Where to find the stock lending setting in Robinhood

Stock lending on Robinhood is turned off through your account settings, not through the trading interface. Open the Robinhood app, tap the account icon (usually a circle in the bottom right), then select "Account" or "Settings." Look for a section called "Investing" or "Brokerage Settings." The stock lending toggle or option will be listed there — it may be called "Stock Lending Program," "Margin," or "Lending Shares."

The exact location varies slightly between the mobile app and the web version. On the web, log in to your Robinhood account, click your profile icon, select "Settings," then navigate to "Brokerage" or "Account Settings." Scroll until you find the lending or margin section. Once you locate it, you should see a toggle switch or a button to turn the feature off.

Key Takeaways

  • Stock lending settings are found in your account settings under "Investing" or "Brokerage Settings," not in the trading section.
  • Robinhood may require you to turn off margin or close a margin account before you can disable stock lending, depending on your account type.
  • Disabling stock lending takes effect immediately, but Robinhood may take a few business days to recall shares already lent out.
  • If you have an active margin balance, you may not be able to turn off lending until that balance is paid off.
  • Turning off stock lending does not affect your ability to buy and sell stocks — it only stops Robinhood from lending your shares to other traders.

What happens when you disable stock lending

When you turn off stock lending, Robinhood stops lending your shares to other traders. Shares that are already lent out will be recalled over the next few business days. You will not receive a notification for each share recalled — the process happens in the background. Once all shares are recalled, your account will no longer participate in the lending program.

Disabling stock lending does not change how you trade or what you own. Your stocks remain in your account, and you can still buy and sell them normally. The only difference is that Robinhood will no longer use your shares to generate lending income (which Robinhood keeps; you do not receive a share of that revenue).

Margin accounts and stock lending restrictions

If you have a margin account with an active margin balance — meaning you have borrowed money from Robinhood to buy stocks — you may not be able to turn off stock lending until that balance is paid off. Robinhood uses stock lending as a way to offset the cost of margin loans, so the two features are often linked.

To check whether you have a margin balance, go to your account settings and look for "Buying Power" or "Margin Balance." If the margin balance is zero or shows no outstanding loan, you should be able to disable lending without restriction. If you do have an active margin balance, pay it off first, then return to the stock lending setting to turn it off.

Downgrading from margin to a cash account

Some Robinhood users have a margin account specifically because stock lending is enabled. If you want to turn off lending and also remove margin privileges entirely, you can downgrade to a cash account. A cash account does not allow margin borrowing and does not participate in stock lending.

To downgrade, go to your account settings, find the margin or account type section, and look for an option to convert to a cash account. Robinhood will warn you that this change is permanent for a set period (usually 90 days) — you cannot switch back to margin immediately. Once you confirm, the change takes effect, and stock lending is automatically disabled.

Troubleshooting: The toggle is greyed out or missing

If the stock lending toggle appears greyed out or disabled, the most common reason is an active margin balance. Pay off any borrowed funds first. Another reason is that your account type does not support the setting — for example, some retirement accounts (IRAs) do not allow stock lending at all, so there is no toggle to turn off.

If you have paid off your margin balance and the toggle is still unavailable, contact Robinhood support through the app or website. Explain that you want to disable stock lending and ask whether your account type or current status is preventing the change. Support can sometimes override restrictions or explain what steps you need to take first.

How long the change takes to take effect

Turning off the toggle takes effect immediately in your account settings. However, shares that Robinhood has already lent out to other traders will take a few business days to be recalled. During this time, those shares are still lent out, and Robinhood may continue to earn lending income on them. Once the recall is complete, no new shares will be lent.

You do not need to do anything while the recall happens — it is automatic. If you want to confirm that the change has taken effect, check your account settings a few days later. The toggle should remain off, and no new shares should be lent out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off stock lending affect my buying power?

No. Your buying power is based on your cash balance and margin privileges, not on stock lending. Disabling lending does not change either of those. If you have a margin account, your buying power remains the same. If you downgrade to a cash account, your buying power will be limited to your cash balance only — but that is a separate change from disabling lending.

Can I turn stock lending back on later?

Yes. You can return to your account settings and toggle stock lending back on at any time, as long as you do not have restrictions (such as an active margin balance). There is no penalty or waiting period for turning it back on.

Will I lose money if I turn off stock lending?

You will not lose money. Stock lending does not cost you anything — Robinhood keeps the lending income. Turning it off simply means Robinhood stops earning that income on your shares. Your stocks and cash balance remain unchanged.

What if my shares are still lent out after a week?

Contact Robinhood support and explain that you disabled stock lending but shares are still lent out after several business days. Provide your account details and the specific stocks involved. Support can manually recall shares or investigate whether a technical issue is preventing the recall.