How Can iPhone Users Fix Devastating Waze App Crashes on iOS 18.5?

Why Does Waze Keep Crashing on iPhone After iOS 18.5 Update?

I've been tracking this frustrating issue that's been plaguing iPhone users for weeks now. If you're experiencing Waze crashes after updating to iOS 18.5, you're definitely not alone in this struggle.

The problem started appearing shortly after Apple released iOS 18.5, and it's been causing major headaches for drivers who rely on Waze for their daily navigation needs. What makes this particularly annoying is that the crashes happen at the worst possible times - right when you need directions most.

What's Actually Happening

The crashes aren't random. I've noticed they follow specific patterns that affect how people use the app:

CarPlay Integration Issues

This is where most people first notice problems. When you try to enter a new destination through your car's display, Waze freezes completely. Then it crashes not just on CarPlay, but on your iPhone too, even after you disconnect from your car.

Mid-Journey Crashes

Even more frustrating, the app crashes while you're already driving. This happens most often when Waze tries to show you alerts about police, traffic jams, or road hazards ahead.

Startup Problems

Some users can't even get past setting up their first route. The app crashes immediately when they try to input directions.

Who's Getting Hit

This isn't limited to one iPhone model. I've seen reports from users with:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 14

The common thread? They all updated to iOS 18.5 before the problems started.

Real User Experiences

Jaime Maiz, who uses an iPhone 15 Pro, shared his experience on Google's support forums. He explained how his Waze app crashes every single time he tries to set up new directions since upgrading to iOS 18.5. He also mentioned that crashes happen randomly during use, and the problem extends beyond just CarPlay usage.

I've seen similar complaints across Reddit threads and social media posts. The consistency of these reports tells me this is a widespread compatibility issue, not just isolated incidents.

What Fixes Actually Work (Spoiler: Not Many)

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but most of the standard troubleshooting steps aren't providing lasting solutions:

• Reinstalling Waze
• Resetting CarPlay settings
• Rebooting your iPhone
• Clearing app cache

These might work temporarily, but the crashes typically return within hours or days.

The Official Response (Or Lack Thereof)

Here's what's particularly frustrating: neither Apple nor Waze has officially acknowledged this widespread issue yet. However, a Waze "Diamond Product Expert" in their community forum has advised affected users to contact Waze support directly and submit debug logs.

If you want to help solve this problem, you can activate debug mode in Waze and send logs to their development team. This gives them the technical data they need to identify what's causing the crashes.

What This Means for Your Daily Commute

If you're dealing with these crashes, you know how disruptive they can be. Missing a turn because your navigation app crashed isn't just inconvenient - it can make you late for important appointments or meetings.

For now, you might want to consider having a backup navigation app ready. While we wait for a proper fix, having alternatives like Apple Maps or Google Maps can save you from getting stranded without directions.

Looking Ahead

The good news is that this appears to be a software compatibility issue rather than a hardware problem. That means it should be fixable with an app update from Waze or a system update from Apple.

The bad news? We don't have a timeline for when that fix might arrive. This problem has been ongoing for several weeks now, which suggests it might be more complex than initially thought.

I'll continue monitoring this situation and will update you as soon as there's news about a solution. In the meantime, if you're experiencing these crashes, you're not imagining things - it's a real problem affecting thousands of iPhone users.