If you drive often, you probably already know that Google Maps and Waze have become indispensable For getting around town or taking long trips. Both apps are free, very powerful, and available on virtually every mobile phone, but each has its strengths and minor quirks.
What many people are not so clear about is that Both can be used at the same time: use Google Maps Use Android Auto as your primary navigation app and let Waze run in the background to alert you to speed cameras, traffic jams, accidents, and other incidents in real time, both on Android Auto and CarPlay, as well as on some integrated car systems. Let's take a closer look at how to do this, what limitations it has, and in what cases it's worth combining both.
Waze vs Google Maps: why it makes sense to use them together
Both apps belong to Google, but They don't work exactly the same way, nor do they seek the same thing.Google Maps is more generalist: very complete maps, points of interest, reviews, photos, opening hours, public transport information, routes for driving, walking, cycling, etc. It's like the Swiss Army knife of navigation.
Waze, on the other hand, was born with a much more social and driver-centric approach: Its strength lies in real-time alerts. Submitted by other users: speed cameras, police checkpoints, roadworks, traffic jams, objects on the road, stopped cars, hazards on the shoulder… All of this is displayed quickly and quite accurately thanks to its very active community.
In practice, this translates into Google Maps tends to be more stable and "conservative" When choosing a route, Maps is much more aggressive in looking for shortcuts. That's why Waze sometimes sends you down secondary roads or through neighborhoods full of turns if it saves a few minutes, while Maps prefers slightly longer but clear and simple routes.
Both use graph-based algorithms to calculate routes, but Google Maps relies more on historical and official data, as well as AI-powered predictions.Using variations of Dijkstra's algorithm combined with A*, it prioritizes routes that balance distance, time, and traffic forecasting, with considerable reliability on long journeys and in environments that do not change in a matter of seconds.
Waze, for its part, It places almost all the emphasis on collaborative, real-time updates.The traffic reports people submit modify the "weight" of the roads in a matter of minutes, dynamically recalculating routes. This gives it enormous agility to avoid sudden traffic jams, but it also sometimes leads to it suggesting slightly "adventurous" routes.
How Android Auto works with navigation apps
Android Auto has been in many cars for years and has become the most convenient way to use your mobile phone without getting distracted While driving, the car's screen displays a simplified interface with access to navigation, calls, messages, and music, with support for apps like Google Maps and Waze.
The system, however, It does not allow displaying two browsers in split screen at the same timeThere's always a single navigation app occupying the main part of the screen, precisely for safety and clarity while driving. Even so, Android Auto does allow multiple apps to run simultaneously in the background.
In many cars, moreover, Navigation may also be displayed on the instrument cluster or the HUD (Head-up display). This view is usually powered by the app that the car's system considers primary (usually Maps or the native navigation system), while Waze provides the "plus" of alerts from the mobile phone or from Android Auto if it is left running in the background.
Configure Waze to take advantage of its alerts while using Maps
The first step to combining both apps is to make sure that Waze has all alerts correctly activatedIf this part is not configured correctly, even if you leave it open in the background, it will not alert you to speed cameras or incidents.
On your mobile phone, open Waze and enter Settings > Alerts and notificationsWithin this section you will see the section "Notices"This is where you control what type of notifications you want to see while driving and how they should be displayed on the map and by voice.
There you can activate them, one by one, the different types of alerts availableSpeed cameras, traffic light cameras, level crossings, accidents, traffic jams, roadworks, hazards on the road, hazards on the shoulder, stopped cars, police checkpoints, etc. You can select only what interests you or enable almost everything if you want to be alerted to everything.
In addition to activating the alert type, it is important Check the “Show on map” and “Alert while driving” options in each category. If they're only displayed on the map but don't provide voice alerts, you could miss them while using another app on the car's screen. Ideally, each alert you consider important should have both a visual display and a voice notification while driving.
Once you have your alerts set up to your liking, it's a good idea to Don't close Waze completelyThe idea is to leave it running in the background so that, as soon as you connect your phone to the car, it can continue working and sending alerts even if it's not on the main screen.
Use Waze and Google Maps simultaneously on Android Auto
With Waze already configured and the car ready, it's time to put into practice the trick of using both apps simultaneously when you're using Android Auto. The procedure is simple and doesn't require any unusual hacks or messing with hidden settings.
First, connect your mobile phone to the car and open Waze on Android AutoYou can do this from the apps menu or by tapping its icon if it appears in the bottom bar. The important thing here is that Waze is active in Android Auto, but you don't need to start a route if you don't want to; the app just needs to be open.
Next, switch to Google Maps on Android Auto From the recent apps bar or the list, enter your destination and let Maps calculate the best route. This will be the app you see prominently on your car's screen and, depending on the vehicle, it may also feed the instrument cluster or head-up display.
Meanwhile, Waze will continue running in the background and using the alerts you've set up Previously, when you approach a speed camera, traffic jam, or any incident reported by the Waze community, you will receive an audible alert even if the main screen is displaying Google Maps and its own navigation.
It's important not to manually close Waze, either from your car or your phone. If you close it completely, You will stop receiving background notificationsWhenever you want to use this combination, you'll have to repeat the process: open Waze, then Maps, and make sure the former is running in the background.
Combine Waze and Maps from the recent apps bar
Android Auto allows you to have up to three applications in use at the same timeAlthough only one navigation app can occupy the main large view, you can quickly switch between Waze and Google Maps using the bottom bar where recently opened app icons appear.
If while you're navigating with Google Maps you want Take a quick look at what Waze showsSimply tap its icon in that bar. The screen will switch to Waze, where you'll see the route (if you had it started) or the map with incidents and alerts.
Afterward, you can return to Maps by tapping its icon again. This switch is instantaneous and doesn't usually interrupt navigation in either app, although in some cars or versions of Android Auto it might. The route of one of them may be restarted if the system decides to "free up memory" or if there have been changes after an update.
This method of alternating is especially useful for visually confirm shortcuts or detours suggested by Waze compared to what Maps suggests. If you see that one of the two insists on an unusual route and you're not convinced, you can always compare them with a tap and decide which one to follow based on your own criteria.
Some users have commented that after certain Android Auto or car updates, Background routes can be restarted When switching apps. If you notice that you could previously manage two routes simultaneously and now one is deleted when you open the other, it's most likely due to a software change introduced over the air (OTA) by the manufacturer or Google.
Real-world examples: HUDs, instrument clusters, and integrated systems
Beyond "pure and simple" Android Auto, there are cars that integrate proprietary systems based on Google or with advanced compatibilityThis is where the tricks for using two maps at the same time get interesting, because the digital instrument cluster and the HUD come into play.
For example, some BMW owners with iDrive 7 have reported that They managed to use Waze on the infotainment screen While displaying Apple Maps or the car's native map on the HUD and instrument cluster, this allowed drivers to see the "official" directions on the front display and the Waze view with its alerts on the center console.
The trick in these cases used to be to first start a route in Waze using CarPlay, and then Launch a route in Apple Maps or the built-in browser...to finally return to Waze on the main screen. For most of the journey, both routes were synchronized, only becoming out of sync if Waze suggested detours to avoid traffic jams.
There are also testimonials from Volvo users with Google integrated into the car who comment that, until recently, They could have Waze on the main screen and Google Maps on the driver's dial.However, after an OTA update, when trying to start both routes at the same time, one of them would restart or be canceled, suggesting intentional changes in the management of simultaneous navigation.
This real-life experience makes it clear that The possibility of using two navigation systems in parallel depends heavily on the vehicle's software. and the policies of each manufacturer and Google. What works today may stop working after an update, and vice versa, so it's a good idea to check the behavior from time to time after each new version.
Use Waze notifications while navigating with Maps turn-by-turn.
Although we have already seen the general concept, it is worth summarizing The most practical way to have Waze giving alerts while Google Maps handles the navigation in Android Auto, which is the combination that people are looking for the most.
First, configure all Waze alerts on your mobile phone as explained below: by going to Settings > Alerts and notifications > Notifications And activate the different types of alerts and their options for displaying them on the map and alerting you while driving. Don't forget speed cameras and red light cameras, which are usually the most useful.
Next, connect your phone to the car, start Android Auto and Open Waze without needing to enter a destinationLeave it like that, in the background; the important thing is that it's active in the car's system and has permission to use the audio when it issues an alert.
The next step is to open Google Maps on Android Auto: enter your destination and start the routeFrom here on, Maps will be the app you see on screen and the one that marks the route, but Waze will continue to listen to the road and raise its hand when it detects something relevant.
When you approach a speed camera or an incident that it has registered, You will hear the Waze sound and/or notification.This allows you to adjust your driving in advance. This way you get the best of both apps: Maps' interface, route stability, and points of interest, plus Waze's real-time "hyper-monitoring."
If at any point you stop hearing Waze alerts, check that the app It may not have closed due to the mobile's power management.that it has background execution permissions and that the volume of Waze navigation guides is high enough relative to that of the car's system.
Share Google Maps locations with Waze from your mobile device
Besides combining them in the car, you can also Link Google Maps and Waze from your mobile to take advantage of Maps location searches and Waze navigation. This option, however, is not available in Android Auto, Android Automotive, or CarPlay: only from the phone itself.
The procedure is simple: Search for a location on Google Maps or use your route mapsOpen its profile and use the share option with Waze in the menu. You may need to swipe left and tap "More" until you find the Waze icon among the apps you can share with.
Once you do that, the location It will open directly in Waze.Check that the address is the one you want (for example, in case Maps has chosen a nearby point instead of the exact door), tap the location in Waze and tap "View routes" to see the available options.
From there, you can choose "Go now" to start browsing immediately or "Go later" if you want to schedule the trip for another timeWaze will then tell you what time you should leave, taking into account the expected traffic. This is useful when you prefer to plan on your phone and then connect with the car later.
During the journey, if you want to change your destination or add a stop, you can Go back to Google Maps, search for a new place, and share it again with Waze.In the Waze app, you then select "Go" and choose between starting a new journey or adding a stop to the route you already had active.
When is Waze better, when is Maps better, and when are both better?
After using both navigation systems for years, many drivers end up developing certain “mental rules” about when to use one or the otherAlthough this is a personal matter, there are patterns that repeat themselves quite often and help to decide if it is worth combining them.
On long road trips, when you know you're going to need information from Hotels, restaurants, gas stations, reviews and photos For places along the route or at the destination, Google Maps is usually a safe bet. Its database of places and reviews is very well-developed, and it also syncs well with other Google services.
If, on the other hand, you travel through areas of heavy traffic, frequent traffic jams, or chaotic urban centersWaze shines thanks to its collaborative alerts and its aggressive route planning. Going to the gym, entering or leaving large cities during rush hour, or crossing areas with constant construction are precisely where it's most useful.
In fact, there are real cases of trips where, about 100 kilometers from the destination, Google Maps and Waze suggested completely different routes When encountering a traffic jam: while Maps kept the highway with a long but manageable queue, Waze tried to squeeze through winding roads to cut minutes, risking ending up on a "goat track".
This difference is due to how they weight each factor: Maps gives more weight to stability, historical data and road comfortWhile Waze gives more weight to recent reports and speed of arrival, sometimes it's worth following Waze to avoid a massive traffic jam, and other times it's better to stick to the main route indicated by Maps and accept a slightly longer wait.
The ideal combination is usually to use Maps as a base and Waze as an extra alert layer in the background. This way you can see a clear and reliable route on screen, while listening to Waze's warnings and deciding whether to follow it when it suggests an escape route that looks like a "weird shortcut".
Common problems, updates, and little tricks
Since it relies so heavily on software, it's normal that from time to time failures or changes in behavior appear with Android Auto, Waze, or Google Maps. For example, some recent beta versions of Maps have had bugs in Android Auto, causing unexpected crashes or connection failures with the car.
If you're part of the Google Maps beta program and notice strange behavior when combining it with Waze or using it in Android Auto, The wisest course of action is to leave the beta program and revert to the stable version from Google Play. This way you avoid encountering bugs from tests that haven't been fully polished yet.
In other cases, after over-the-air (OTA) updates to the car itself, some users have noticed that They can no longer carry two active routes at the same time between Waze and Google Maps, because one of them restarts as soon as the other starts. This is usually due to decisions by manufacturers or Google to limit behaviors they consider confusing or potentially unsafe.
As a few practical recommendations, it's worth checking that Waze needs permission to run in the background on your phone (especially on brands that aggressively kill apps) and make sure it's not restricted by battery-saving options. Otherwise, the system might close it without warning and leave you without notifications.
It's also a good idea to check that the The volume of navigation from Waze and Maps is balancedSince Android Auto sometimes manages the media volume and the voice prompts separately, a quick adjustment during the first alert can save you from being startled or missing messages.
Using Waze and Google Maps intelligently and simultaneously allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds behind the wheelThe power of Maps' reliable maps, reviews, and routes, combined with Waze's quick response and collaborative alerts. With proper setup and a little practice switching between apps or letting them run in the background, you can transform your car's navigation system into a much more complete and flexible tool for everyday use and long journeys.