You can cancel an Uber Eats order through the app or website up until the restaurant starts preparing your food
Once you place an order on Uber Eats, you have a window to cancel it — but that window closes when the restaurant receives and begins preparing your order. The exact moment this happens varies by restaurant and how busy they are. If you cancel after preparation has started, the restaurant may still charge you, and Uber Eats will not refund the order.
The cancellation process itself takes less than a minute. You open the app, find the active order, and select the cancel option. Uber Eats will show you whether cancellation is still available for that specific order, so you will know when ready if you are too late.
Key Takeaways
- You can cancel through the Uber Eats app or website by opening your active order and tapping the cancel button, but only before the restaurant starts preparing your food.
- Once a restaurant has begun making your order, cancellation is no longer available and you will be charged the full amount.
- If you cancel in time, Uber Eats refunds the full order amount to your original payment method within three to five business days.
- The cancel button disappears from your order screen when the restaurant starts preparation, so check the app when ready if you change your mind.
How to cancel through the Uber Eats app
Open the Uber Eats app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Select "Orders" to see your current and past orders. Find the order you want to cancel — it will show a status like "Confirming" or "Preparing" at the top.
Tap on the order to open its details page. If cancellation is still available, you will see a red "Cancel Order" button near the bottom of the screen. Tap it, and the app will ask you to confirm the cancellation. Select "Yes, cancel order" to complete the process. The app will show a confirmation message and return you to your orders list.
If the cancel button does not appear, the restaurant has already started preparing your food and the order cannot be cancelled. In this case, you will need to contact Uber Eats support through the app if you believe there is an issue with your order.
How to cancel through the Uber Eats website
Go to ubereats.com and sign in to your account. Click on "Orders" in the top navigation menu. Your active orders appear at the top of the page. Click on the order you want to cancel to open its full details.
Scroll down to find the "Cancel Order" button. If it is present and clickable, the order can still be cancelled. Click the button and confirm your choice when prompted. The website will display a confirmation that your cancellation has been processed.
Like the app, the cancel button will not appear if the restaurant has begun preparing your order. The website and app are connected to the same order system, so the cancellation window is the same on both.
What happens to your money when you cancel
When you cancel before the restaurant starts preparing your order, Uber Eats refunds the full amount — including the food subtotal, taxes, and delivery fees. The refund goes back to the payment method you used to place the order, whether that was a credit card, debit card, or Uber Cash balance.
The refund does not happen when ready. Uber Eats typically processes refunds within three to five business days, though some banks may take longer to show the credit in your account. If you used a debit card, your bank may hold the refund for up to ten business days before it appears.
If you cancel after the restaurant has started preparing your order, you will be charged the full amount and no refund will be issued. Some restaurants may have their own cancellation policies that result in a partial charge, but Uber Eats does not control these policies.
When you cannot cancel an order
The most common reason cancellation is not available is that the restaurant has already received your order and started preparing it. This can happen within seconds of you placing the order, depending on how busy the restaurant is and how quickly their system processes orders.
Some restaurants have their own rules about cancellations. A few may not allow cancellations at all, even before preparation begins. If you see a message saying cancellation is not available but the order status still shows "Confirming," contact Uber Eats support through the app to explain your situation.
Orders that have already been picked up by a driver cannot be cancelled through the app. At this point, you will need to contact the driver directly through the app's messaging feature or reach out to Uber Eats support.
Contacting Uber Eats support if cancellation fails
If you cannot cancel through the app or website but believe you should be able to, open the Uber Eats app and go to your active order. Scroll to the bottom and tap "Help" or "Contact Support." Describe what happened — for example, "I tried to cancel but the button was not available" or "I was charged after cancelling."
Uber Eats support will review your order and may issue a refund if they determine the cancellation should have been allowed. Response times vary, but support typically replies within 24 to 48 hours. Keep screenshots of your order status and any error messages to include with your support request.
You can also contact support through the Uber Eats website by going to help.ubereats.com, selecting your issue from the menu, and choosing "Contact Us" at the bottom of the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel an Uber Eats order after the driver picks it up?
No, once a driver has picked up your order from the restaurant, cancellation through the app is no longer available. You can message the driver directly through the app to ask them to return the order, but they are not required to do so and you may still be charged.
Do I lose money if I cancel?
If you cancel before the restaurant starts preparing your order, you get a full refund of all charges. If you cancel after preparation has begun, you are charged the full amount with no refund.
How long does it take to get my refund?
Refunds typically appear in your account within three to five business days. Your bank may take longer to process the credit, especially if you used a debit card.
What if the restaurant already made my food but I cancelled in time?
If the cancel button was available when you tapped it, your cancellation was processed in time, even if the restaurant had already started preparing the order. You will receive a full refund. Contact Uber Eats support if you were charged despite cancelling.
Can I cancel a scheduled Uber Eats order?
Yes, you can cancel a scheduled order the same way you cancel a regular order — through the app or website. The cancel button will be available until the restaurant begins preparing your food at the scheduled time.