Fix: Waze not Working

Waze application may not work due to the wrong configuration of the power options (like battery saver, battery optimization, power-saving location setting, etc.). Moreover, corrupt cache partition or corrupt installation of Android Auto may also cause the error under discussion.

The issue arises when the user tries to use Waze (with or without Android Auto) and Waze shows wrong/ no location or lag. For some users, the signals drop to start within 2 to 3 minutes of launching the application. In some cases, the issue started after an application update or OS update. The issue is not limited to a single mobile manufacturer or carrier as well.

Before moving on with the solutions, make sure the date and time of your phone and car unit are correct. Moreover, restart the navigation and if the issue persists, restart/ reconnect your phone/ car unit. Also, to rule out the faulty cable, try another USB cable.

Make sure USB debugging (in developer options) of your phone is enabled. Check if the firmware of your car unit is up-to-date, if so, then perform a factory reset your car unit. Additionally, make sure your location sharing is disabled (Settings>>Location>>Google Location Sharing).

Solution 1: Update Waze Application to the Latest Build

Waze application is updated regularly to add new features and patch the known bugs. However, you may encounter the error under discussion if you are using an outdated version of the Waze application due to which several modules fail to load properly. In this context, updating Waze application to the latest build may solve the problem. For illustration, we will guide you through the process of the Android version of the Waze application.

1. Launch the Google Play Store and then open its menu by tapping on the hamburger menu (near the top left of the screen).
2. Then tap on My Apps & Games and navigate to the Installed tab.

   

3. Now tap on Waze and then tap on the Update button (if an update is available).

   

4. After updating the Waze application, check if Waze is working fine.

Solution 2: Disable the Battery Saver / Optimized Mode of Your Phone

Battery Saver mode is quite helpful in extending the battery time of your phone but it limits the operation of many background applications/processes (including Waze) and thus causes the error under discussion. In this scenario, disabling the power saver mode of your phone may solve the problem.

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notifications tray.
2. Now tap on Turn Off Battery Saver (under the notification of Battery Saver is on).

   

3. Then check if Waze is clear of the error.

For Samsung and some other phones, you may have to switch to high-performance mode.

1. Launch the Settings of your phone and then open the Device Care option.

   

2. Then select Battery and tap on Power Mode.

   

3. Now select High-Performance power mode and then disable the option of Adaptive Power Saving to check if the Waze issue is resolved.

   

Xiaomi Redmi users may have to edit the power settings in the Apps settings of Waze.

1. Launch the Settings of your phone and then open Apps.

   

2. Now tap on Waze and then change the Power Saving option to No Restrictions.

   

3. Then restart your phone and upon restart, check if Waze is clear of the error.

Solution 3: Disable Battery Optimization for the Waze Application

Battery Optimization is used to manage the battery efficiently by limiting the background applications/ processes. Problems seem to occur if the battery optimization is limiting the operation of the Waze application. In this scenario, disabling the battery optimization of the Waze application may solve the problem. For illustration, we will go through the process of an Android phone.

1. Launch the Settings of your phone and open Battery.

   

2. Then tap on Battery Optimization.

   

3. Now tap on Switch Display Content and then select All Apps.

   

4. Now tap on the Waze application and then tap on Don’t Optimize.

   

5. Repeat the same process for Android Auto and Google Maps to disable Battery Optimization for both of these applications.
6. Then restart your phone and check if the Waze issue is resolved.

Solution 4: Calibrate the GPS of Your Phone

You may encounter the error under discussion if the GPS of your phone is not calibrated properly (some latest mobile phones require calibration of the GPS before the first use). In this case, calibrating the GPS of your phone may solve the problem. For illustration, we will guide you through the process of a Samsung phone.

1. Launch the Settings of your phone and open Display (or Edge Screen).
2. Now open Edge Screen and then enable the Edge Panels Switch.

   

3. Then swipe left to show the menu and again swipe on the dots near the lower left to open the second page of the Edge menu.
4. Now tap on Calibrate and then move your phone in the shape of figure 8 to calibrate the GPS.

   

5. Then restart your phone and upon restart, check if the Waze issue is resolved.

For some carriers you can use the method below:

1. Launch the dial pad and enter the following code:

   *#0*#

2. Now tap on Sensor and then tap on Self-Test (under magnetic sensor).

   

3. Then check if the test shows Pass, if so, then check if Waze is operating fine.

Solution 5: Clear the Cache / Cache Partition of Your Phone

Your phone uses a cache to boost up performance and improve the user experience. However, sometimes the cache gets corrupt and stores bad data for some applications and modules. This in turn causes issues similar to the one we are investigating. Here, we will try to clear the cache and see if this does the trick. For illustration, we will guide you through the process of an Android phone.

1. Wipe the cache partition of your Android phone properly.

   

2. Now check if the Waze application is working fine after the phone restarts

Solution 6: Edit the Location Permissions

In the recent versions of Android, Google has enhanced security by applying different techniques and methods. One such technique is the requirement of permissions by an application to access a certain resource like camera, location, etc. You may encounter the error under discussion if the Waze application does not have the required permissions. In this case, enabling the permissions required by Waze may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Settings of your phone and tap on Apps or Application Manager.
2. Now tap on Waze and then tap on Permissions.

   

3. Make sure all the permissions required by Waze are enabled.
4. Then open Location and enable the location of Allow All the Time.

   

5. Now restart your phone and then check if Waze is working fine.
6. Now, launch the Settings of your phone and then open Location (you may have to look into More Settings). Now tap on Mode.
   

   

7. Then enable the option of High Accuracy.

   

8. Then restart your phone and upon restart, check if the Waze application is working fine.
9. If not, launch the Settings of your phone and open Apps or Application Manager.
10. Now tap on the More button (near the bottom or top right of your screen) and then tap on App Permissions.

    

11. Now select Location and then disable location permission for every application there.

    

12. Then restart your phone and upon restart, reenable the location permission for Waze, Android Auto, and Google Maps.
13. Now check if the Waze application is working fine.
14. If not, then launch the Settings of your phone and open Location.
15. Now, tap on Google location history and enable it (if already enabled, disable and then enable it).

    

16. Then restart your phone and upon restart, disable the location history and check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 7: Reinstall the Waze Application

If nothing has worked for you so far, then the Waze issue could be a result of the corrupt installation of the application itself. In this scenario, reinstalling the Waze application may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Settings of your phone and open Application Manager or Apps.
2. Now tap on Waze and then tap on the Force Stop button.
3. Then confirm to force stop the Waze application and open Storage.

   

4. Now tap on the Clear Cache button and then tap on the Clear Data button.

   

5. Then confirm to clear the data (you may check at this step if the issue is resolved, if not, then repeat steps 1 to 5).
6. Now tap on the back button and then tap on the Uninstall button.

   

7. Now confirm to uninstall the Waze application and then restart your phone.
8. Upon restart, reinstall the Waze application and check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 8: Reinstall the Android Auto Application

The Android Auto application is used in conjunction with Waze by users for route navigation. You may encounter the error under discussion if the installation of the Android Auto application is corrupt. In this context, reinstalling the Android Auto application may solve the problem.

1. Uninstall the Waze application (solution 8).
2. Launch the Settings of your phone and open its Apps or Application Manager.
3. Now tap on Android Auto and then tap on Force Stop.
4. Then confirm to force stop the Android Auto application and open Storage.

   

5. Now tap on Clear Cache and then tap on Clear Data (you may check if the issue is resolved, if not, repeat steps 1 to 5).

   

6. Then hit the back button and tap on the Uninstall button.

   

7. Now confirm to uninstall Android Auto and restart your phone.
8. Upon restart, clear the cache partition of your phone (solution 5) and then reinstall Android Auto.
9. Now reinstall Waze and hopefully, the Waze issue is resolved.

If the issue is still there, then open Google Maps and let it run in the background to check if the Waze is working fine. Also, you may have to use a 3^rd party GPS application (like GPS Test, Active GPS, GPS Locker, GPS Status, etc.) to sort out the issue. If the issue persists, then you can try an older version of Waze or Android Auto (Warning: APKs acquired from 3^rd party sources may harm your device and data). If the issue started after an OS update, then try to downgrade the OS of your system. If you are encountering the issue when the display of your phone turns off, then keep the display on (when using the Waze application) till the issue is resolved.

For iPhone users: Reset All Settings

You may also encounter the error at hand if the Settings of your phone are not optimally configured for the Waze application. In this context, resetting all the settings of your phone may solve the problem.

1. Launch Settings of your phone and open General.
2. Then open Reset and tap on Reset All Settings.

   

3. Now confirm to reset al the settings and then restart your phone.
4. Upon restart, check if the Waze application is working fine.