Waze: Select Fastest/Shortest Route Option by Default

Are you trying to select the fastest/shortest route option on Waze by default?

You’re not the only one! It might be hard to believe, but many people try to configure their app this way to save time and be more efficient.

A couple of years ago, setting this up was as simple as tweaking a couple of options and starting your journey. However, it seems like things have taken a turn toward a more complex process.

But don’t worry, I’m glad you came here for answers. Below, you’ll find some information regarding this option, as well as some ways in which you can find alternate routes and evaluate their safety.

Keep reading to boost efficiency!

How to Select the Fastest Route by Default

The first thing I’d like to cover is whether you can still set this up or not. It used to be that you could simply go into the platform’s settings and enable this option in a matter of seconds. But sadly, it would seem like the developers have removed this option permanently.

I know, that sucks.

These days, you can’t select the shortest route by default on Waze. Instead, the app calculates this for you based on a number of factors, such as potential hazards, time driven, and current traffic. The problem with this is that, just like any other app out there, Waze can make mistakes or might not know some shortcuts you’re fond of, which can result in a bad driving experience.

While there are no actual workarounds that enable you to manually select a route you want, you can still choose between several options the platform offers you before driving. All you have to do is tap on the right place and decide carefully.

Solution: To see all available routes for your destination, please follow the simple steps below:

1. Launch Waze, type in a destination, and start the trip. Then, tap on the bottom of the interface, where you can see the distance, driving time, and ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)
2. On the new menu that appears, tap on “Routes”
3. You’ll see all the routes available for your trip including ETA, distance, and any event reports that might have been mentioned by other Wazers

Make sure to take into account all the information provided to you in the options above. Although one route might be shorter than the current one selected for you by the platform, it might cross a dangerous area or have certain road hazards that Waze is trying to protect you from.

If this is something you’re concerned about, and you live in Israel or Brazil, you can always enable the option to avoid high-risk areas. At the time of writing of this article, only these two countries have that feature, but I’m certain the developers will make it available to more regions over time.

Conclusion

That about covers it!

Being unable to select the fastest/shortest route on Waze sucks. It’s terrible that the developers thought it would be a good idea to remove it, as it could save all of us precious time.

However, I hope this piece has helped you see that, although you might not be able to activate this automatically, there are some manual workarounds to choose a route you like better for your trip. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference, but remember to always keep an eye out for road hazards or dangerous areas while deciding.

I really appreciate you sticking with me all the way to the end. If this article was helpful to you and piqued your interest, it’ll make you very happy to know that we upload new content every week. While we put the finishing touches to our latest work, please check out our other incredible resources below to become a Tech Detective yourself!

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Have a great week.