPhone.
- Settings app on iPhone > General > Scroll to the last Reset > Reset All Settings > Enter passcode [Your Device will reboot once] > Wait for turn on and Recheck the Do Not Disturb settings.
- That’s it.
Fix #5. iPhone Do Not Disturb While Driving Grayed out
While you unable to change Do Not Disturb While Driving, I mean disable/enable then you need to check restriction settings. Sometimes, restrictions are knowingly or accidentally turned.
Remove the Restrictions on Do Not Disturb While Drive allow changing from your iPhone settings app. Follow the steps below on the latest version on iOS on the iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
- Scroll to the Options Screen Time.
- Go back to Do Not Disturb Settings under the Settings app.
- Scroll to the last and find that we can make changes to the Do Not Disturb While Driving option.
It seems annoying if you are sitting as a passenger at that moment. So that you will have to turn it off by pressing on the notification and then tap on, I’m Not Driving.
Final Thought: More Assistance
- If you are serious about this feature and are having trouble solving the issues with us, connect with us on the Q&A page, or you can directly ask for an Apple Support executive on Chat, Call, or Book Your Appointment at the Genius bar near the Apple Store.
Here’s what you need to know why iPhone Notifications Sound Not Working After iOS Update
If you ever find other ways to fix this problem, don’t forget to share your solution in the comments. Please let me know which troubleshooting steps help you resolve the issue with Auto DND while driving that cannot be resolved.
