Since integrating Google Assistant into Waze on iOS in 2020, iPhone users have faced persistent issues that the company struggled to resolve for “over a year,” Waze acknowledged in a post, apologizing for the “prolonged inconvenience.”

Figure 1. Waze Discontinues Google Assistant on iOS Due to Ongoing Issues.

Many users had reported on Reddit that when they clicked the microphone button and spoke, there was no response, even though Assistant appeared to detect their voice. Figure 1 shows Waze Discontinues Google Assistant on iOS Due to Ongoing Issues.

As a replacement, Waze plans to introduce an “enhanced voice interaction solution” in the near future, according to a recent announcement on the official forum. Additionally, since October 2024, Waze has been testing an AI-powered “Conversational Reporting” feature, allowing select users to report incidents using their voice.

The timing of the change aligns with Google's recent announcement that it is transitioning more users from Assistant to Gemini. The tech giant plans to phase out Assistant on most mobile devices and in app stores later this year.

Waze has officially discontinued Google Assistant support on iOS due to ongoing technical issues that the company struggled to resolve. Since integrating the voice assistant into Waze in 2020, iPhone users have faced persistent problems, such as the microphone not responding even though Assistant appeared to detect their voice.

The decision comes after Waze admitted it had been unable to fix these issues for over a year and apologized for the inconvenience. While the feature is now removed from iOS, Android users can still access Google Assistant on Waze—for now.

The timing of this change coincides with Google's broader shift from Assistant to its new AI model, Gemini, which will eventually replace Assistant on most mobile devices and app stores. To fill the gap left by Assistant’s removal, Waze is working on an “enhanced voice interaction solution” and has been testing an AI-powered "Conversational Reporting" feature that allows users to report incidents using their voice.

In 2020, Waze integrated Google Assistant into its iOS app, allowing users to navigate, report incidents, and control media using voice commands. The feature was meant to provide a hands-free, seamless driving experience, mirroring its functionality on Android. However, iPhone users soon began experiencing technical issues that made the integration unreliable.

Persistent Issues and User Complaints

Over the years, users on Reddit and other forums reported problems with the Assistant feature. A common issue was that when users tapped the microphone button and spoke, Assistant would detect their voice but fail to respond or execute commands. These issues persisted for more than a year, despite Waze's attempts to address them.

Waze's Decision to Remove Google Assistant

Acknowledging the prolonged inconvenience, Waze announced in a recent post that it had been unable to fully resolve these problems. As a result, the company officially discontinued Google Assistant support on iOS in March 2025. Waze apologized to users for the disruptions and promised to work on an alternative voice interaction solution.

The Broader Shift from Google Assistant to Gemini

The removal of Google Assistant from Waze on iOS comes at a time when Google is transitioning more users from Assistant to its next-generation AI model, Gemini. Google has announced plans to phase out Assistant on most mobile devices and app stores later in 2025. This suggests that Assistant’s removal from Waze may be part of a larger strategic shift rather than just a response to technical difficulties.

What’s Next for Waze Users?

While iOS users have lost Google Assistant, Waze has promised to introduce an “enhanced voice interaction solution” in the near future. The company has also been testing an AI-powered "Conversational Reporting" feature since October 2024, which allows select users to report incidents using their voice. Meanwhile, Android users will continue to have access to Google Assistant on Waze—at least for now.

Source:TC

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025),”Waze Drops Google Assistant Support on iOS Due to Persistent Issues", AnaTechmaz, pp. 231