Android’s Driving mode is picking up a useful update
Android’s Driving mode is picking up a useful update
https://www.androidpolice.com/android-driving-mode-update-bluetooth-car/
Publish Date: 2026-02-13 07:17:00
Source Domain: www.androidpolice.com
Android phones offer a handy Modes feature from the Quick Settings panel to limit notifications and distractions for multiple scenarios (working, sleeping, and others). One of the modes offered by default here is Driving. This is automatically enabled when the device detects motion. However, in its original form, Driving mode could be set to automatically enable when the phone is connected to the car via Bluetooth.
For some reason, Google removed this handy Bluetooth option in a previous update. This meant that Driving mode would be enabled whenever motion is detected, unless you turned the feature off completely. Naturally, this is inconvenient when you’re not actually driving and can use your phone. This shortcoming has finally been remedied, thanks to a Play Services update.
I’m currently seeing the Bluetooth connectivity option in version 26.02.35 of Google Play services, and Android Authority reports seeing it on version 26.05.32. This suggests the option may have been quietly added over a previous update and isn’t tied to a specific version of Play services.
Making Driving mode useful again
As the screenshots above illustrate, users will now see two options while tapping the sole option under When to turn on automatically. Use Bluetooth and Use motion and Bluetooth. The former is fairly self-explanatory and will turn on Driving mode “while connected to vehicle Bluetooth.” The second option is more of a hybrid and will automatically enable Driving mode when motion is detected or when you connect your device via Bluetooth.
As Android Authority rightly points out, this feature still lags behind Samsung’s Driving mode, which can be set to automatically activate on…
