Waze Error Calculating Route: Why Waze Can’t Find Your Route and How to Fix It

A reader asked me this question:

"I've been using Waze for a long time, but this is the first time I've encountered a problem. I entered a destination point and set my current location as the starting point. The route used to work fine under the same circumstances, but now Waze couldn't calculate the route. I tried resetting the navigator and reinstalling the app—nothing helps. Why can't Waze find my route?"

Actually, you're not the only one with this type of issue. On the Waze forum and other navigation sites, users have reported similar routing errors and "could not locate endpoint" messages.

In this guide, we'll go through the most common causes and practical fixes for this routing error on both Android and iOS.

Quick Fixes Overview

Use this quick table to match what you see in Waze with the most likely fix:

1. Check Your Internet Connection

If you see an "error calculating route" or "could not locate endpoint" message, you're likely experiencing network connection issues while using the app in your car with mobile internet.

Solution: Ensure your network connection is stable, and check if websites in your browser are opening without significant delays. This is the first thing to verify when troubleshooting routing errors.

High-speed internet isn't required for the Waze app, but the first few hundred kilobytes must download without interruptions from the Waze server. This data is essential for accurate routing.

Waze relies on the internet to retrieve information about accidents, roadworks, and other events. If the connection is unstable, it may take longer than usual to generate a route or fail completely.

To check if your connection is stable, you can run any standard internet speed test in your browser to confirm that data is stable enough for Waze.

2. Switch Between Wi-Fi and Mobile Internet

The routing error could be due to using home Wi-Fi, for example, when you're driving out of a garage or parking lot. To ensure smooth route calculation:

1. Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
2. Confirm you're still within a Wi-Fi area.

If needed, switch from Wi-Fi to mobile internet when you see network connection errors.

After that, try generating a route again by setting the destination point in the Waze app. This often resolves the problem.

3. Make Sure GPS Signal is Stable

If Waze displays GPS errors or can't determine your current location, it may be having trouble generating the route due to GPS signal issues. Try the following:

1. Calibrate your GPS.
2. Check if the GPS is functioning correctly on your mobile device.
3. Ensure your current location is accurate, confirming that the connection to the GPS satellite is stable.

This type of GPS issue is common on some Android phones and can also appear on iPhone. GPS signal problems often occur when you're indoors, in parking garages, or surrounded by tall buildings.

Additional GPS troubleshooting steps:

• Go to your phone's location settings and ensure Waze has permission to access location
• On Android: Settings → Location → App permissions → Waze → Allow all the time
• On iOS: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Waze → While Using the App
• Step outside or near a window and wait 1-2 minutes for GPS to lock on to satellites

4. Check for Temporary Waze Service Issues

In some cases, routing problems are caused by external factors, such as a remote server being down. This issue is independent of your internet connection type (Wi-Fi or mobile data).

Since the Waze app works with real-time data, it needs to fetch information from the server to create a route. If the Waze server is unresponsive, there may be delays in retrieving the data necessary for navigation. This is especially true for longer routes that require more data from the server.

Unfortunately, you cannot fix server-side errors yourself. However, if you wait 5–10 minutes, the issue on the Waze server might resolve itself. You can also check Waze's official social accounts or support pages to see if there's a known outage.

How to check for Waze service status:

• Search Twitter/X for "Waze down" to see if others report similar issues
• Visit downdetector.com and search for Waze
• Check the official Waze support Twitter account for service announcements

5. Very Long Routes and Waze Limits

This issue usually results in error messages like "routing server timeout," "limited info," or similar errors.

Solutions for very long routes:

Route Length Limit

Waze has a practical limit on very long routes. Extremely long trips (typically over several hundred miles or crossing multiple countries) may cause timeouts or routing errors. The developers recommend dividing the journey into shorter segments.

How to split a long route:

1. Identify midway points or logical stopping locations (gas stations, rest areas, cities)
2. Create separate routes for each segment
3. Complete the first segment, then start navigation for the next one

Check Waze Settings

Go to Settings → Navigation:

Ensure the following settings are configured properly:

• Type: Fastest
• Unpaved Roads: Don't allow
• Avoid Freeways: Disabled (unless you specifically want to avoid highways)

These settings help Waze calculate the most efficient route while avoiding problematic road types that might cause routing failures.

Additional Troubleshooting

If you still see errors after adjusting settings:

• Repeat the internet connection checks described in Section 1
• Restart the Waze app completely (force close if needed)
• Reboot your phone and try again

6. Change Your Starting Point in Waze

If Waze can't detect your current location accurately, or when you want to plan a route from somewhere other than your current position, you might need to manually change your starting point:

1. Open Waze and tap on the search icon
2. Tap "Choose starting point" to manually set where you want to begin
3. Select your current location or type in an address
4. Then choose your destination as normal

This is particularly useful when:

• Waze misdetects your location
• You're planning a future drive from a different location
• GPS signal is weak but you know your actual position
• You want to compare routes from different starting points

7. When Voice Guidance Seems Broken (But Route Works)

Sometimes the route is calculated correctly, but you don't hear navigation prompts. If you're using Waze's voice assistant and it isn't working, try tapping the microphone icon to test it. If the test fails, follow these steps to check and adjust your settings:

1. Go to Waze → Voice and Sound.
2. Ensure that "Play sound to phone speakers" is turned off.

To apply the changes, clear the Waze cache and restart the app.

Additional voice guidance fixes:

• Check your phone's overall volume level (not just media volume)
• On Android: Ensure Waze isn't muted in sound settings
• On iOS: Check if Silent mode is enabled
• Try selecting a different voice in Waze settings
• On Android Auto or CarPlay: Check that audio routing is configured correctly

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Algorithm

If you're not sure where to start, follow these steps in order until the error disappears:

1. Check your connection

• Make sure other apps or websites load properly
• If Waze still shows a network error, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
• Run a quick speed test to verify connectivity

2. Restart Waze and your phone

• Close Waze completely (force close if needed), then reopen it
• If that doesn't help, reboot your phone and try again
• This clears temporary glitches and resets network connections

3. Verify GPS and location permissions

• Make sure location services are enabled for Waze
• Step outside or near a window and wait a minute for GPS to lock
• Check that Waze has "Allow all the time" or "While using" location permission

4. Try a shorter test route

• Create a route to a nearby point (e.g., a gas station a few miles away)
• If this works but very long trips fail, split the long trip into several parts
• This helps identify if the issue is route length or general routing failure

5. Change your start point manually

• Set a custom starting point on the map
• Then choose your destination as usual
• This bypasses potential issues with automatic location detection

6. Wait and check for service issues

• If nothing works, it may be a temporary Waze outage
• Try again after 5-10 minutes
• Check official Waze channels for incident reports
• Search social media to see if others report the same problem

7. Reinstall Waze as last resort

• Uninstall the app completely
• Restart your device
• Reinstall from Google Play Store or App Store
• This ensures you have the latest version with all bug fixes

FAQ

Why does Waze show an "error calculating route" message?

The most common reason is that Waze isn't connected to the internet. Even if your internet is working, Waze may not have connected yet.

Try these solutions:

1. Disable Wi-Fi and switch to mobile data (or vice versa)
2. Restart your phone
3. Fully close and reopen the Waze app

See the sections above on internet connection and GPS signal for detailed steps.

Can I create an alternative route in Waze?

Yes, you can view and select alternative routes in Waze. Here's how:

1. Use the ETA bar at the bottom of Waze's main screen
2. Go to the Routes section to display all available route options
3. For better visibility, switch to List view
4. Alternatively, switch to Map view and tap on the alternative route you'd like to take

Waze typically shows 2-3 route options when available, with different ETAs and distances.

Why is Waze not working or showing network connection errors?

There could be several reasons for network connectivity issues:

Quick fixes:

• Update the Waze app through Google Play Store or App Store
• Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
• Check if mobile data is enabled for Waze in your phone settings

If problems persist: Some users have reported that Waze starts working correctly after a manual reinstallation. To uninstall Waze, tap and hold the app icon on the home screen, then select Uninstall. Confirm the action by tapping OK or Yes. Then reinstall from your app store.

What does "routing error" or "could not locate endpoint" mean in Waze?

A "routing error" means that Waze was unable to calculate a route between your starting point and destination. This could be due to:

• Software issues within the Waze app itself
• Problems with your mobile device's GPS or network connection
• Invalid or inaccessible destination points (private roads, newly built areas)
• Temporary Waze server issues

The solution may vary depending on whether you're using Android or iOS. Follow the step-by-step troubleshooting algorithm above to identify and fix the specific cause.

Can I force a route in Waze?

In some cases, you can manually set route points to force Waze to calculate a specific path. Here's how:

1. Open the Waze app
2. Tap and hold the location on the map where you want to start the route
3. Select Set as Start Point from the menu
4. Repeat the same steps for the destination by tapping and holding the endpoint on the map
5. Select Set as End Point
6. Waze will then offer a route based on the points you've set

This method is useful when:

• Waze misdetects your current location
• You want to plan a route from a future starting point
• Automatic routing fails but manual point selection works
• You need to route through specific waypoints

About the author: I'm Mike, your guide to GPS apps and navigation troubleshooting. Over the years I've tested and compared dozens of navigation apps, including Waze, Google Maps, and proprietary in-car systems. On MyGpsTools I share practical fixes for real-world navigation issues on Android and iOS, helping drivers solve routing problems, connectivity issues, and app configuration challenges.