Apple Reveals 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' iOS 11 Feature to Hide Unnecessary Notifications - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Reveals 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' iOS 11 Feature to Hide Unnecessary Notifications

by

A new safety feature is coming to iOS 11 this fall called "Do Not Disturb While Driving," which will block unnecessary notifications to your iPhone when it's connected via Bluetooth to a vehicle. Apple said it'll also be able to use speed-detection to know if a user is in a car while it's moving.

dnd while driving ios 11

iOS 11 introduces a new way to help drivers stay more focused on the road with Do Not Disturb while driving. iPhone can detect when you may be driving and automatically silence notifications to keep the screen dark. Users have the option of sending an auto reply to contacts listed in Favorites to let them know they are driving and cannot respond until they arrive at their destination.

When you're driving, Messages will auto-reply with a specific text message to those trying to reach you that you currently can't reply to their text. Users who are passengers will be able to tell iOS 11 and grant full notification access to their iPhone.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

Icestyle Avatar
122 months ago
They could make it so it senses a vehicle in motion even if it's not connected and disables the phone. They could easily make it so you can't disable it. If the customers don't like it they can go get an Android phone. It would make Apple a leader in safety.
Great idea... I don't have a car. Now what? Am I not allowed to use my phone in a train or tram or bus?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
122 months ago
If only this feature was forced...
There Would be legalities behind forcing something like this. But nonetheless, this is an outstanding feature to promote safety and a hands-free approach on the roadway and keep your eyes focused on the road. Do Not disturb while driving should have debuted sooner.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
122 months ago
Disabling it by indicating that you're the passenger should require granting access to the rear camera. If it sees the steering wheel, it won't allow you to turn off DND. If the AR they demoed could identify a table, surely it could tell if you're driving.
Why do you yearn to be ruled by your technology rather than to be in charge yourself?

Every time I see this attitude it scares me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
122 months ago
Auto reply has been a feature of Android along with do not disturb. Speed sensing when connected to car Bluetooth is good. The stack knows because each vendor has a unique ID. On the other hand, what happens if I'm in the car and my phone is connected and I'm thenpassenger? Also, let's.face it, if you are the kind to text and drive you just won't connect or you will bypass.
Yup, that's just it. I actually LIKE this feature, because I often have my phone in a cradle while I'm driving providing me GPS navigation. It's nice for alerts to NOT come in automatically during that time. If I'm not using GPS navigation my phone is in my pocket out of sight and doesn't distract me.

(a buzz in my pocket is not as distracting as a notification bubble popping down with text on it in my field of view)

However I have a big problem with attitudes like DakotaGuy's, which cripple functionality while driving. I'm not always driving when I'm in my car, and don't want to have to implement annoying workarounds to be able to use my phone.

Keep these awesome features OPTIONAL, damnit.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
122 months ago
If only this feature was forced...
If only some people had common sense, this wouldn't even be needed.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
122 months ago
It might take a long time to be fully implemented, but possibly there would a way for the phone to tell it's in a passenger vehicle so you could still use it other places. It'll probably take forced Government regulation to come up with something that will force disable a phone for a motor vehicle operator.
You sound like quite the authoritarian.

Why don't you just let people do what they want to do with their devices?

Note that I absolutely LOVE features like this as long as they are optional.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple TV 4K HomeView HomePod Mini tweaked

New Apple TV 4K, HomeView, and HomePod Mini: 16 Details Just Leaked

Sunday October 11, 2026 12:56 pm PDT by
Just two days before Apple's "Welcome home" experience in New York, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has leaked several details about the new products set to be unveiled, including an all-new smart home hub, a HomePod mini 2, and a new Apple TV 4K. Here is an all-in-one summary of the details shared by Gurman:Apple's home hub with a touch-enabled display will be named HomeView, seemingly confirming a ...
Apple HomeView lineup feature1

Apple Announces 'HomeView' Smart Home Hub

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "HomeView," an all-new kind of smart home hub featuring a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and Siri AI. Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said: Apple HomeView is designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user. It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience,...
Apple TV 4K 4th Generation feature4

New Apple TV 4K Announced With A19 Chip, Updated Siri Remote, More

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:08 am PDT by
Apple today announced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, with key features including an A19 chip, Siri AI support, an updated Siri Remote that has Find My support with Precision Finding, built in far-field microphones, support for surround sound with four HomePods in front and rear pairs, and more. The A19 chip in the new Apple TV 4K delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice...
Latest Stories
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
8 minutes ago
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
57 minutes ago
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
12 hours ago
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
13 hours ago
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
14 hours ago
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
15 hours ago
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
15 hours ago
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
16 hours ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
16 hours ago
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
17 hours ago
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
18 hours ago
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
19 hours ago
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
20 hours ago
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
20 hours ago
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
20 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
21 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
21 hours ago
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
22 hours ago
Apple Says HomePod 2 Also Works as Default Speaker With Select Macs
Apple Says HomePod 2 Also Works as Default Speaker With Select Macs
22 hours ago
HomePod Mini 2: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2: All the New Features
22 hours ago
WhatsApp Now Lets Anyone Join Calls, No Account Needed
WhatsApp Now Lets Anyone Join Calls, No Account Needed
22 hours ago
AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today
AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today
22 hours ago
Apple Reportedly Planning Large iPhone 18 Production Run
Apple Reportedly Planning Large iPhone 18 Production Run
22 hours ago
Apple Says These Products Are Now Obsolete
Apple Says These Products Are Now Obsolete
23 hours ago
First Pre-Order Discounts Now Available for HomeView
First Pre-Order Discounts Now Available for HomeView
17 hours ago
Apple Launched iPhone 4S With Siri 15 Years Ago Today
Apple Launched iPhone 4S With Siri 15 Years Ago Today
1 day ago
Apple HomeView Includes Temperature and Humidity Sensors
Apple HomeView Includes Temperature and Humidity Sensors
1 day ago
HomePod Mini vs. HomePod Mini 2 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
HomePod Mini vs. HomePod Mini 2 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
1 day ago
Apple Watch Sleep Apnea Notifications Launch in China
Apple Watch Sleep Apnea Notifications Launch in China
1 day ago
HomeView's Faces Include Snoopy, Photos, and Interactive Artwork
HomeView's Faces Include Snoopy, Photos, and Interactive Artwork
1 day ago