Fix Waze Not Working

Waze is a community-driven GPS navigation mobile app for both the Android and iOS platforms that offers route by route more accurate navigation details to the users than Google Maps. Although the app has been developed by an Israeli company, Google has acquired it back in 2013 and then the service becomes more useful like Google Maps. However, plenty of users still reporting about the bugs or downtime issues that aren’t fixed properly like Google Maps over time. So, check out the steps to fix Waze not working issue.

Sometimes due to the improper settings of the device itself can also cause issues with the Waze user experience. Even if you’re using the battery saver mode or power-saving mode on your device, that can prevent Waze to work properly. Meanwhile, the outdated system version, outdated Waze app version, or corrupted app cache are also one of the major reasons behind the GPS not working or No GPS connection error.

So, mostly the particular problem appears whenever users are trying to get navigation details and the Waze starts showing the wrong location or even no location sometimes. Similarly, Waze seems to be lagging or stuttering multiple times which causes signal drops in several times after launching the app.

Now, before heading over to the guides below, make sure to check whether the device is using a correct date/time according to the carrier network and connected to a good internet network or not. If that’s the case for you, try to simply restart your device or enabling Airplane mode once to check for the issue. If you don’t know how to do it, let’s check it.

1. Check Cellular Network

Head over to the device Settings menu.
Tap on Cellular / Wireless and Network > Cellular Data Options / SIM Card and Mobile Networks.
Turn off 4G LTE / VoLTE option.
Restart your device once and enable the 4G LTE / VoLTE again.
Alternatively, you can simply turn on the Airplane Mode / Flight Mode on your device. Wait for a couple of seconds and turn it off to check for the GPS issue on Waze.

Make sure to check the same for Wi-Fi connectivity as well. If you’re facing the no connection issue with your car head unit then try to check for the firmware update of the car head unit first. Otherwise, simply do a factory reset your car head unit and then turn off the Google Location Sharing from Settings > Location.

2. Check for Waze App Update

Android:

Simply head over to the Google Play Store (Android) app on your device.
Tap on the hamburger menu from the left side > My Apps & Games > Under the Updates tab, check for the Update option of Waze. If available, update it first.
Once done, restart your device and check for the Waze Not Working issue.

iOS/iPadOS:

Simply head over to the App Store (iOS/iPadOS) app on your device.
Tap on the Profile icon from the upper right side of the screen.
Pull down the screen to refresh the App Updates option and you can see the list of apps to update under the UPCOMING AUTOMATIC UPDATES section.
Scroll down the app list and check whether the Waze app update is available or not. If available, just update it.
Once done, restart your device and try running the Waze app again.

3. Clear App Cache to fix Waze Not Working

Go to the Settings menu > Head over to Apps.
Then tap on Manage Apps > Scroll down the app list and select Waze.
From the Waze app page, you can find the Clear Data option below.
Select Clear Cache > Tap on Yes to confirm.
Next, select Force Close > Tap on Yes to confirm.
Finally, restart your device and then try running the Waze app again.

4. Grant Waze Location Permission

Android:

Head over to the device Settings menu.
Tap on Apps or Application Manager.
Scroll down the app list and select Waze.
Go to Permissions > Enable the “Location Permission” as either ‘Allow all the time’ or ‘Allow only while using the app’.
Also, enable High Accuracy mode for Location under the Location Settings of your device.
Once done, restart your device and try running Waze again.

iOS/iPadOS:

First, go to the ‘Settings’ menu > Head over to the ‘Privacy’.
Tap on ‘Location Services’ > Turn on the toggle.
Next, scroll down below on the same page and tap on the Waze.
Select the “While Using the App” option under ALLOW LOCATION ACCESS. (A tick mark will appear on the selected one)
You should also turn on the “Precise Location” toggle.
Restart your device and try using Waze again.

5. Check for Device System Update

Android:

Head over to the Settings menu > Go to About / System to check for System Updates.
If available, download and install the system update.
Wait for the device to boot into the system after the update.
Finally, you can check for the Waze not working issue.

iOS/iPadOS:

Go to the Settings menu > Head over to the General.
Tap on Software Update > It will automatically check for updates and notify you if any update is available.
Simply choose Download and Install and let the process complete.
Once done, your device will restart. It may take some time.
Finally, run the Waze app again and check for the issue.

6. Uninstall and Reinstall Waze

Android:

Form the home screen, find the Waze app icon.
Tap and hold the Waze app icon to bring the action menu.
Select Uninstall > Tap on Yes to confirm.
Once the app is uninstalled, restart the device.
Now, go to the Google Play Store app and search for the Waze app.
Finally, install and run it again.

iOS/iPadOS:

Form the home screen, find the Waze app icon.
Tap and hold the Waze app icon to bring the action menu.
Select Remove App > Tap on Delete App.
It will prompt you to confirm. Tap on Delete to uninstall.
Once the app is uninstalled, restart the device.
Now, go to the App Store app and search for the Waze app.
Finally, install and run it again.

7. Disable Apple CarPlay

However, if in case, the Waze not working issue is only happening with the Apple CarPlay, then try to disable the Apple CarPlay and run the Waze app again. To disable Apple CarPlay:

Head over to the device Settings > General.
Select Restrictions > Tap on CarPlay.
Turn off the toggle.

8. Turn Off Battery Saver Mode

If in case, you’re using battery saver mode on your device to optimize the battery draining and increase the standby timing, then make sure to turn it off temporarily while using the Waze app for GPS navigation.

Android:

Swipe down the notification panel on your device.
Tap on the Battery Saver icon from the shortcut toggle to turn it off.
Now, retry the Waze app to check for the issue.

iOS/iPadOS:

Swipe down from the right side of the screen to bring the Control Center.
Tap on the battery icon to turn off Battery Saver mode (if enabled).
Finally, try running the Waze app to check whether it’s working or not working.

Finally, Android users can also uninstall and reinstall the Android Auto app on their devices if there is any particular conflict happening between the Android Auto app & the Waze app.

That’s it, guys. We assume you’ve found this troubleshooting guide very useful. For further queries, you can comment below.

Fix Waze Not Working