Your dash cam is a fantastic piece of tech. Think of it as a silent, impartial witness with you on every drive, ready to back you up when you need it most. But while it’s diligently recording the road ahead, that little glowing screen can sometimes be more of a distraction than a comfort, especially during a long night drive. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering How To Turn Off Dash Cam Screen While Driving without actually stopping the recording, you’re in the right place. Let’s be clear: you absolutely can, and you absolutely should. It’s a simple step that enhances safety and makes for a much more pleasant driving experience.
Why Bother Turning Off Your Dash Cam Screen?
It might seem like a small detail, but keeping that screen off while you’re on the move has some real, tangible benefits. It’s not just about personal preference; it’s about smarter, safer driving.
- Eliminating Distractions: This is the big one. At night, a bright LCD screen in your peripheral vision can be incredibly distracting. It reflects off the windshield and draws your eye away from the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consistently identifies distracted driving as a leading cause of accidents. Turning off the screen is a simple way to remove one more potential distraction from your cabin.
- Promoting Stealth and Security: A lit-up screen advertises the presence of a valuable electronic device in your car. When you’re parked, this can make your vehicle a more attractive target for thieves. By having the screen off, the dash cam becomes far less conspicuous, blending in with the rest of your car’s interior.
- Reducing Power Consumption: While the power draw of an LCD screen is minimal, it all adds up. For users who rely on parking mode that’s powered by the car’s battery, every milliamp counts. Turning the screen off helps conserve a tiny bit of power, potentially extending the standby time of your parking surveillance.
- Preventing Screen Burn-in: Over thousands of hours of use, a static image on an LCD screen can sometimes lead to burn-in, where a faint ghost of the image remains permanently. While less common on modern devices, it’s still a possibility. Letting the screen sleep is the best way to preserve its lifespan.
The Crucial Question: Does the Camera Stop Recording?
Let’s address the number one fear everyone has: if I turn off the screen, will my dash cam stop recording?
The answer is a resounding NO.
Think of your dash cam like your computer. When you let your computer monitor go to sleep, the computer itself is still running, processing tasks, and saving files. Your dash cam works the same way. The screen is simply a display interface; the real work—the processing, recording to the memory card via loop recording, and monitoring the G-sensor for impacts—happens independently inside the unit.
Expert Tip: John Carter, an Automotive Technology Specialist with over 15 years of experience, advises, “The screen-off function is one of the most important comfort and safety features on a modern car camera. It’s designed so that the core recording function is never compromised. Set it, forget it, and drive with confidence.”
How to Turn Off Dash Cam Screen While Driving: The Common Methods
Thankfully, almost every reputable dash cam manufacturer has thought of this. The process is usually straightforward, typically falling into one of two categories. Dig into your device’s menu, and you’ll likely find what you’re looking for.
Method 1: The ‘Screen Saver’ or ‘LCD Auto Off’ Feature (The Best Way)
This is the most common and convenient method. It’s a “set-it-and-forget-it” feature that automatically turns the screen off after a predetermined amount of time once the camera starts recording.
Here’s a general step-by-step guide to enabling it:
- Power on your dash cam. It’s easiest to do this while parked.
- Stop any ongoing recording. Most cameras require you to stop recording before you can access the main settings menu. Usually, this is done by pressing the ‘OK’ or ‘Record’ button.
- Enter the Settings Menu. This is typically done by pressing a ‘Menu’ or ‘Settings’ button (often marked with a gear icon).
- Navigate to Display Settings. Look for an option labeled ‘Display’, ‘LCD Settings’, or something similar.
- Find ‘Screen Saver’ or ‘LCD Auto Off’. This is the magic setting. Different brands use different names, but the function is the same.
- Select a time interval. You’ll usually be given options like ’15 seconds’, ’30 seconds’, ‘1 Minute’, or ‘3 Minutes’. A 1-minute delay is often a good sweet spot. It gives you enough time to confirm the camera is working when you start your car, then it automatically goes dark.
- Save and Exit. Confirm your selection and exit the menu. Start a recording to ensure the setting takes effect.
Now, every time you drive, the screen will turn off by itself after the time you selected, while the camera continues to record everything.
Method 2: The Manual Button Press (The Quick Fix)
Some dash cams, in addition to the screen saver function, allow you to manually toggle the screen on and off with a quick press of a button.
- How it works: This is often the ‘Power’ button. A short press of the power button will turn the screen off, while a long press will turn the entire unit off. This is a crucial distinction!
- When to use it: This is useful if you have the screen saver disabled but want to quickly darken the cabin for a specific stretch of road without fumbling through menus.
What if My Dash Cam Doesn’t Have These Features?
If you’ve scoured the menus and can’t find a screen saver option, a few things might be happening:
- It’s an older or very basic model. Some budget dash cams cut corners and may omit this feature.
- The firmware is outdated. Check the manufacturer’s website to see if a firmware update is available. Sometimes, new features are added through software updates.
- The feature has an unusual name. Check the user manual for terms like “Display Timeout” or “Auto Power Off” (though be careful with the latter, as it might refer to shutting down the whole device).
A Quick Note on Different Brands
While the principles are the same, the terminology can vary. Here are a few examples from popular brands:
- VIOFO: Typically calls it ‘Screen Saver’.
- BlackVue: Many models are “screenless” by design, relying on a Wi-Fi connection to a smartphone app for viewing. For those with screens, the setting is usually in the app.
- Garmin: Often refers to it as ‘Display Timeout’.
- Nextbase: Usually found under ‘Screen Saver’ in the setup menu.
When in doubt, your user manual is your best friend.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Will turning off the screen save space on my SD card? No. The screen being on or off has zero effect on the video file size or the recording process. The camera records at the set resolution and bitrate regardless of the display’s status. Loop recording will still function as normal, overwriting the oldest files when the card is full.
Q2: How do I turn the screen back on if I need to see it? You can usually wake the screen up by pressing any button. This is helpful if you need to quickly check the camera’s angle or status. It will then typically turn off again automatically after the designated screen saver time.
Q3: Is it illegal to have the dash cam screen on while driving? In many places, it falls into a legal gray area under distracted driving laws. While not always explicitly illegal, any device with a screen that is not being used for navigation can be considered a distraction by law enforcement. Turning it off is the safest bet, both legally and for your focus on the road.
Q4: Does parking mode still work if the screen is off? Yes, absolutely. Parking mode is designed to operate with the screen off to be discreet and save power. The camera’s G-sensor or motion detection will still trigger a recording if an event occurs, even when the screen is dark.
Q5: Why does my dash cam screen turn on by itself sometimes? This is almost always by design. The screen will typically light up if the G-sensor detects a significant bump (like hitting a pothole) to let you know an ‘event file’ has been locked and saved. It will also turn on if you press any button.
Final Thoughts: Drive Safer, Drive Smarter
Your dash cam is your electronic co-pilot, and its primary job is to record. The screen is just a tool for setup and occasional playback. Learning how to turn off dash cam screen while driving is a small adjustment that pays big dividends in safety and peace of mind. It reduces distractions, enhances your night vision, and makes your camera less obvious to prying eyes.
So take a couple of minutes before your next drive. Dive into your settings, find that ‘Screen Saver’ option, and set it to a short interval. It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to make a great safety device even better. Stay safe out there, and let your dash cam do its job in the background, where it belongs.