If Waze is not working, test it on the phone before troubleshooting the car display. Check your internet connection, location permission and sound settings, then restart and update the app. Make changes while parked.
Match the problem to the first check
| Problem | Start here |
|---|---|
| Blank screen or app will not open | Restart the app and phone; check updates and free storage. |
| No GPS or wrong position | Check phone Location settings and Waze’s location permission. |
| Map works but no spoken directions | Check Waze’s sound mode, volume and selected audio output. |
| Works on phone but not car screen | Check the CarPlay/Android Auto connection, cable and vehicle setup. |
| No camera or traffic alert | Check the relevant alert settings and whether the event is known to Waze. |
Waze will not open or keeps closing
- Close and reopen Waze, then restart the phone if needed.
- Check that another app can access the internet.
- Install available Waze and phone updates from the official app store and system settings.
- Check available storage and whether your phone still meets the app’s requirements.
Use Waze’s supported-device page for current requirements. Before clearing app data or reinstalling, confirm your sign-in details and what information is saved to your account. Clearing temporary cache and deleting app data are different actions.
No GPS signal or the map shows the wrong place
Turn on the phone’s Location services and allow Waze to use them. On iPhone, check Waze under Location Services and its precise-location setting. On Android, check the app’s location permissions and the phone’s location controls. Use the instructions for your platform in Waze’s GPS permission guide.
Test outdoors with a clear view of the sky and compare another map app. If every app has the same position error, investigate the phone’s location setup. A good Wi-Fi connection alone does not prove that the GPS reading is good.
Waze is silent or plays through the wrong speaker
Check the app’s sound control: alerts-only and muted modes do not provide the same spoken guidance as normal directions. Adjust the navigation volume while a prompt plays, and check whether audio is routed to the phone, Bluetooth or car system.
Waze’s voice-direction guide and Bluetooth sound instructions show platform-specific options. If the car radio stops when the phone connects, see our Android Auto and CarPlay audio guide.
Waze works on the phone but not in the car
Check whether your vehicle uses wired or wireless CarPlay/Android Auto. A basic Bluetooth connection is not the same as either projection system. For a wired setup, try a compatible data cable and the correct USB port. Restart the phone and vehicle system using their normal controls, then reconnect.
Missing alerts, wrong routes or a route that will not stop
Check the relevant options under Settings > Alerts and reports. Waze explains that camera alerts depend on its map information and alert conditions; it cannot warn about every camera or incident.
Review an alternative route if the suggestion does not suit you. To stop navigation on the phone, tap the ETA bar and Stop, as shown in Waze’s stop-navigation guide. If navigation and charging also make the phone too hot, use our phone charging heat checks.
Updated October 15, 2026. Reviewed using the sources linked in this guide.