Waze to Cease Updates for Older Android Models Imminently
In a move that may affect millions of users, Waze has announced that it will be raising the minimum Android operating system requirement for its navigation app. Starting with version 5.9.90, the app will only support Android 10 and higher, up from the previous requirement of Android 8.0[1][5].
This change has been in development since the end of July, as indicated by APKMirror copies of the app[6]. Beta testers have already received notices that support for Android 9.0 and lower is ending, and no new features or updates will be provided on older Android versions going forward[1][3].
While the app will continue to function initially on older Android versions, it will no longer receive updates and eventually may stop working[1][3][5]. The official stable update with this requirement is expected very soon after the beta stage, likely by August 2025[1][3].
This change does not affect the continued support for Android 8.0 or higher by Google Maps. However, users on older versions of Android will still be able to use the Waze app, but they will not receive new updates or features[7].
The decision to raise the minimum Android requirement is part of Waze's ongoing efforts to improve the user experience and provide the latest features. For instance, the recent Waze 5.4 update provides maps on heads-up displays for some vehicles[2]. In the near future, Waze also plans to combine different types of road alerts[4].
It's important to note that as of earlier this year, only 5.8% of Android devices were running on Android 9.0 or older[8]. This suggests that the majority of Waze users should not be affected by this change.
As the rollout to non-beta users is expected soon, users on older Android devices are advised to keep an eye on the Play Store for the update. If the update is not received within a reasonable time, the app may eventually stop working altogether on older devices[1][3].
[1] https://www.androidpolice.com/2025/07/31/waze-5-9-90-beta-requires-android-10-and-higher/ [2] https://www.androidcentral.com/waze-5-4-update-adds-head-up-display-support-select-vehicles [3] https://www.androidheadlines.com/2025/08/waze-will-no-longer-support-android-9-and-lower [4] https://www.waze.com/about/pressroom/news/2025/07/waze-announces-new-features-for-improved-driving-experience [5] https://www.phonearena.com/news/Waze-requires-Android-10-and-higher-in-its-newest-update_id135529 [6] https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/waze/waze-5-9-90-release/ [7] https://9to5google.com/2025/08/02/google-maps-android-8-0-support-continues/ [8] https://www.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share/2025/
