Gru‑some news: Minions voices are leaving Waze app

If you’ve spent any part of your commute in the last few months letting a Minion call the shots, you’re not alone — and you’re definitely not ready for what’s coming. That familiar chirpy voice? The banana jokes and goofy nonsense that made standstill traffic almost feel worth it, just for a second? Say your goodbyes, because the Minions are packing up and disappearing from Waze starting today. This isn’t a drill.

One user highlighted the news on Reddit, sharing a screenshot of a notification from Waze alerting them to the removal, with a title “WAZE WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS???”

The Minions’ voices went live in June last year. They weren’t just another direction-giving option. For frustrated drivers, distracted parents, or anyone just craving a laugh, these yellow goofballs turned the daily grind into a little event. Maybe you even caught yourself grinning at some banana-fueled nonsense while the world was stuck at a red light.

Nobody’s exactly surprised the Minions experience is going away, though. The writing’s been on the wall: these character packs show up as promos, tie-ins, or movie launches, then wander off once the timer runs out.

That said, some Waze users are probably already aware of the massive repository on GitHub with links to download almost all the custom voices that have shown up on the platform. Someone even shared a link to that GitHub page on the Reddit post; however, I currently don’t see the Minions voice pack listed just yet. It’s possible that it might get added in the coming days, but we’ll have to wait and see.

For those who never even knew it existed, here’s a glimpse of the voice pack:

It’s not the first time Waze has dangled something silly and then snatched it back. Cookie Monster, the boy band, video game heroes — you should’ve seen Reddit when those left. Some drivers switch right back to the default voice, claiming it just “gets them home faster.” Others really miss the novelty, the way a regular Tuesday night could feel just a bit less ordinary when a Minion started yelling about bananas and U-turns.

So, what’s a fan to do? There’s always something zany around the corner with Waze, but nothing’s ever quite like your first Minion voice. If you haven’t taken a farewell spin yet, now’s the time — one last wild ride before the silence settles back in. Maybe record a snippet for old times’ sake, then keep your eyes peeled for the next guest star to show up on your map. After all, half the fun of Waze is never knowing just who might be guiding you home.