The fastest way to close Waze

On most phones, closing Waze works the same way you close any other app. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (on newer iPhones and Android phones) or tap the back button repeatedly until you exit the app completely. The app will stop running in the background once you close it this way.

If you want Waze to stop running even when you are not actively using it, you may also need to stop it from the background apps list. This prevents it from draining your battery or using your location when you are not navigating.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to close Waze on iPhone or newer Android phones, or use the back button on older Android devices.
  • Closing the app from your screen does not always stop it from running in the background — you may need to force it closed through your phone's settings.
  • Stopping Waze from the background apps list saves battery and prevents location tracking when you are not navigating.
  • You can also disable location access for Waze in your phone's settings if you want to prevent it from running in the background permanently.

Closing Waze on iPhone

On iPhone, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen with one smooth motion. This brings up your list of open apps. Find Waze in the list and swipe it upward to close it. The app will disappear from the list and stop running.

If Waze is still running in the background after you close it this way, you can force it to stop completely. Go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. Find Waze in the list and tap it. Tap "Offload App" to remove it from memory without deleting it, or tap "Delete App" if you want to remove it entirely. You can reinstall it later from the App Store if you need it again.

Closing Waze on Android

On Android phones with a gesture navigation system (most newer models), swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see your open apps. Swipe Waze upward or to the side to close it. On older Android phones with physical buttons, press the back button repeatedly until you exit the app and return to your home screen.

To force Waze to stop running in the background on Android, go to Settings, then Apps (or Application Manager on older phones). Find Waze in the list and tap it. Tap "Force Stop" to shut it down completely. This is useful if Waze is draining your battery or you notice it is still using your location after you closed it.

Preventing Waze from running in the background

Even after you close Waze, it may continue running in the background and using your location. To stop this, you can disable location access for the app. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Privacy, then Location Services. Find Waze and tap it, then select "Never." On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, find Waze, tap Permissions, then Location, and select "Don't allow."

You can also turn off background app refresh for Waze. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh. Find Waze and toggle it off. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, find Waze, tap Battery, and select "Restrict" or "Unrestricted" depending on your phone model. Restricting background activity saves battery life and prevents Waze from tracking your location when you are not using it.

What happens when you close Waze

When you close Waze from your screen, the app stops displaying on your phone, but it may still be running in the background. This means it could still be using your location, draining your battery, and consuming data. Closing it from the background apps list or forcing it to stop ensures it is completely shut down.

If you have Waze set to start automatically when you connect to your car's Bluetooth or plug in your phone charger, closing it will not prevent it from launching again the next time those conditions occur. You will need to change those settings in Waze itself to stop automatic startup. Open Waze, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Settings, then Navigation, and toggle off "Auto-start on Bluetooth" or "Auto-start on power."

Uninstalling Waze if you no longer need it

If you want to remove Waze from your phone entirely, you can uninstall it. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. Find Waze and tap "Delete App," then confirm. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, find Waze, and tap "Uninstall." You can reinstall it from the App Store or Google Play Store whenever you need it again.

Uninstalling Waze completely frees up storage space and ensures it cannot run in the background or track your location. If you only want to stop using it temporarily, closing it or disabling its permissions is usually enough — you do not need to uninstall it unless you want to reclaim the storage space it takes up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing Waze stop it from tracking my location?

Closing Waze from your screen may not stop location tracking. You need to either force it to stop through your phone's app settings or disable location permission for Waze in your phone's privacy settings. Disabling location permission is the most reliable way to prevent tracking.

Will Waze drain my battery if I close it?

If Waze is truly closed and not running in the background, it will not drain your battery. However, if it is still running in the background, it will use battery power. Force stopping it or disabling background app refresh ensures it stops consuming power.

Can I close Waze without uninstalling it?

Yes. Closing Waze from your screen or force stopping it through settings removes it from memory without uninstalling it. The app remains on your phone and you can open it again whenever you need it. Uninstalling removes the app entirely.

Why does Waze keep running after I close it?

Waze may have background app refresh enabled or auto-start settings turned on. Check your phone's background app refresh settings and disable them for Waze. Also check Waze's own settings for auto-start options and turn those off if you do not want it launching automatically.