10 Reasons Why Your Venmo App Isn't Working & 9 Possible Fixes

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What to do when your Venmo app isn't working properly
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Has your Venmo suddenly stopped working? Whether the app just isn't responsive or you're getting declined payments, it can be extremely frustrating for the app to not work when you need to use it. In this article, we'll explain why Venmo might not be working for you on your iPhone or Android, go over some fixes and workarounds to get the app working again, and explain some common error codes you may be seeing.

Quick Fixes for Venmo Not Working

  • If your Venmo app isn't working at all, try restarting the app, restarting your phone, or reinstalling the app entirely.
  • If your Venmo payment is declining, ensure you have sufficient balance, aren't over your weekly spending limits, and aren't buying from high-risk businesses.
  • Ensure you have a stable internet connection while using Venmo, or the app may not work properly.
Section 1 of 3:

Reasons Venmo Isn't Working

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  1. If you tried to send a Venmo payment but your balance could not cover the cost, the payment will likely be declined. Ensure you have enough money in your account to process the Venmo payment, and add more (if possible) if your account is a bit short.
  2. If your phone does not have a good connection to the internet, your payments may decline, or the app may not work properly. Ensure you've got a stable Wi-Fi connection, or swap to mobile data by turning off Wi-Fi.
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  3. From time to time, Venmo may experience technical glitches that can cause payments to decline or for the app to simply not work at all. Venmo could also be undergoing maintenance, rendering the app unusable.
  4. If you're trying to send a bank transfer that is getting declined, there could be an issue with your bank instead of Venmo itself. If you try logging in to your bank app and you're notified that your bank is having technical issues, this is likely the culprit.
  5. If your phone has been on for a long time, isn't updated to the latest OS, or is a bit older, you could be experiencing technical glitches with your phone itself that could be causing Venmo to not work properly.
  6. If your card issuer or bank decided that your Venmo payment seemed suspicious, they may have declined it instead of Venmo. Venmo, unfortunately, doesn't explain why a payment was declined, and does not see any specifics about why a bank or card issuer declined a payment [1]
  7. If you haven't done identity verification, you can spend up to $299.99 per week on Venmo. If you verify your identity, you can send up to $60,000 per week. If you're trying to send a lot of money at once, you may be running into this issue, which is causing your payment to decline. [2]
  8. If you haven't fully filled out your Venmo profile, or if your information has changed since you first input it, your payment could be declined due to a mismatch with your bank or card issuer.
  9. If you send many payments in a short amount of time, Venmo may consider this suspicious and decline those payments. This is especially true if you haven't used your Venmo account in a while and suddenly start sending or receiving a lot of payments.
  10. There are a number of businesses that Venmo does not want their service used for. Venmo considers these businesses high-risk as they can be vulnerable to fraud and chargebacks. According to Venmo, the following industries are high-risk and you can't use Venmo to purchase from them: [3]
    • Gambling, such as casinos, sports betting, horse/dog racing, lotteries, or sweepstakes
    • Tobacco products, prescription drugs, narcotics, steroids, or other controlled substances
    • Firearms, ammunition, firearm parts, weapons, or knives
    • Pornography or adult services
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Section 2 of 3:

Fixes & Workarounds

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  1. Check your Venmo or bank balance to ensure you have enough money available to complete the payment. If not, add more money (if possible) to complete the payment or use a different payment method, such as using a credit card instead of a bank account.
  2. You may want to check your router if you're at home, or swap to mobile data if you're not at home or your home Wi-Fi isn't working properly. Simply turn Wi-Fi off on your phone to force it to use mobile data and try again.
    • If you're using a VPN, try turning it off as this may be interfering with the internet connection you need to use Venmo.
  3. If you're able to access the Venmo app but it's not working properly, try logging out and logging back in. This can refresh your Venmo session and clear out technological glitches.
  4. If the Venmo app is not responsive or isn't loading properly, try restarting it. This can help refresh any glitches that may be occurring, especially if the app has been open on your phone for some time.
  5. Just like the app, your phone can experience technical glitches from time to time, especially if it's been on for a while. If you are noticing issues with your Venmo app and restarting the app didn't fix it, restart your phone entirely.
  6. If the app isn't working for you, or it won't let you even access the app to log out, you can try reinstalling Venmo. This will also ensure you're on the latest version of the app, and will not affect your Venmo account.
  7. Ensure your bank details in Venmo are up to date. If something is incorrect, it could lead to your payment getting declined. You should ensure that:
    • Your card or bank details are entered correctly
    • The card is not expired
    • Your Venmo profile information matches your banking information
  8. If no other troubleshooting options work, you may need to contact Venmo for further assistance. [4]
    • Live chat: In the Settings menu in your Venmo app, tap Get help > Contact Us > Chat with Us . In the chat window, ask the chatbot if you can speak with an agent, and you will be connected.
      • Live chat is the method Venmo recommends for contacting Venmo Support.
    • Email: Go to Venmo's contact page and fill out the email form. Venmo support will follow up within a few business days.
      • The email form can also be accessed in the app by going to Me > Settings > Get help > Contact Us > Email Us .
    • Phone: Call 855-812-4430 between 8 am and 8 pm Central Time to speak to Venmo support.
      • Note that Venmo phone support will only help with certain issues, such as login problems, bank transfer questions, a locked or frozen account, a payment or refund status, a payment dispute, or unauthorized transaction reports. If Venmo phone support does not have a menu option for your issue, you will be directed to contact Venmo via the live chat in the app.
  9. If the Venmo app isn't working and you've checked your internet connection and restarted your app and your phone, the issue is likely with the Venmo app itself and you'll have to wait for Venmo to fix the problem.
  10. If Venmo isn't working for you, try using another payment service like PayPal or Cash App. This may not fix the root cause of why Venmo isn't working for you, but it will allow you to complete your payment on time if Venmo isn't working.
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Section 3 of 3:

Common Error Codes

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  1. If you're getting a 400 or 403 error, that means you're trying to do something in Venmo that isn't possible or allowed. This could be that you're trying to send a payment despite being at your weekly payment limit or you're trying to send money to high-risk business. [5]
  2. If you get a "Bad state" error, Venmo is experiencing technical issues. If you get this error, you will need to wait for Venmo to fix the issue. If you already tried to send a payment or bank transfer, check your transaction history to see if it went through or not.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/217532067-Payment-Declined
      2. ↑ https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/221010968-Personal-Profile-Payment-Limits
      3. ↑ https://venmo.com/legal/us-helpful-information/
      4. ↑ https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/219497368-Contact-Us
      5. ↑ https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500004469382-Error-Messages

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