Meta's smart glasses are designed to make hands-free features easier to use, but having a display in front of your eyes can become a distraction when you're behind the wheel. To address that problem, Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses include an audio-only mode that can disable the visual experience while keeping audio features available. Meta glasses driving mode is designed to let drivers continue using supported audio functions without relying on the glasses' display while the vehicle is moving.
What Audio-Only Mode Does
Audio-only mode essentially turns the Meta Ray-Ban Display into a more traditional pair of audio smart glasses while driving.
When the feature is active, the glasses can continue providing audio through their built-in speakers, while visual features are restricted. This can be useful for functions such as listening to audio or interacting with supported voice-based features without looking at a display.
Meta's driving detection system can also automatically activate audio-only mode when it detects high-speed movement. The idea is to reduce the temptation to interact with visual information while the vehicle is moving.
The feature is particularly relevant to the Display model because it has a visual interface that is not present on standard Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
How to Turn On Audio-Only Mode
The setting can be configured through the Meta AI app connected to the glasses.
The general setup process is:
- Open the Meta AI app on your phone.
- Go to Settings.
- Select your connected Meta glasses.
- Open Device Settings.
- Find Audio Only and turn it on.
- Enable Driving Detection if you want the glasses to automatically switch modes when high-speed movement is detected.
Once enabled, the glasses can use the driving detection feature to determine when audio-only mode should become active.
The exact menu names can change as Meta updates its software, so users should make sure the Meta AI app and glasses firmware are up to date.
How Driving Detection Works
Driving Detection is intended to recognize when the wearer is traveling at high speed.
According to Meta's support information, when Driving Detection is enabled, Audio Only can proactively activate when high-speed movement is detected. This means users do not necessarily have to manually switch the display off every time they get into a car.
This automatic behavior is designed around reducing visual interaction rather than completely disabling the glasses.
It is worth remembering that movement detection is not the same as knowing exactly what the user is doing. Drivers should still avoid interacting with the glasses in ways that take attention away from the road.
What You Can Still Do
Audio-only mode is most useful for features that naturally work through sound.
Depending on the glasses, connected phone and available software features, users can continue using the glasses for things such as:
- Listening to music
- Listening to podcasts
- Taking phone calls
- Hearing audio notifications
- Using supported voice interactions
- Listening to navigation instructions
Ray-Ban's product information describes Meta smart glasses as supporting hands-free calls, messages and other audio features through their open-ear speakers.
This makes audio-only mode closer to using wireless earbuds, except that the speakers are integrated into the glasses.
Why Audio-Only Mode Matters
The main benefit is reducing visual distractions.
A display can be useful when walking around, reading information or interacting with visual content. In a car, however, looking at additional information on a wearable display can compete with the driver's attention.
Audio provides a different interaction model. Drivers can hear information without needing to look away from the road.
That does not mean every audio interaction is automatically safe. Long conversations, complicated voice commands or anything that requires significant attention can still become distracting while driving.
Audio-only mode should therefore be viewed as a way to reduce visual interaction, not as a guarantee that every smart-glasses feature is appropriate to use behind the wheel.
Navigation Can Be Particularly Useful
Audio navigation is one of the more natural applications for smart glasses while driving.
Instead of looking at a display, the driver can receive spoken instructions through the glasses' open-ear speakers. This can provide directional information while allowing the driver to keep their eyes focused on the road.
The advantage of open-ear audio is that the user does not have to block their ears with traditional in-ear headphones. This can make it easier to remain aware of surrounding sounds.
However, drivers should still follow local laws and road-safety guidance regarding headphones, wearable devices and other technology.
Audio-Only Is Different From Standard Ray-Ban Meta Glasses
It is important to distinguish Meta's display-equipped glasses from the standard Ray-Ban Meta lineup.
Traditional Ray-Ban Meta glasses do not have a built-in visual display. They already operate primarily through cameras, microphones, speakers and a connected smartphone.
The newer Meta Ray-Ban Display adds a visual interface, making an audio-only driving feature more important because the device otherwise provides information directly in front of the user's eyes.
This distinction explains why Meta has introduced a dedicated system for reducing the display experience while driving.
Keep Your Attention on the Road
Even with Audio Only enabled, the safest approach is to minimize interaction while driving.
For example, listening to a podcast or receiving simple audio directions requires less visual attention than repeatedly asking the glasses complicated questions. Users should avoid trying to troubleshoot settings, read messages visually or interact extensively with the device while the car is moving.
If something requires significant interaction, pulling over in a safe location is the better approach.
Audio-only mode is designed to remove one source of distraction, but it cannot remove the broader risks associated with using connected technology while driving.
What Happens When You Stop Driving?
When the glasses are no longer detecting the conditions associated with driving, the normal display experience can become available again depending on the device's settings and software behavior.
This allows users to continue using the visual functions when they are no longer in a driving situation.
For people who regularly move between driving and walking, automatic detection can make the transition more convenient because they do not have to constantly change the setting manually.
Check Your Software Version
Because Meta's smart-glasses features are delivered through software updates, availability can depend on the specific model, firmware version, Meta AI app version and region.
If Audio Only or Driving Detection does not appear in the app, users should check whether their glasses and Meta AI app are running the latest available versions.
It is also important to make sure the glasses are properly paired with the phone before troubleshooting the feature.
Final Thoughts
Meta's Audio Only and Driving Detection features provide a way to reduce visual interaction with Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses while driving. When enabled, the glasses can automatically switch to an audio-focused experience when high-speed movement is detected, allowing supported audio features to continue without relying on the display.
The setup is relatively straightforward through the Meta AI app: open the glasses' device settings, enable Audio Only, and activate Driving Detection. The feature can be useful for audio navigation, calls and entertainment, but it should not be treated as permission to interact extensively with smart glasses while driving. Keeping attention on the road remains the priority.
