Waze Keeps Crashing on iPhones After iOS 18.5 Update

Since updating to iOS 18.5, many iPhone users have reported frequent crashes in the Waze app. The issues typically occur when setting a new destination or during CarPlay navigation, leaving users stranded both behind the wheel and on their devices .The crash pattern is clear: Waze sometimes opens and then immediately freezes once a destination is set—either on CarPlay displays or directly on iPhones. In some cases, the app crashes mid-route, especially after alert notifications for police or road hazards .This bug affects users across various models—from iPhone 12 through iPhone 16—and on both wired and wireless CarPlay systems. Many emphasize that Waze performed flawlessly under iOS 18.4, suggesting a compatibility issue triggered by the iOS 18.5 update .Standard troubleshooting steps—like reinstalling the app, rebooting the iPhone, resetting CarPlay settings, and re-pairing devices—have largely failed to resolve the problem .The crash seems to stem from Waze’s interaction with new iOS functionalities or APIs. A developer in the community noted that Waze 5.8.0.5 includes bug fixes addressing iOS 18.5 compatibilities and is rolling out via the App Store. Updating to this version reportedly resolves the crashes for those affected .Until users install the updated version, some are finding workarounds helpful—such as manually inputting routes directly in the car rather than using saved shortcuts, and avoiding alert-triggering events—but these are temporary fixes at best.While neither Apple nor Waze has issued an official statement, the issue is well-documented in Apple’s support forums, Reddit, and CarPlay-specific reports .For now, affected users should:* Update Waze to version 5.8.0.5 from the App Store; * Keep iOS and CarPlay firmware current; * Submit crash logs to the Waze support team if crashes persist.Fortunately, this appears to be a widespread but fixable bug, not a permanent limitation. Once updated, users report that Waze resumes normal operation on both iPhones and CarPlay displays .