The Basic Process
To move money from Robinhood to your bank account, you sell your investments first, then request a withdrawal from your Robinhood cash balance to the bank account you linked during setup. Robinhood does not let you transfer shares directly — you must convert them to cash before the money can leave the platform.
The withdrawal itself is free and typically takes one to three business days, depending on your bank. The cash sits in your Robinhood account until you initiate the transfer, so you control the timing.
Key Takeaways
- You must sell your stocks, options, or other holdings before you can withdraw money from Robinhood — the platform does not transfer investments themselves.
- Robinhood withdrawals are free and go to whichever bank account you connected when you opened your account.
- Money typically arrives in one to three business days, though weekends and holidays can extend the timeline.
- You can only withdraw to the bank account registered to your Robinhood account; you cannot send money to a different bank or person.
Selling Your Investments Before You Withdraw
Open the Robinhood app or website and navigate to your portfolio. Tap or click on the specific stock, ETF, or other holding you want to sell. Select "Sell" and choose how many shares you want to convert to cash — you can sell all of them or just part of your position.
Review the order details, including the current price and any applicable fees (most stock sales on Robinhood carry no commission). Confirm the sale. The cash from that sale lands in your Robinhood cash balance when ready, even though the actual settlement takes two business days behind the scenes.
If you hold options, crypto, or fractional shares, the sale process works the same way — select the holding, choose "Sell," and confirm. Once everything you want to withdraw has been converted to cash, you are ready to move to the next step.
Requesting a Withdrawal From Robinhood
In the Robinhood app, tap the account icon (usually in the bottom right corner) and select "Transfers." Choose "Withdraw" or "Transfer to Your Bank." The app will show you the bank account on file — this is the only destination available for withdrawals.
Enter the amount you want to withdraw. You can take out part of your cash balance or all of it. Robinhood will show you any restrictions — for example, if you recently deposited money or sold shares, some of that cash may be on hold and unavailable to withdraw yet.
Review the withdrawal details and confirm. Robinhood will send the money to your linked bank account. You will receive a confirmation in the app and usually via email as well.
How Long Withdrawals Take
Standard withdrawals typically arrive within one to three business days. This timeline starts after you confirm the withdrawal request, not from when you sold your investments. Business days are Monday through Friday; weekends and bank holidays do not count.
If you request a withdrawal on a Friday afternoon, for example, the clock does not start until Monday. Some banks process incoming transfers faster than others, so money might land the same day or take the full three days depending on your specific bank's systems.
If your withdrawal does not arrive within three business days, contact Robinhood support through the app. They can check the status and investigate whether the transfer stalled at your bank's end.
Restrictions and Holds on Your Cash
Robinhood places temporary holds on certain cash in your account, which means you cannot withdraw it when ready even though it shows in your balance. The most common hold is the two-business-day settlement period after you sell stocks or options — the sale is final, but the cash is not available to withdraw until settlement completes.
If you deposit money into Robinhood from your bank, that deposit is also held for a few business days before you can withdraw it. This protects both Robinhood and your bank against fraud. Robinhood will show you which portions of your cash balance are on hold and when they will become available.
You can still withdraw cash that is not on hold while waiting for other cash to settle. For example, if you have $500 available and $200 on hold, you can withdraw the $500 when ready.
Changing Your Linked Bank Account
If you need to withdraw to a different bank account than the one you originally linked, you must change your account information in Robinhood's settings. Go to Account, then Transfer Settings or Bank Account, and select the option to add or change your linked bank.
Enter the new bank's routing number and your account number. Robinhood will verify the account by depositing two small test amounts (usually under $1 each) into the new account. You will need to confirm those deposit amounts in the Robinhood app to complete verification, which typically takes one to two business days.
Once verified, your new bank account becomes your withdrawal destination. You cannot withdraw to multiple banks from a single Robinhood account — only one linked account can be active at a time.
What Happens With Dividends and Cash Transfers
If your stocks pay dividends, that money lands in your Robinhood cash balance automatically. You can withdraw it the same way you withdraw from any other cash — no special steps required. The dividend is yours to keep or reinvest.
If someone sends you money through Robinhood's transfer feature (available on some account types), that also appears in your cash balance and can be withdrawn to your bank. However, most Robinhood accounts do not have the ability to receive transfers from other people — you can only withdraw money you deposited yourself or earned through investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw money without selling my stocks?
No. Robinhood only lets you withdraw cash, not shares. If you want to move money out, you must sell the investments first. The cash from the sale sits in your account until you request a withdrawal.
What if I do not have a bank account linked to Robinhood?
You cannot withdraw without a linked bank account. During account setup, Robinhood requires you to connect a checking or savings account. If you skipped that step, you will need to add one in your account settings before you can withdraw.
Is there a limit to how much I can withdraw at once?
Robinhood does not publish a single-withdrawal limit, but your bank may have its own daily or monthly transfer limits. Check with your bank if you are moving a large amount. You can always split a large withdrawal into multiple requests across different days.
Do I pay taxes when I withdraw money from Robinhood?
Withdrawing cash itself does not trigger taxes. However, when you sell investments to create that cash, you may owe capital gains tax if the investments increased in value. Robinhood sends you a tax form at year-end showing your gains and losses.
What if my withdrawal fails or gets rejected?
If your bank rejects the transfer, Robinhood will return the money to your cash balance. This can happen if your bank account is closed, if there is a mismatch in account information, or if your bank flags the transfer as suspicious. Contact your bank to confirm the account is active, then try the withdrawal again.