# Seven Waze tricks most drivers never find

> Google's navigation app hides useful features in its menus, from voice recording to trip planning.
- Title: Seven Waze tricks most drivers never find · Engadget
- Summary: Google's navigation app hides useful features in its menus, from voice recording to trip planning. Waze offers hidden features including contact-based…
- Keywords: waze, google, navigation, mobile apps, how-to, technology, Seven, tricks, most, drivers, never, find
- Source: Engadget — https://engadget.com/2280999/waze-hidden-features-users-should-know
- Author: Adnan Ahmed
- Published: 2026-10-11T15:15:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: waze, google, navigation, mobile apps, how-to, technology
## Why Waze matters
Google has owned Waze since two thousand thirteen. The crowdsourced navigation app relies on real drivers to report accidents, potholes, traffic and police activity. It emphasizes the real-time driving experience more than Google Maps.
## Navigate to saved contacts
Waze can navigate to friends and family if you grant it access to your contacts. Open Waze, swipe up, scroll to Drive to friends and family, then type a contact's name to start navigation.
## Revoke contact access
On iPhone, go to Settings, Apps, Waze, Contacts and tap None. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, See all apps, Waze, Permissions, Contacts and tap Don't Allow.
## Record your own voice
Waze lets you record navigation instructions in your own voice. Go to Settings, Voice and sound, Current voice, then tap New voice. You can record up to thirty nine different prompts, each six seconds maximum.
## Customize your avatar mood
Navigate to Settings, View profile, Mood to pick how your avatar appears to other Waze users. You can also select a sidekick to change your vehicle's icon, avatar and the voice guiding your route.
## Plan trips in advance
Search for your destination and tap Leave later instead of Go now. Pick your arrival time in fifteen minute increments. Waze shows expected traffic and lets you schedule drives further ahead or connect your calendar.
## View your planned drives
Tap the hamburger menu and go to Plan a drive to see all your scheduled trips. Waze can automatically add upcoming calendar events that have a location attached as planned drives.
## Use secret search codes
Enter special codes in the search bar to access hidden features. Entering ##@morph unlocks a secret monster mood avatar. Entering ##@cctts clears the text-to-speech cache to fix voice navigation issues.
## Key takeaway

Waze offers hidden features including contact-based navigation, custom voice directions, trip planning and secret codes that most users never discover.