You can withdraw cash from Robinhood to your linked bank account, but the money takes three to five business days to arrive and you cannot touch it while the transfer is in progress
Robinhood lets you move cash out of your brokerage account back to the bank account you connected during signup. The process itself takes two minutes — you initiate it through the app or website — but the actual transfer to your bank takes three to five business days. During that time, the money sits in limbo and you cannot use it for anything, including buying stocks or covering a margin call.
The main thing to understand before you start: Robinhood distinguishes between cash (money sitting in your account that you have not invested) and settled funds (money from stock sales that has cleared). You can only withdraw settled cash. If you sold a stock yesterday, that money may not be available to withdraw today, depending on when the sale settled.
Key Takeaways
- Withdrawals go only to the bank account you linked when you opened your Robinhood account, and you cannot change the destination account through the app.
- Cash from stock sales takes two business days to settle before you can withdraw it, and the withdrawal itself takes another three to five business days.
- You can withdraw any amount, but Robinhood may flag unusually large or frequent transfers for review, which can delay the withdrawal by several days.
- If you have an unsettled trade or a margin balance, Robinhood will not let you withdraw until those are resolved.
How to start a withdrawal through the app
Open the Robinhood app and tap the account icon at the bottom right. Select "Account" and then "Transfers." Tap "Withdraw" and enter the amount you want to move. Robinhood will show you how much settled cash you have available — this is the maximum you can withdraw right now. Confirm the amount and tap "Withdraw" again.
Robinhood will send the money to the bank account on file. You will see the withdrawal listed in your transfer history immediately, but the funds will not appear in your bank account for three to five business days. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days, so a withdrawal you start on Friday afternoon may not land until Wednesday.
How to start a withdrawal on the website
Log into your Robinhood account on a computer. Click the account menu (usually your name or initials in the top right) and select "Account Settings." Find "Transfers" and click "Withdraw." Enter the amount and confirm. The process is the same as the app — the money goes to your linked bank account and takes three to five business days.
If you cannot find the Transfers section, make sure you are logged into the right account. Some account types (like certain retirement accounts) have different withdrawal rules and may not show a standard withdrawal option.
Why your withdrawal might be delayed or blocked
Robinhood holds withdrawals for review if the amount is unusually large compared to your account history, if you are withdrawing frequently, or if you have recent deposits that have not fully cleared. A deposit from your bank takes one to two business days to clear, and Robinhood may not let you withdraw more than you have had in the account for at least that long.
You also cannot withdraw if you have unsettled trades (sales that have not yet cleared), if you owe a margin balance, or if you have pending deposits or transfers. Check your account for any of these issues before you start a withdrawal. If Robinhood blocks your withdrawal, the app will tell you why — usually it is one of these reasons.
Changing which bank account receives your withdrawal
You cannot change your linked bank account through the Robinhood app or website. If you want to withdraw to a different bank account, you have to contact Robinhood support and ask them to update your account. This process takes several business days and requires you to verify the new account.
To contact support, open the app, go to your account menu, and select "Help." Choose "Contact Us" and describe your situation. Robinhood support will ask you to confirm your identity and provide details about the new bank account. Once they update your account, you can start withdrawals to the new account, but the change itself may take a few days to take effect.
What happens to dividends and interest when you withdraw
If you own stocks that pay dividends, those dividends land in your cash balance as settled funds. You can withdraw them like any other cash. The same is true for interest from a Robinhood Cash Management account — it shows up as cash and you can withdraw it immediately once it settles.
Withdrawing cash does not affect your stock holdings. If you own 10 shares of Apple and you withdraw $500, you still own 10 shares. The withdrawal only touches the uninvested cash in your account.
Withdrawing from a retirement account
Robinhood offers IRAs and other retirement accounts, and the withdrawal rules for those are different from a regular brokerage account. You cannot simply withdraw money from an IRA the way you can from a taxable account — there are age restrictions, tax consequences, and sometimes penalties. If you have a Robinhood IRA, contact Robinhood support to understand your options, because withdrawing before age 59½ usually triggers taxes and a 10 percent penalty.
For a Roth IRA, you can withdraw contributions (the money you put in) without penalty, but withdrawals of earnings (investment gains) follow the same age rules as a traditional IRA. Robinhood support can walk you through which part of your balance is contributions and which is earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it really take to get my money?
Robinhood processes the withdrawal immediately, but your bank takes three to five business days to receive and post it. Weekends and holidays do not count. A withdrawal started on a Friday may not show up until the following Wednesday or Thursday.
Can I cancel a withdrawal after I start it?
Yes, but only if you cancel it before it leaves Robinhood. Once the money has been sent to your bank, you cannot cancel it through the app. If you need to cancel, go to your transfer history, find the pending withdrawal, and tap "Cancel" if the option appears. If the withdrawal has already been sent, contact your bank.
What if I withdraw money and then the stock market crashes?
Withdrawing cash does not affect your stocks. If you own shares and you withdraw your cash balance, your shares stay in your account. The withdrawal only moves uninvested money. If you sell stocks to raise cash and then withdraw that cash, the sale is final — you no longer own those shares.
Why does Robinhood say I have less available to withdraw than my total cash balance?
The amount available to withdraw is your settled cash only. If you sold a stock in the last two business days, that money is still settling and you cannot withdraw it yet. Once it settles, it becomes available. Deposits from your bank also take one to two days to settle before you can withdraw them.
Can I set up automatic withdrawals?
Robinhood does not offer automatic recurring withdrawals. You have to start each withdrawal manually through the app or website. If you want to move money out regularly, you will need to do it each time.