why does CarPlay usage count towards screentime?

Hi waldenwest2,

We understand you have some questions about using Screen Time with CarPlay, and we'd like to help out. From what you're describing, it sounds like this would be expected behavior, and any apps appearing on the vehicle display would count toward Screen Time limits. With that said, we value your opinion, and encourage you to submit your thoughts at Product Feedback as well.

Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns that we can help with.

Have a great day!

CarPlay use only counts towards screen time when the application is open (not on the main navigation screen/"home" screen). Although I agree with you in that CarPlay should not count towards screen time, it does not change how much time you actually use your phone in relation to app limits.

But here's the problem: using Screen Time as a way of getting into better habits surrounding smartphone use requires an accurate picture of how much time you're interacting with the phone while it's unlocked and in your hand.

My commute to and from work is around 30-45 minutes each way. I use Spotify in CarPlay and always lock the phone when it's connected to the car. What I discovered after iOS 14 was that my Spotify use represented the vast majority of the time counted in Screen Time — which is utterly ridiculous since I would never blankly stare at the open Spotify app while listening to music. I am, in fact, looking at the road as I drive. Part of the benefit to Car Play is that you can have the app open to see what song or podcast you're listening to! But most of your attention is going to be on the road, not the infotainment screen.

If I use Spotify while I'm out for a walk or run, the phone is locked and the Spotify use is not counted in Screen Time. What everyone seems to be saying on this thread is that CarPlay should function in the same manner with regard to Screen Time. If the phone is locked, the CarPlay use shouldn't count — since our attention is on the road!

Having to subtract 60-90 minutes each day from my Screen Time totals makes it cumbersome, at best, as a tracking metric. Though more accurately, the word "useless" seems like an apt descriptor, since tracking metrics by their nature should accurately reflect the thing being tracked (compulsory phone use). Counting CarPlay as Screen Time. As such, I've stopped using Screen Time for the time being and am trying to mitigate my phone habits through other means.

I am having this issue as well and that was not the case before iOS 14 I believe. I listen to music and podcasts in my car through CarPlay and it is being counted as Screen Time. Why is it that when I listen from my phone/earphones, it is not being counted?

Screen Time was useful for me to monitor the time I spend looking at my phone in a day/week. Listening to audio through CarPlay should not be part of that.

Agreed - this renders screen time logging completely useless. In my case, I don’t even have to be accessing any apps via CarPlay, just having the phone connected to the car logs screen time as the last used app in CarPlay.

Prepare to be lost for words.

iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 14.5 - I was in my car for 30 mins first thing this morning with DAB radio on the entire journey. No interaction via CarPlay at all (it wasn't even up on my screen for one second), but I guess the phone was connected. I get home, check screen time and I've apparently had Tidal open for 30 mins.

Where's the facepalm gif....

it never used to and now it does. It is very frustrating as I am trying to decrease my screen time. This is not possible now with the new update, car play just being on uses screen time. Wish I never updated.

This was not the case until the newest update! Phone is definitely locked. Very frustrating when I need to drive all over for work and use maps. I no longer have a realistic view of my actual phone usage. Very disappointed!

I agree with the hive mind here — Screen Time is only a valuable tool if CarPlay use is not counted. The whole point is to monitor the time spent looking at the phone with it physically in hand. I do not want my 45+ minute commute, in which I typically listen to music, to muddy the data. This is precisely the reason I lock my phone while using CarPlay. Driving and listening to music with the phone locked is not actively engaging with the screen; therefore, it should not be counted.

Please fix this.

This is making me mad.

please remove this stupid change ASAP.

Android is doing a much better job with the feature.

I can’t believe my 4 hour navigation in Apple Maps is counted as screen time! Are you even serious????

I got a new car and now my screen time went up by a couple of hours... I really worked to minimize my screen time and was so frustrated to see it shoot up due to Spotify and phone use while using CarPlay

+10000000

The screentime tracking/locking is great. But when I'm listening to music or navigating on Carplay, it should either not count or give me a tickbox so it doesn't count. This has been an awful change and renders the screentime tracking useless.

Please change it back. Worst part of the update.

is this an actual serious answer? Mate, when driving I’m looking at the road not a bloody screen.

seems like a very stupid feature, sort it out.