To use Uber, open the app, enter your destination in Where to?, choose a vehicle, check your pickup and payment details, and confirm your ride request. After a driver accepts, the app shows their location and estimated arrival time.
You need to be signed in to an Uber account and have a payment method supported in your location. Before boarding, check that the driver photo, vehicle, and license plate match the details in your app.
The short version
- Destination: Enter where you want to go in Where to? before choosing a ride.
- Pickup: Check your pickup address or map pin before confirming.
- Payment: Select your payment method before submitting the request.
- Confirmation: Complete the vehicle and pickup confirmation screens shown in your app.
- Before boarding: Match the driver photo, vehicle, and license plate to the app.
| Option | When to use it | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate ride | You want a ride now | Where to? |
| Manual address entry | Location access is off or precise positioning is unavailable | Enter pickup and destination addresses |
| Multiple stops | You need additional stops on an eligible trip | Where to?, then + |
| Saved destinations on Android | You want to reuse an address | Account > Settings |
| Saved destinations on iPhone | You want to reuse home, work, or a destination you visited | Account > Settings, or the destination’s save card |
| Uber Reserve | You want to book ahead where supported | Reserve on the home screen |
| Clock icon scheduling | Your location offers this scheduling interface | Clock icon beside Choose |
| Simple Mode | Your account offers simplified booking controls | Account > Settings > Accessibility > Simple Mode |
| TalkBack booking | You use Uber with Android’s screen reader | Single-tap and double-tap Where to? |
Get the app ready
Open Uber’s official download page, select Download the Uber app, and follow the link or QR code to the appropriate app store. The rider app is offered for iPhone and Android, with installation eligibility determined by your device’s store listing.
Open Uber and sign in before starting your request. Ride availability and payment choices depend on your location, so check the options presented for your trip.
Enter your destination and pickup location
Tap Where to? and enter your destination. Check both the pickup location and the dropoff address before moving on.
Location permission helps Uber position your pickup automatically, but you can request a ride without it. If location access is disabled or precise positioning is unavailable, enter both addresses manually, then continue with vehicle selection and confirmation.
On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn on Location Services. Select Uber, then choose While Using the App. On iOS 14 and later, turn on Precise Location for more accurate positioning.
On Android, open Settings > Apps, using See all apps if needed to find Uber. Select Uber > Permissions > Location, then choose Allow only while using the app. Manufacturer menu paths can differ, and Google notes that some permission instructions require Android 11 or later on Pixel.
Choose your ride and payment method
Swipe up to display the available vehicle options and select the one you want. Your choices depend on local availability.
Before submitting the request, tap the payment details below the ride options and select your payment method. If you plan to pay cash in a market that offers it, select cash before the trip.
Confirm the request and meet your driver
Tap Choose Uber X after selecting that vehicle option; the vehicle name on the button changes with your selection. If a pickup confirmation screen appears, adjust the map pin or select a suggested pickup, then tap Confirm Pickup. Otherwise, tap Confirm UberX, with the vehicle name matching your selection.
After a driver accepts, follow their location and arrival estimate in the app. Before getting into the vehicle, compare the driver photo, vehicle, and license plate with the trip details.
Add stops or save a destination
For a trip with additional stops, tap Where to?, tap +, enter the stops, and tap Done. Select a vehicle and finish the request. Uber permits up to five additional stops on eligible trips, but limits and fees can vary, so follow what your app shows.
To save home or work on either iPhone or Android, open Account > Settings, select Add home or Add work, and enter the address. Select the saved destination when booking, then choose a vehicle and confirm the request. Saving an address alone does not request a ride.
On Android, save another destination by opening Account > Settings > More saved places > Add saved place. Enter its address and nickname, then tap Save.
On iPhone, after taking a trip to another destination, select its Save this destination card and tap Add to saved places. Enter a nickname, then tap Save place.
Book a ride for later
In cities and ride products supporting Uber Reserve, select Reserve on the home screen. Enter your pickup, destination, and pickup time, then select Confirm. Choose a vehicle and select Reserve to finish.
Review the reservation afterward under Reserve > Upcoming trips. Uber advertises reservations up to 90 days ahead, with minimum notice of 15 to 30 minutes depending on the city. Check the times offered for your trip.
If your location offers clock icon scheduling, enter your destination in Where to? and choose a vehicle. Tap the clock icon beside Choose, set the pickup date and time, then tap Set pickup time. Adjust pickup if needed, tap Reserve, then tap Confirm pickup. This scheduling route allows bookings from 30 minutes to 30 days ahead where offered.
Use simpler booking controls
If your account offers Simple Mode, open Account > Settings > Accessibility > Simple Mode and turn it on. Request your ride through the simplified interface, which provides larger controls, fewer ride choices, and saved destinations.
With TalkBack enabled on Android, single-tap and then double-tap Where to?, then enter or select your destination. To edit pickup, single-tap and double-tap the pickup location. Scroll through vehicle options with two fingers, then single-tap and double-tap your choice. Single-tap and double-tap CONFIRM PICKUP to finish.
Fix a blocked ride request
If Uber blocks your request, check the payment or account issue identified in the app. Uber lists unpaid balances, declined payments, and unverified contact details among the possible causes. Resolve an outstanding balance, select a supported payment method, or complete the requested contact verification as appropriate before trying again.
An unsupported pickup location or a lack of available drivers can also prevent a request. Review the pickup address you entered and the availability shown for that location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you request an Uber for another adult?
Yes, in supported apps and markets, tap Where to?, tap For Me, then tap Add a rider. Select a contact or enter their mobile number, select the rider, and tap Next; check their details, then tap Add rider. Select them from the rider dropdown, enter their pickup and destination, choose a vehicle, and finish the request. The guest can receive trip details by SMS without installing Uber.
Can you book an Uber by speaking to the app?
Select riders in the United States and Canada can use Uber’s Voice Booking Agent after updating Uber and enabling its microphone permission. Tap the microphone inside Where to?, say Book me a ride to Ferry Building, and follow the prompts to review your request. You can tap X to return to ordinary booking or use the Tap or say chips. Voice booking uses your current location for pickup and is unavailable during an active trip.
How do airport pickup reservations work?
At airports and cities offering Reserve pickups, select Reserve, enter the pickup airport and your destination under Where to?, then select the pickup date and enter your flight number. Choose a vehicle and select Reserve, then select Pick me up when you are ready at the airport. If Reserve airport pickup is unavailable, request an on-demand ride after your flight.
Can a teenager request their own Uber ride?
Teens ages 13 to 17 can request rides through Uber for Teens in supported cities using a guardian’s Family profile and payment method. To invite a teen, open Account > Family and teens > Add new member > Teen > Contact and select them. Your teen must follow the SMS invitation and complete mandatory safety onboarding before requesting rides in their own Uber app.
Can you request an Uber from an Apple Watch?
Uber no longer supports its Apple Watch app and directs you to the mobile app. Use Uber on your phone to enter the destination and complete the ride request.
