# Why is Venmo transfer not going through? The Complete 2025 Troubleshooting Guide
If you’ve ever tried sending money to a friend or transferring funds to your bank only to find that your **Venmo transfer is not going through**, you know how frustrating it can be. Whether you're paying for dinner, sending rent, or moving money to your bank account, a failed transfer can bring everything to a halt.

Fortunately, Venmo transfer issues are usually easy to fix—once you understand what’s causing them. In this in-depth guide, we’ll unpack **why Venmo transfers fail**, the most common technical and account-related reasons behind them, and the exact steps you can take to get your payment working again.

This article covers everything you need to know in 2025 to diagnose and fix Venmo transfer problems—including network errors, security flags, bank issues, identity verification problems, and more.

# **What Does It Mean When a Venmo Transfer Isn’t Going Through?**
When Venmo can’t successfully process a transfer, you may see messages like:

* *“Payment failed.”*
* *“There was an issue with your payment.”*
* *“Something went wrong.”*
* *“Instant transfer not available.”*
* *“Your transfer cannot be completed at this time.”*
* *“This payment is under review.”*

These messages indicate that Venmo has stopped the transaction either for technical, security, or financial reasons. Understanding which category your issue falls into will help you fix it much faster.

# **Top 15 Reasons a Venmo Transfer Isn’t Going Through (and How to Fix Them)**
Below are the most common reasons Venmo transfers fail in 2025, along with detailed step-by-step solutions.

# **1. Weak or Unstable Internet Connection**
A poor internet connection is the simplest—and most common—reason Venmo transfers fail. Venmo requires a stable connection to send requests to its servers. Even brief interruptions can block a payment.

### **Signs your internet is the issue**
* The app freezes or loads slowly
* You’re switching from Wi-Fi to LTE
* The payment hangs without processing

### **How to fix it**
* Switch to a stronger Wi-Fi network
* Turn Wi-Fi off and use mobile data
* Toggle airplane mode ON then OFF
* Restart your device

A quick connection reset often fixes this instantly.

# **2. Outdated Venmo App (Very Common)**
Venmo regularly updates its app, improving security and fixing bugs. Using an outdated version can prevent payments from completing, especially after major backend updates.

### **How to fix it**
* Go to the App Store or Google Play
* Search “Venmo”
* Tap **Update**
* Restart the app

Updated versions often fix hidden bugs that cause transfer issues.

# **3. Insufficient Account or Bank Balance**
This is a frequent reason transfers fail. Even if you're using a bank account or debit card, a lack of available funds or a temporary hold can block the payment.

### **What to check**
* Your Venmo balance
* Your bank account balance
* Your debit or credit card balance
* Pending transactions that may reduce available funds

### **How to fix**
* Add money to your bank or Venmo balance
* Switch to a different payment method
* Use a backup card

# **4. Bank Declines the Transaction**
Sometimes your bank or card issuer stops the transaction before Venmo even processes it. This can happen because of fraud prevention systems, especially if you're making unusual payments.

### **Common bank reasons**
* Suspicious activity detected
* Incorrect card details
* Expired card
* Daily transaction limits reached

### **How to fix**
* Call your bank or card issuer
* Approve the Venmo transaction
* Update your card details
* Use a different bank account or card

# **5. Venmo Security System Flagged the Transaction**
Venmo has strict fraud detection rules. If a transaction appears unusual—for example, high amounts, rapid payments, or payments to new accounts—it may trigger a security block.

### **Signs this is the issue**
* You get a “payment declined for security reasons” message
* You’re asked to verify your identity
* Venmo temporarily restricts your account

### **How to fix it**
* Reattempt a **smaller amount**
* Use a **more detailed payment note**
* Verify your identity (see next section)
* Contact Venmo support if your account is locked

Security flags are among the top causes of failed transfers.

# **6. Identity Verification Not Completed**
Federal regulations require Venmo to verify your identity before allowing certain types of transfers. If you haven’t completed this process, you may see limitations on payments or bank transfers.

### **How to fix it**
Go to:
**☰ Menu → Settings → Identity Verification**

You’ll need:

* Full legal name
* Birthdate
* SSN (4 digits or full, depending on your case)
* Address

Verification usually completes within minutes.

# **7. Reached Venmo Transfer Limits**
Even verified Venmo users have limits on:

* Person-to-person payments
* Instant transfers
* Weekly bank withdrawals

If you hit your weekly limit, Venmo will block additional transfers for seven days.

### **How to fix it**
* Wait for your limit to reset
* Complete identity verification to increase limits
* Break large transfers into smaller ones once limits reset

# **8. Venmo Server Outage or Maintenance**
There are times when Venmo's systems go offline for maintenance or experience outages. When this happens, transfers may fail for everyone.

### **How to check**
* DownDetector
* Venmo Twitter/X support updates
* In-app announcements

### **How to fix**
Usually, you just need to wait. Try again in 15–30 minutes.

# **9. Incorrect Payment Information**
If you’re paying a username, phone number, or email address that doesn’t match a valid Venmo account, the transfer will fail or be blocked.

### **Double-check**
* Spelling of the username (@name)
* Email address
* Phone number
* QR code

As a rule of thumb: **Always confirm with the recipient before sending money.**

# **How to Troubleshoot a Failed Venmo Transfer Step-by-Step**
Here is a quick blueprint you can follow to fix *almost any* Venmo transfer failure:

### **Step 1: Confirm your internet connection**
Switch networks if needed.

### **Step 2: Update the Venmo app**
Go to the app store and update.

### **Step 3: Check your bank/card balance**
Make sure you have enough funds.

### **Step 4: Try a different payment method**
Switch to a different debit card or bank.

### **Step 5: Verify your identity**
This solves most account limitation issues.

### **Step 6: Clear cache or reinstall the app**
Helpful for technical glitches.

### **Step 7: Disable VPN or proxy**
Ensures Venmo recognizes your location.

### **Step 8: Check recipient details**
Avoid wrong usernames or numbers.

### **Step 9: Try again after 10–20 minutes**
The app may be experiencing temporary issues.

### **Step 10: Contact Venmo support**
If all else fails, support can lift account restrictions or manually review your transfer.

# **Frequently Asked Questions: Venmo Transfers Not Going Through**

### **1. Why is my Venmo transfer pending?**
Pending transfers usually mean Venmo is reviewing the payment or waiting for bank confirmation.

### **2. Why was my transfer declined for security reasons?**
Venmo’s fraud detection flagged the transaction as unusual.

### **3. Why can’t I Instant Transfer my balance?**
Your debit card likely doesn’t support real-time payments, or Venmo detected a security concern.

### **4. Can a recipient decline a Venmo transfer?**
Not directly—if the recipient doesn’t accept a payment request, it expires automatically.

### **5. How long do Venmo reviews take?**
Anywhere from a few hours to multiple days depending on the issue.

# **Conclusion: Why Venmo Transfers Fail and How to Fix Them**

A Venmo transfer not going through can be caused by several factors—technical issues, bank problems, security flags, identity requirements, and more. Thankfully, most issues can be resolved quickly once you identify the cause.

To summarize the most reliable fixes:

* Update the Venmo app
* Check your bank/card balance
* Verify your identity
* Ensure correct recipient information
* Restart the app or phone
* Disable VPN
* Try another payment method
* Contact Venmo support if you see security warnings

With the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve most Venmo transfer problems within minutes and get your money moving again.