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Verizon Galaxy S7: How to Enable or Disable Driving Mode

By 42 Comments

The Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy S7 has a setting called “Driving Mode”. This feature will automatically reply to text messages by saying “I’m driving right now – I’ll get back to you later.”

The feature is meant as a feature to use so that you aren’t distracted by looking at your phone while driving. You can configure this feature as well as enable or disable it using the following steps.

  1. Open the Verizon “Messages+” app.
  2. Select the “Menu” Menu Button button located at the upper-left corner of the screen.
  3. Tap “Driving Mode“.
  4. Driving Mode is enabled when paired with an audio device via Bluetooth. Tap “Add device” to use Driving Mode with the chosen device. Uncheck any that are checked if you wish to disabled it.
  5. Check the “Driving Mode Auto-Reply” to enable it, uncheck it to disable it.
    S7 Driving Mode Auto Reply

When enabled you can select “Driving Auto-Reply Message” to set the auto reply message you desire.

 

FAQ

What happened to the Samsung Driving Mode feature that was on prior Galaxy S phones?

It’s no longer available.

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Comments

  1. I think I’ve FINALLY figured this out. How to permanently turn it off. Go under the messaging app, click on the “menu” and make sure driving mode it tuned off, scroll down to settings and click that, scroll down to driving mode and click on it. Turn off (if it’s not already turned on) the bluetooth devices. Uncheck any paired device so that you dont want. Turn off the bluetooth. And back out to main screen and make sure driving mode is turned off. Fingers crossed that I’ve gotten it correct.

  2. I hate that ‘driving mode’ activates automatically. Its a great way to let a stalker know you’re away from home?

  4. Listen to the customer.
    How do I turn of “driving mode” PERMENTLY. On my Samsung 7 and Tab D samsung.
    Every time I pair my Sony bluetooth speaker while I am at home or work the “DRIVING MODE”
    Comes on, blocking my text.
    All your so called help is how to Temporally turn off, or to Disable, temporarily.
    We the customer want to Permently turn off “Driving Mode ”
    Do not send a form letter how to Temporally disable.

  6. Verizon Galaxy S10 now has driving mode and will not allow text messages to go to bluetooth devices while driving, even when you have it turned off.

  7. I need to turn off driving mode permanently whenever I’m in my house or at work it pops up and blocks my calls please help this is a Samsung Galaxy S7 just turning it off in the app does not work it comes back on by itself

  8. When my s7 edge is paired with my 2015 Silverado, the voice feature on google maps stops working so in effect, I have to keep looking down at my phone to visually confirm the directions instead of just hearing them. Is there a way to correct this?

  9. No. Whether I”m driving or not, this blocks ALL MY CALLS. How do I turn this feature off PERMANENTLY?

  10. so if you disable devices to keep driving mode frpm coming on, how do you use you devices, I drive truck and am required by law to be hands free or pay $3000.00 fine if caught ??

  11. I figured it out. In the message app there is a setting to associate any configured WiFi device that has ever been paired to your phone.
    You can delete everything except for the car.
    When the car is turned off, you can get as close to it as you want.

  12. I went messages. settings. turned off driving mode. turned off my vehicle selections. left only fit bit and my tablet. THE STUPID DRIVE MODE STILL RADOMLY TURNS ON!!!!!
    Is it possible to delete the drive mode like you can regular apps.
    HELP

  14. I “disabled” driving mode. It keeps turning itself back on if I get anywhere near my truck. Is there any way to make this feature controllable?
    It has made my phone almost unusable!

  15. Quick fix with this answer! All I had to do was disable each device that connects to my phone. Thanks for a clear answer.

  16. I need to know how to turn off permanently unless I want it on I have bluetooth enabled on my phone for my Fitbit but drive mode comes on while I’m sitting in my house.

  17. I accidentally enabled driving mode when I added a bluetooth device to my Galaxy S7. It kept coming on while I was going about my day.
    It was making me crazy for 2 days. This process solved my problem.
    Thanks very much.

  18. How do you PERMANENTLY turn off this feature unless I want it back on? Turning it off will only last until I get in my car and start driving again. I don’t always remember to turn it off when I get in the car, and as stated before, I definitely don’t want it on while I’m a passenger!

  19. ever since I have paired my fitbit Blaze with the S7, it automatically goes into “driving mode” I want to make it stop!!!

  21. I turned on the driving mode by mistake, and could not figure how to disable it. This article was very helpfull.

  22. Thank you for your help. This was driving me crazy. I don’t use my phone while I drive but I also want to hear that someone has called me when I’m a passenger. So thank you for your help!

  23. If I understand this correctly, there are basically two Bluetooth lists. There’s the actual Bluetooth list that shows devices that are paired with your phone for everyday use, and then there’s a list of those same devices that can be turned on and off for Driving Mode in the Message+ app.

    The original Bluetooth list is basically offering paired devices to Message+ to use for Driving Mode. Unpairing a device from the phone’s Bluetooth will affect Message+ by disconnecting it from your phone, but unchecking a Bluetooth device in Message+ will not unpair the device from your phone, it will just disassociate the paired device from Message+ and Driving Mode.

    To do this go into message+, click the left hand menu and then go settings. In settings, click “Driving Mode” and uncheck all devices. Unchecking these devices in Message+ will not disconnect your Bluetooth device from your phone. It just disassociates Bluetooth devices from the Message+ app. Don’t forget to turn off your “Driving Mode” option from the main menu.

    Hope this helps!

  24. As far as I can tell if you have it connected to anything by way of Bluetooth it will turn it on such as a watch music anything nothing to do with driving. I think everyone should complain to Samsung they can say it is Google but if enough people leave they will fix.

  25. I had to disconnect my Samsung Gear S2 to stop the driving mode from continuously turning back on. I hate this Galaxy S7 edge AND the Gear S2. They are both terrible products. Lesson learned.

  26. ***Here is how you do it***
    ****go to your message+ app, hit the menu bar on the top left. go to settings, scroll down to driving mode, unclick the paired devices, and unclick the driving mode auto reply***

  27. I agree with the annoying statements in the reply’s. So how do we disable driving mode PERMANENTLY? I use blue tooth constantly for control of my hearing aids as well as phone calls.
    Do I have to change phones to get rid of this annoying app?

  28. I have disabled the driving mode feature several times, and it periodically just enables itself. What am I doing wrong??

  29. My 2016 escape would read my text messages. But it won’t do it when car mode is on, so I fumble with the phone to try to read messages. Stupid and dangerous. I disable car mode every half hour or so. And then it comes back on. Wish I hadn’t bought this new phone
    Also won’t play my music from phone. Have to pick phone up and hit play.

  30. I think Samsung should offer a fix. For safety we need it paired to the car while driving so we can use the Bluetooth, but Driving Mode shouldn’t pop on 10 times a day when we aren’t driving or even near the car. It’s not right….

  31. This is one of the most annoying features I have ever had to deal with. Verizon keeps simply turning it off and for some reason it keeps mysteriously turning itself back on. I had to upgrade from a Note 7 which I loved but had a recall. I like this phone but that feature stinks.
    I am still trying to kill the feature but no success yet.
    ‘Whoops, I think she may have found it in Message + settings, advanced. It is due to a bluetooth issue which is my watch.

  32. I hate this annoying feature. I admire your concern for safe driving, but I have to disable it 10 times a day. I’m not in my car, I’m at work, or sleeping…but the phone randomly blocks messages. Please please please somebody help get this disabled PERMANENTLY!

  33. Super annoying that you have to disable it all the time. It goes off even when I’m sitting at my desk at work. I hate it.

  34. Can’t find driving mode anywhere even in Messages+, the left top conner has no menu key. Can anyone help?

  35. There is a way around it you just have to use the normal messenger instead of the Verizon messenger

  36. I need my driving mode on the 7 edge. To read my text messages and let me know who’s calling.how do I get it back.

  37. You can stop it. Do most of the above, but instead of clicking Driving Mode, click Settings, then click driving mode. Then unpair your devices. Then go down and turn off driving mode notifications. That should do it. Remember Settings is in the Verizon Message+ App.

  38. I contacted Samsung and they said you cannot permanently disable driving mode. You have to manually disable every time. I don’t need or want this Big Brother feature informing people when I’m in my car. Samsung blamed Google for this feature. I would not have purchased the phone if I had known.

  39. No – go to Verizon messages , then tap the 3 bars on the left corner, go to settings, the click driving mode and un-pair you devices.

  40. I agree every time I think I have disabled it. It returns when we get back in the car. Far more than annoying!!!!

  42. So does the answer mean you cannot permanently disable or turn off the driving mode feature?
    It is quite annoying.

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