How to Turn Off Message Notifications on Apple CarPlay & Android Auto: A Complete 2026 Guide

11 feb. 2026

De Jade Lin

A car infotainment screen showing a smartphone integration interface with app icons like Phone, Music, and Maps. A glowing voice assistant orb is active at the top with floating command bubbles such as "Call Amy" and "Play music.

Whether you want to protect your privacy in front of passengers or eliminate driving distractions, managing your in-car message notifications is essential for every driver. Below are the practical solutions based on the mainstream 2026 automotive systems.

⚠️ Safety Reminder: For your safety, please complete the following configurations only when the vehicle is stationary and in Park.

I. Apple CarPlay Users: The Three-Tier Management Method

For iPhone users, Apple provides a robust set of tools to filter out noise while keeping you connected to what matters.

📺 Video Tutorial: How to Turn Off Text Notifications on iPhone While Driving

Check out this step-by-step visual guide to mastering your iPhone’s driving settings:

1. Enable Driving Focus Mode (Recommended: Automated Management)

This is the smartest method, as it automatically silences non-emergency notifications based on your driving status.

Path: Go to Settings > Focus > Driving.
Activation: Tap While Driving, then select Activate with CarPlay.
Expert Tip: You can set "Allowed Notifications" on this page to whitelist specific family members, ensuring you don't miss urgent messages.

2. Disable Siri's Automatic Announce Messages

If you don't want Siri to suddenly read private texts aloud during navigation:

iPhone Path: Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications.
Action: Find "Messages" or simply toggle off the global Announce Notifications switch at the top.
On-the-fly Action: When Siri is reading a message, you can tap the "Announce" icon on the CarPlay screen to quickly mute it for the current trip.

3. Disable Notifications for Specific Apps

If you only want to block text message alerts without affecting other apps:

Path: Settings > Notifications > Messages.
Action: Scroll down and toggle off Show in CarPlay.
Privacy Tip: If you only want to hide the content of the message, select Never under Show Previews on the same page.

II. Android Auto Users: Message Control Solutions

A car infotainment screen running Android Auto, featuring app icons like Google Maps, YT Music, and Spotify. An active voice assistant graphic is shown at the top with floating voice command bubbles including "Call Linda" and "How's the weather today?"

If you are using an Android device, follow these steps to block message pop-ups on your car's display:

📺 Video Tutorial: How to Manage Android Auto Notifications

Enter Settings: Open the Settings app on your phone.
Locate Path: Tap Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto.
Turn Off Notifications:
- Find the "Messaging" section and toggle off Show message notifications.
- It is also recommended to toggle off Show group message notifications to reduce interference from high-frequency group chats.
Voice Control: To stop voice read-outs, toggle off Preview incoming messages on the same page.

III. Expert Troubleshooting & Comparison

Feature	Driving Focus Mode	Manual App Toggle	Android Auto Block
Scope	Global notification filtering	Specific apps only	Global messaging control
Flexibility	High (Allows emergency whitelist)	Low (Requires manual toggle)	Medium (Group-level control)

IV. 30-Second Quick Checklist

[ ] CarPlay: Check if "Driving Focus" is set to activate automatically upon connection.
[ ] Privacy Check: Ensure "Show Previews" is set to "Never" to prevent passengers from seeing message summaries.
[ ] Hardware: Confirm your data cable is undamaged and the ports are free of dust to prevent notification sync issues caused by connection fluctuations.