Uber Eats outages happen, and here's what you can do right now
When Uber Eats stops working, you lose the ability to place orders, track deliveries, or contact your driver. The app may show an error message, load slowly, or appear frozen. Before you assume the worst, check whether the problem is on your end or Uber's — most outages last between 30 minutes and a few hours, and Uber publishes real-time status updates online.
The fastest way to know if Uber Eats is actually down is to visit status.uber.com, which shows whether the service is experiencing issues in your city right now. If the status page shows green (all systems operational), the problem is likely on your phone or network. If it shows red or yellow, Uber is aware of the outage and working on it — you can check back later or use an alternative delivery service in the meantime.
Key Takeaways
- Check status.uber.com to see whether Uber Eats is down in your area or whether the problem is on your device.
- If the app is frozen or showing errors, restart your phone, clear the app cache, and reinstall Uber Eats before assuming an outage.
- During an outage, you cannot place new orders, but active orders may still be delivered — contact your driver through the app if you can.
- If you paid for an order that never went through during an outage, Uber typically refunds the charge within 3 to 5 business days.
- Keep screenshots of error messages and order confirmations if you need to dispute a charge or report a failed delivery.
How to tell if Uber Eats is down on your phone versus the whole service
The first step is to separate a personal device problem from a service-wide outage. Open a web browser on your phone and go to status.uber.com. Look for Uber Eats in the list of services. If it shows a green checkmark, the service is running normally in your region — the problem is on your phone. If it shows yellow (degraded performance) or red (outage), Uber Eats is down and you are not alone.
If the status page shows green but the app still will not work, try these steps in order: restart your phone completely, open Uber Eats again, and see if it loads. If it still does not work, go to your phone's settings, find Uber Eats in the app list, and clear the app cache (not the data — that keeps your saved addresses and payment methods). Then try opening the app again. If the app still fails, uninstall it completely and reinstall it from the App Store or Google Play.
Check your internet connection separately. Open any other app that uses data — maps, email, a web browser — and confirm it works. If your internet is fine but only Uber Eats fails, the problem is either the app itself or Uber's servers. If nothing works, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting two minutes for it to reconnect.
What happens to orders you already placed during an outage
If you placed an order before Uber Eats went down, that order may still be prepared and delivered. The restaurant and driver may have already received the order through Uber's backend systems, even if the app is not working for customers. Check your email or text messages for an order confirmation — if you received one, the order went through.
If you can still open the app, go to your active orders and look for your delivery. You may be able to contact your driver through the in-app chat, even if other parts of the app are broken. If the app is completely unusable, call the restaurant directly using the phone number from your confirmation email — they can tell you whether your order is being prepared and may be able to give you a driver's phone number.
If your order was never confirmed and you were charged anyway, the payment is usually held as pending for 24 to 48 hours before Uber releases it back to your account. If the charge does not reverse within 5 business days, contact Uber through the app (once it is working again) or through your payment method — your credit card company or bank can also dispute the charge if Uber does not refund it.
When to contact Uber support about an outage
Uber does not have a phone number for customer support — all contact goes through the app or the website. If the app is down, open a web browser and go to help.uber.com. Sign in with your Uber account, click "Contact Us," and describe the problem. Uber's support team typically responds within 24 hours, though during a major outage response times may be longer.
Have these details ready when you contact support: the time you tried to place or track an order, any error message you saw (take a screenshot), your order number if you have one, and the amount you were charged if money left your account. If you were charged but the order never went through, include your payment method and the date of the charge.
If you are having trouble accessing help.uber.com because of the outage, try using a different device or a mobile hotspot from a friend's phone. You can also contact your credit card company or bank directly to dispute a charge if Uber does not refund it within the timeframe they promise.
How long outages usually last and what to do while you wait
Most Uber Eats outages last between 30 minutes and two hours. Larger outages affecting multiple cities or regions can last longer — sometimes 4 to 8 hours. Uber publishes updates on status.uber.com as they work on the problem, so check back every 15 to 30 minutes if you are waiting for service to return.
While Uber Eats is down, you have other options: DoorDash, Grubhub, and local restaurant delivery apps may still be working. Call restaurants directly to order for pickup or delivery. Some restaurants have their own delivery services or partner with multiple platforms, so one outage does not mean you cannot order from them.
If you have an active order with a driver, do not cancel it when ready — the driver may still complete the delivery even if the app is not working on your end. Wait at least 30 minutes before canceling, and only cancel if you have not heard from the driver and the app still shows no progress.
Preventing problems when Uber Eats is working normally
Keep your Uber Eats app updated to the latest version. Outdated apps are more likely to crash or show errors, even when the service is running fine. Check your phone's app store weekly for updates, or turn on automatic updates so the app refreshes itself.
Save your favorite restaurants and addresses in the app. If the app crashes mid-order, you can reopen it and quickly rebuild your order instead of starting from scratch. Take screenshots of order confirmations and receipts, especially if you are trying a new restaurant or payment method — these help if you need to dispute a charge later.
Use a payment method you can monitor easily, like a credit card rather than a debit card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection if something goes wrong during an outage, and you can dispute charges more easily if Uber does not refund them automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I was charged but my order never went through?
Yes. If you were charged and received no order confirmation, the charge is usually pending and will reverse within 24 to 48 hours. If it does not reverse within 5 business days, contact Uber through help.uber.com or dispute the charge with your credit card company or bank.
What if my driver is on the way when Uber Eats goes down?
The driver should still complete the delivery. Your order information is stored on Uber's servers, not just in the app. If you cannot reach the driver through the app, try calling the restaurant — they may have the driver's number. If the delivery never arrives, contact Uber support with your order number and the time the outage started.
Does Uber Eats notify you when service is restored?
Uber does not send automatic notifications when an outage ends. Check status.uber.com to see when the service returns to green, or straightforward try opening the app again after 30 minutes to an hour. If the app opens and loads normally, the outage is over.
Can I place an order through the Uber Eats website instead of the app during an outage?
Not usually. When Uber Eats is down, both the app and the website are affected because they use the same backend systems. If the website works but the app does not, use the website to place your order.
What if the same restaurant keeps failing to deliver my order?
Contact Uber support and describe the pattern. Include order numbers and dates. Uber can investigate whether the restaurant or driver is the problem and may offer a refund or credit. You can also leave a detailed review on the restaurant's page to warn other customers.