Cancel through the Uber Eats app or website within the window
You can cancel an Uber Eats order yourself if you act before the restaurant starts preparing your food. Open the Uber Eats app, go to your active order, and tap the cancel button — usually labeled "Cancel Order" near the top or bottom of the screen. On the website, the same option appears on your order details page. The cancellation goes through immediately.
The catch is timing. Once the restaurant receives your order and begins cooking, the cancel button disappears. This window is usually five to ten minutes, but varies by restaurant and how busy they are. If you see the order status change to "Preparing" or "Being made," you are past the point where you can cancel yourself.
Refunds for self-cancelled orders go back to your original payment method within three to five business days, though some payment processors take longer. If you used a promo code or credit, that also returns to your account.
Key Takeaways
- You can only cancel through the app or website if the restaurant has not started cooking, which is usually a five- to ten-minute window after you place the order.
- Once the order status shows "Preparing" or "Being made," the cancel button disappears and you must contact support instead.
- Refunds from cancelled orders return to your original payment method in three to five business days.
- If you cannot cancel yourself, contact Uber Eats support through the app and explain why you need the cancellation — they can sometimes reach the restaurant in time.
What happens if the restaurant has already started cooking
If the cancel button is gone, the restaurant is already preparing your order. At this point, you cannot cancel through the app. Instead, open the Uber Eats app, find your active order, and look for a "Help" or "Contact Support" button. Tap it and select "Cancel Order" from the menu, then explain your situation.
Uber Eats support can contact the restaurant and ask them to stop, but there is no may provide they will reach them in time or that the restaurant will agree. Some restaurants have already plated the food or are too busy to stop. If the order is already out for delivery, cancellation becomes even less likely to succeed.
If support cannot cancel, you may be charged the full order amount. Some support agents will issue a refund as a one-time courtesy, but this is not automatic. Be clear about why you need the cancellation — a genuine mistake or change in plans is more likely to get a refund than a change of mind after the food is made.
Cancellations after the driver picks up the order
Once a driver has picked up your food from the restaurant, cancellation becomes much harder. The order is already in transit, and the driver has already been paid. Uber Eats support may still try to reach the driver, but they cannot force a cancellation at that point.
Your best option is to contact the driver directly through the app's messaging feature and explain the situation. Some drivers will return the order to the restaurant or turn around if they have not gone far. Others will continue to your address, and you can refuse the delivery — but this does not automatically refund you.
If you refuse delivery, contact Uber Eats support immediately with a screenshot or note of the refusal. Support can see the delivery attempt in their system and may issue a refund, though again this is not may provide. The longer you wait after refusing delivery, the harder it is to prove what happened.
Refund timelines and what to expect
Refunds for cancelled orders do not appear instantly. Uber Eats processes refunds to your original payment method, but the time it takes depends on your bank or payment provider. Credit cards typically show refunds in three to five business days. Debit cards can take up to seven business days. Digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay may be faster.
If you paid with Uber Cash or a gift card, the refund goes directly back to that account and appears within 24 hours. Promo codes and credits also return to your account, not to your payment method.
If more than a week has passed and you do not see the refund, contact your bank or payment provider first — sometimes the refund was issued but your bank is holding it. If your bank confirms no refund arrived, go back to Uber Eats support with proof of the cancellation and ask them to investigate.
Cancelling a scheduled order before it processes
If you placed an order for a future time — say, lunch tomorrow at noon — you can cancel it the same way as a current order, but you have much more time. Open the app, find the scheduled order under "Scheduled" or "Upcoming," and tap cancel. This works right up until the restaurant receives the order, which is usually 30 minutes before your scheduled delivery time.
Cancelling a scheduled order early gives you the best chance of a full refund, since the restaurant has not yet started preparing anything. The refund follows the same timeline as any other cancellation.
When you cannot reach support or get a response
If Uber Eats support is not responding or you have been waiting days for a refund decision, you have a few options. First, try contacting them again through the app — sometimes a second request gets routed to a different agent who can help. Be specific about your order number, the date, and what happened.
If the app support is not working, visit the Uber Eats website and look for a "Contact Us" or "Help" link. You can also file a dispute with your credit card company or bank if you paid by card. Your bank can reverse the charge while Uber Eats investigates, though this should be a last resort since it can affect your account.
Keep screenshots of your order, the cancellation request, and any messages with support. These help if you need to dispute the charge or escalate the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel an order after the driver has delivered it?
No, once the driver has completed the delivery, Uber Eats considers the transaction finished. If you received the wrong order or the food was damaged, contact support with photos and explain what happened. They may issue a refund or credit as a one-time courtesy, but this is different from a cancellation.
Do I lose money if I cancel?
If you cancel before the restaurant starts cooking, you get a full refund. If the restaurant has already prepared the order, you may be charged the full amount, though support sometimes refunds this as a courtesy. Delivery fees are usually not refunded if the driver has already accepted the order.
What if the restaurant is taking too long and I want to cancel?
If your order is stuck in "Preparing" for an unusually long time, contact support and explain. They can reach out to the restaurant and ask what is happening. If there is a real problem, they may cancel and refund you, but this depends on how far along the order is.
Can I cancel and reorder from a different restaurant instead?
Yes, you can cancel your current order and place a new one with a different restaurant. Just make sure you cancel the first order before the restaurant starts cooking, so you get a full refund to use on the new order.