According to 9to5Google, Google is shutting down Driving Mode, its standalone Assistant-powered dashboard that provides quick access to audio controls, contacts, navigation, and other shortcuts while driving.
The feature, which Google first announced at I/O 2019 but didn’t officially launch until last year, is now being phased out on November 21st.
The standalone version of Driving Mode should not be confused with the Driving Mode feature built into Google Maps, which launches when you begin navigation.
According to Esper’s Mishaal Rahman, Google added Assistant Driving Mode to Maps before releasing the standalone Driving Mode.
The only distinction between the two is that the standalone version can be accessed by saying a voice command such as “Hey Google, launch Driving Mode” or by tapping the Driving Mode shortcut on your phone’s home screen.
When Driving Mode is turned off, you’ll only be able to access its features by starting navigation in Google Maps, which is likely what many users have been doing anyway.
Its demise is unfortunate for those who do not own a vehicle equipped with a digital navigation hub that supports Android Auto.
The standalone Driving Mode service was supposed to replace Google’s discontinued “Android Auto for Phone Screens” app with Android 12.