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Waze works on an Android Auto car screen by projecting the app from your Android phone. You do not normally install Waze directly on the vehicle, and you do not need a separate Android Auto app on a compatible modern Android phone. Install or update Waze on the phone, connect the phone to the car, then launch Waze from the Android Auto app launcher.
Before you start
Check these requirements before troubleshooting the connection:
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- Waze is installed and updated through Google Play.
- Your car or aftermarket head unit supports Android Auto.
- For a wired connection, you have a suitable USB data cable.
- For wireless Android Auto, the car’s head unit must support wireless Android Auto. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services should be enabled on the phone during first-time setup.
- The phone has an internet connection and a working GPS signal.
Android Auto is built into compatible Android phones for use with a car display. It is different from Waze built-in for Android Automotive, where Waze runs directly on selected vehicles without a connected phone. The instructions below are for ordinary phone-projected Android Auto.
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Connect Waze to Android Auto
Wired setup
- Start the car and switch on the infotainment system.
- Put the vehicle in Park (P).
- Connect the Android phone to the car’s Android Auto USB port using a USB data cable.
- Accept the Android Auto permissions and setup prompts on the phone and car display.
- Open the car display’s App launcher.
- Tap Waze.
If Android Auto does not start, try another USB cable. A cable that charges the phone but does not carry data will not establish Android Auto.
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Wireless setup
- Put the vehicle in Park and turn on the infotainment system.
- On the phone, enable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Location Services.
- Pair the phone and car through the car’s Bluetooth menu.
- Follow the Android Auto prompts on the phone and vehicle display.
- When Android Auto loads, open the App launcher and tap Waze.
Wireless Android Auto will not work simply because the phone supports wireless connectivity; the vehicle or aftermarket receiver must support wireless Android Auto too.
Open Waze on the car screen
- Connect the phone by USB or wirelessly.
- Tap the App launcher on the Android Auto display.
- Select Waze.
The Android Auto version of Waze is designed for driving. It has fewer settings and editing functions than the phone app, and some controls may be unavailable while the car is moving.
Find a destination
Use voice search
- Open Waze on the car screen.
- Say “OK Google”, or press the microphone or voice button on the display or steering wheel.
- Say a request such as “Navigate to Union Square, San Francisco”, “Directions to Philz Coffee”, “Take me home”, or “Drive to 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View.”
- If multiple locations are offered, confirm the correct result.
Google is transitioning supported Android devices from Google Assistant to Gemini. The exact wake phrase and responses may therefore vary, but navigation requests are intended to work in the same general way.
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- Stop the vehicle in a safe place, select Park (P), and engage the handbrake.
- Open Waze.
- Tap the Search bar.
- Enter an address, business, or place.
- Choose the result, then follow the route.
Android Auto can restrict typing while the vehicle is moving. In some countries where Android Auto is not supported, Google says Waze’s search bar and voice search may be available only in English.
Navigate to a saved place
Add saved locations in the Waze phone app first. Once they are available to Waze:
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- Open Waze on the car display.
- Tap the menu icon.
- Tap Saved.
- Select the saved location.
- Tap Go.
Report traffic and hazards
With Waze open, tap the Report icon and choose the relevant category:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Traffic | Traffic, heavy traffic, or standstill traffic |
| Police | A police presence or enforcement activity |
| Crash | A collision or incident on the road |
| Hazard | An object or dangerous condition on the road |
| Bad weather | Weather affecting driving conditions |
| Blocked lane | A lane that cannot be used |
| Map issue | An error in the map or road layout |
For a traffic report, the current path is Waze → Report → Traffic → Traffic, Heavy, or Standstill. Tap Submit when it appears.
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Enable Talk to report
Talk to report lets you describe an incident instead of selecting several report buttons. Availability can vary by country.
- Open Waze on the phone.
- Tap the menu icon, then Settings.
- Open Voice and sound and enable Talk to report.
- For the Android Auto-specific setup, open Waze, tap Settings, choose Reporting options, select Talk to report, and tap Next.
- On the phone, grant microphone access by selecting While using the app.
- On the car display, open Waze, tap the Talk to report icon, describe the incident, and tap Close.
Adjust Waze voice directions
These settings are changed in the phone app but apply when Waze is displayed through Android Auto:
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- Open Waze on the phone.
- Tap the sound icon.
- Select Normal or Less chatty.
Normal includes full navigation guidance and alerts. Less chatty keeps essential guidance and alerts while reducing spoken information.
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If Google Assistant integration is available, open Waze → menu → Settings → Voice and sound → Google Assistant. Depending on the device and software version, useful commands include:
- “Navigate to” followed by an address or business
- “Find gas stations”
- “Find restaurants”
- “Stop navigation”
- “Show alternate routes”
- “Report traffic” or “Report a crash”
- “Allow tolls” or “Avoid tolls”
- “Allow highways” or “Avoid highways”
- “What’s my ETA?”
To use “What’s my ETA?”, enable Share current drive info in Waze → Settings → Voice and sound → Google Assistant. This allows routing information to be shared with Google Assistant. Turning it off prevents that routing information from being shared.
Fix common Waze and Android Auto problems
Waze is missing from the app launcher
- Disconnect the phone from Android Auto.
- Open Waze on the phone once.
- Reconnect Android Auto and check the App launcher again.
- Confirm Waze is installed and updated.
Samsung phones may temporarily disable unused apps. In Samsung battery or app settings, look for options such as Auto disable unused apps or Put unused apps to sleep, and prevent Waze from being disabled. Menu wording varies by phone model and Android version.
Installing a separate Android Auto app is not the usual fix. Android Auto is integrated into compatible phones for car-display use.
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Waze says “No GPS”
Android Auto uses the phone’s GPS and internet connection for Waze. Disconnect the phone and open Waze directly:
- If Waze also reports a GPS problem, allow Waze to access the phone’s location, restart the phone, and test it outdoors.
- Waze considers a GPS reading under 35 metres (115 feet) accurate enough to function. A reading of 0 metres or more than 35 metres indicates a phone GPS problem that may require help from the phone manufacturer.
- If Waze works correctly on the phone but shows “No GPS” only through Android Auto, contact Waze support.
Routes fail or Waze loses service
Waze can behave poorly when the phone switches between Wi-Fi and mobile data. Close and reopen Waze, then check the phone’s mobile-data signal. Also confirm that Location Services are enabled and that the phone has not restricted Waze’s background data or battery use.
The screen or controls do not respond as expected
Android Auto limits interaction while driving. Typing is commonly blocked unless the car is parked, and some Android Auto apps do not support touchpad input. Use voice controls or the vehicle’s supported touch controls rather than trying to access phone-only Waze features.
Contact Waze support
Disconnect the phone from Android Auto first. In the Waze phone app, go to menu → Help and feedback → Report an issue. If asked where the problem occurs, select The issue appears on my In-Car system and identify the vehicle or aftermarket system.
Quick reference
| Task | Path or action |
|---|---|
| Launch Waze | Android Auto → App launcher → Waze |
| Search by voice | Open Waze → microphone or “OK Google” → give destination |
| Search by typing | Park the car → Waze → Search bar |
| Open a saved destination | Waze → menu → Saved → location → Go |
| Report traffic | Waze → Report → Traffic → Traffic, Heavy, or Standstill |
| Change voice detail | Phone Waze app → sound icon → Normal or Less chatty |
| Report a technical issue | Disconnect Android Auto → Waze → menu → Help and feedback → Report an issue |
FAQ
Do I install Waze on the car or the Android phone?
For standard Android Auto, install Waze on the Android phone. The app is then projected onto the compatible car display. Only vehicles with Android Automotive and Waze built-in run the app directly in the car.
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Why is Waze not showing in Android Auto?
Open Waze on the phone once, update it through Google Play, then reconnect Android Auto. On Samsung phones, check that the system has not disabled Waze as an unused or sleeping app.
Can I type a Waze destination while driving?
Usually not. Android Auto restricts typing while the vehicle is moving. Park safely before using Waze’s search bar, or use voice search while driving.
Does Waze use the car’s GPS with Android Auto?
Waze relies primarily on the connected phone’s GPS and internet connection. If Waze shows “No GPS,” test the app directly on the phone and check its location permission and GPS accuracy.
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The Bottom Line
Install and update Waze on the Android phone, connect that phone to an Android Auto-compatible car, and launch Waze from the car’s App launcher. Use voice search for destinations while driving, park before typing, and make sure the phone—not just the vehicle—has location access, GPS reception, and internet service.
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