What the Uber Eats Driver App Does
The Uber Eats driver app is the tool you use to accept food delivery orders, navigate to restaurants and customer addresses, and manage your earnings. Once you read it and log in with your Uber account, the app shows you available orders in your area, lets you accept the ones you want, and tracks your route and delivery status in real time. You earn money per delivery, and the app handles payment directly to your bank account.
The app works on both iPhone and Android phones. You need a smartphone with GPS, a data connection, and a valid driver's license to use it. Unlike the regular Uber driver app (which is for ride-sharing), the Eats app is designed specifically for food delivery — it shows restaurant locations, order contents, and customer drop-off points rather than passenger pickup and dropoff.
Key Takeaways
- read the Uber Eats driver app from the App Store or Google Play, then sign in with your Uber account or create one if you don't have one yet.
- The app shows available delivery orders on a map with the restaurant location, estimated delivery distance, and the payment amount before you accept.
- You navigate to the restaurant first, pick up the order, then deliver it to the customer's address — the app provides turn-by-turn directions for both legs.
- Your earnings appear in the app after each delivery, and money transfers to your linked bank account on a weekly schedule that varies by location.
- You can pause or stop accepting orders at any time by toggling your availability in the app, with no minimum hours or shift requirements.
Downloading and Setting Up Your Account
Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and search for "Uber Eats Driver." Tap the official Uber app and select Install or Get. Once it finishes downloading, open the app and tap Sign In. If you already have an Uber account from using Uber for rides, enter that email and password. If you don't have an account, tap Create Account and follow the prompts to add your name, email, phone number, and a password.
After you sign in, the app will ask you to verify your identity and provide banking information. You'll need to upload a photo of your driver's license and a selfie so Uber can confirm who you are. Then add your bank account details — the app will ask for your routing number and account number so earnings can be deposited weekly. Some locations also require you to upload proof of vehicle insurance or a vehicle registration before you can start accepting orders.
How to Accept and Complete a Delivery
Once your account is set up and verified, open the app and toggle your status to "Online" to start seeing available orders. The app will show you a map with nearby restaurants and the orders waiting for pickup. Each order card displays the restaurant name, the delivery distance, the estimated time to complete it, and the payment amount. Tap an order to see more details — the app shows you what items are in the order, any special instructions from the customer, and the exact pickup and dropoff addresses.
When you're ready to take an order, tap Accept. The app then navigates you to the restaurant using turn-by-turn directions. Arrive at the restaurant, go inside or to the pickup area, and tell the staff you're picking up an Uber Eats order. They'll hand you the food in a bag or container. Tap Picked Up in the app once you have the order, and the app will switch to navigation mode for the customer's delivery address. Drive to that address, find the customer's door or the location they specified, and hand them the order or leave it in the spot they requested.
Tap Delivered in the app once the customer has the food. The app will ask if there were any issues — select No Issues if the delivery went smoothly, or report a problem if something went wrong. Your payment for that delivery will show in your Earnings section when ready, though the money won't hit your bank account until the next payout cycle.
Understanding Your Earnings and Payouts
Your payment per delivery is shown in the app before you accept the order. The amount depends on the distance from the restaurant to the customer, the time of day, and how busy the app is in your area. During busy times (lunch, dinner, bad weather), payments tend to be higher. You can see a breakdown of your earnings in the app's Earnings tab, which shows each delivery you completed, the payment amount, and the date and time.
Money transfers to your bank account on a weekly schedule. Most areas pay out once per week, usually on a set day like Tuesday or Wednesday, but the exact day varies by location. You can check your next payout date in the app under Account or Earnings. There is no minimum number of deliveries you need to complete to cash out — even if you do one delivery, that payment will be included in your next weekly payout. Some areas also offer an when ready payout option where you can transfer your earnings to your bank account before the scheduled weekly payout, though this may have a small fee.
Managing Your Availability and Schedule
You have complete control over when you work. To start accepting orders, toggle your status to Online in the app. To stop accepting new orders, toggle it to Offline. You can go online and offline as many times as you want throughout the day with no penalty. There are no minimum hours, no required shifts, and no consequences for taking time off.
When you're Online, the app will send you notifications of available orders in your area. You can accept or decline each order — declining orders does not affect your ability to receive future orders. If you accept an order and then realize you need to cancel it, you can do so before you arrive at the restaurant, though canceling too many orders in a short time may temporarily reduce the number of orders sent to you.
What Happens If There's a Problem
If you arrive at the restaurant and the order isn't ready, you can wait or contact the restaurant directly. The app doesn't charge you a fee for waiting time. If the restaurant says the order was never placed or is no longer available, tap the Help button in the app and report the issue — Uber may cancel the order and send you a different one, or you can end the delivery and keep the payment.
If a customer reports that their order was wrong, damaged, or never arrived, Uber will investigate. The app may ask you to provide photos or details about what happened. If Uber determines the issue was your fault (for example, you delivered to the wrong address), they may reduce your payment or ask you to refund part of it. If the issue was the restaurant's fault, your payment stays the same and the customer gets a refund from Uber.
If your phone dies, you lose your internet connection, or the app crashes during a delivery, you can restart the app and log back in. Your current delivery will still be there, and you can continue from where you left off. The timer for the delivery doesn't stop, so customers will see the updated arrival time based on your current location.
Tips for Using the App Effectively
Check the payment amount and distance before accepting every order. Some orders pay more than others, and you can be selective about which ones you take. During busy times like lunch and dinner, more orders appear and payments are usually higher, so many drivers prefer working those hours. Early morning and late night deliveries may have fewer orders but sometimes higher per-delivery pay.
Keep your phone charged and use a phone mount or holder so you can see the navigation clearly while driving. The app uses GPS constantly, which drains your battery quickly. Make sure your data connection is strong — if the app loses connection, you won't receive new orders and navigation may stop working. Some drivers keep a portable charger in their car for longer shifts.
Rate your experience after each delivery if the app asks. Ratings help Uber understand which restaurants and areas work well, and consistently good ratings may lead to more order offers. If you have a problem with a specific restaurant or customer, use the Help button in the app to report it — Uber tracks these reports and may take action if there's a pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a car to deliver with Uber Eats?
No. You can deliver on a bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, or car depending on what's available in your area. The app will show you which delivery methods are open for signup in your city. Bike and scooter deliveries typically cover shorter distances and pay less per delivery, while car deliveries cover larger areas and pay more.
What if I don't have a bank account yet?
You need a bank account to receive payouts from Uber Eats. If you don't have one, you'll need to open a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union before you can start delivering. Some banks offer accounts online with no minimum balance, and the process usually takes a few days.
Can I use the Uber Eats driver app and the regular Uber driver app at the same time?
Yes. You can toggle between both apps and accept rides and deliveries from either one. However, you can only be actively working on one at a time — if you're in the middle of a delivery, you won't receive ride requests, and vice versa. Many drivers use both apps to maximize their earnings.
What if a customer doesn't answer the door or isn't home?
Follow the delivery instructions the customer provided in the app. If they said to leave the order at the door, do that and take a photo. If they said to call them, try calling the phone number in the app. If you can't reach them after a reasonable attempt, tap Help in the app and report that the customer wasn't available — Uber will contact them and decide whether you keep the payment or need to return the order.
How do I know if I'm making enough money?
Track your earnings in the app's Earnings tab, which shows your total for the week and the payment per delivery. Calculate your hourly rate by dividing your total earnings by the hours you spent online (including time waiting for orders). Remember that you're responsible for gas, vehicle maintenance, and phone data costs, so factor those into your actual profit.