The quickest way to close Waze
On most phones, closing Waze works the same way as closing any other app. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or press the back button twice (Android), or use your phone's app switcher to swipe Waze away. On a computer, close the browser tab or window where Waze is running. The app stops using your location as soon as it closes.
If you want Waze to stop tracking your location without fully closing it, you can also pause navigation by tapping the X button on the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. This keeps the app open but stops active routing. However, closing the app entirely is the most reliable way to may support location sharing stops.
Key Takeaways
- Closing Waze on iPhone means swiping up from the bottom of the screen; on Android, press the back button twice or use the app switcher.
- On a computer, straightforward close the browser tab or window running Waze to stop location tracking.
- Pausing navigation (tapping the X button) stops routing but keeps the app running in the background.
- Waze continues to use location data in the background even after you close navigation, so fully closing the app is the only way to be certain it stops.
Closing Waze on iPhone
On iPhone, the standard way to close any app is to swipe up from the very bottom of the screen. Start your swipe below the home indicator (the thin line at the bottom) and drag upward. This brings up the app switcher, which shows all your recently used apps. Find Waze in that list and swipe it upward to close it completely.
Alternatively, you can double-tap the home button (on older iPhones with a physical button) to open the app switcher, then swipe Waze upward. Either method removes Waze from active memory and stops it from using your location.
Closing Waze on Android
On Android phones, press the back button (usually at the bottom left of your screen) twice to close Waze. The first press closes the navigation screen; the second closes the app itself. You should return to your home screen or the app you were using before.
If that does not work, open your app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (on newer Android phones) or tapping the square icon at the bottom (on older models). Find Waze in the list and swipe it upward or tap the X to close it.
Closing Waze on a computer
If you are using Waze on a computer through a web browser, close the tab or window the same way you would close any other website. Click the X button in the top right corner of the tab, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+W (Windows) or Command+W (Mac). This stops Waze from accessing your location through your browser.
If you have Waze open in multiple tabs, close each one separately. Closing the browser window entirely also stops Waze from running, but closing just the Waze tab is usually faster.
What happens to your location data when you close Waze
Once you fully close Waze, the app stops sending your location to Waze's servers. However, your phone's location services may still be on and running for other apps. Closing Waze does not automatically turn off location services on your device — it only stops that specific app from using them.
If you want to make sure no apps are tracking your location, you will need to turn off location services in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and toggle it off. On Android, go to Settings > Location and toggle it off. This is a separate step from closing Waze.
Why Waze keeps running in the background
Even after you close the Waze app, your phone may keep it running in the background if you have not fully shut it down. This is especially true on Android, where apps can continue to use location data even when you are not actively looking at them. To prevent this, make sure you use the methods described above to fully close the app, not just minimize it.
If you want to prevent Waze from running in the background at all, you can disable background app refresh in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle off Waze. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Waze > Permissions and turn off location access. This stops the app from using your location even if it somehow starts running again.
Uninstalling Waze if you no longer need it
If you want to remove Waze from your phone entirely, you can uninstall it. On iPhone, press and hold the Waze app icon on your home screen, tap "Remove App," and then tap "Delete App." On Android, press and hold the Waze icon, tap "Uninstall," and confirm. Uninstalling completely removes the app and stops it from ever accessing your location.
You can always reinstall Waze later from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) if you need it again. Uninstalling is the most thorough way to may support the app is no longer on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing Waze stop it from tracking my location?
Yes. Once you fully close Waze using the methods described above, it stops sending your location data to Waze's servers. However, your phone's location services may still be on for other apps. If you want to turn off location tracking entirely, you need to disable location services in your phone's settings separately.
What is the difference between closing Waze and pausing navigation?
Pausing navigation (by tapping the X button on the navigation bar) stops the app from actively routing you, but Waze may continue running in the background. Closing the app completely removes it from active memory and stops location tracking. Closing is more thorough if you want to may support Waze is not using your location.
Can I close Waze without turning off location services on my phone?
Yes. Closing Waze stops only that app from using your location. Your phone's location services will remain on for other apps like Maps, Weather, or Find My Friends. You can close Waze and keep location services enabled for everything else.
Will Waze restart automatically after I close it?
No. Closing Waze does not cause it to restart on its own. However, if you have set up a navigation route and your phone is set to automatically launch Waze at a certain time or location, it may open again. You can disable this in Waze's settings under Notifications and Reminders.