We're here to help.
First off, we know this can be frustrating. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
If you're noticing inflated screen time in Roots when your phone is connected to "CarPlay", you're not alone. This is a common issue due to how iOS reports screen usage data, and it can result in apps like Spotify, Google Maps, or Podcasts (used through CarPlay) being counted toward your screen time totals—even if you're not actively interacting with your phone.
Why this happens:
This behavior is due to a known iOS limitation. When your phone is connected to CarPlay, iOS sometimes marks background or passive usage as active screen time. This can lead to reports that show more screen time than you actually used.
What you can do:
Until Apple improves the way CarPlay usage is reported, you can reduce this impact by excluding commonly used CarPlay apps from your Roots screen time reports.
Here’s how to do that:
Open the Roots app
Tap Profile (bottom right)
Go to Account Settings (top of screen)
Tap Exclude Apps From Usage Reports
Search for and select apps you use with CarPlay (like Spotify, Google Maps, etc.)
Once excluded, time spent on these apps—even while connected to CarPlay—won’t count toward your daily screen time totals in Roots.
Need more help?
Get personal help from one of our founders here. We know this can be frustrating, and we appreciate your patience. We're happy to assist—and we’ll even reward you for your valuable time!