How to Withdraw or Move Money from Your PayPal Account

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Learn to access the money held in your PayPal

Co-authored by Hannah Cole and Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: November 29, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using the Mobile App
|
• Using a Computer
|
• Troubleshooting Transfer Errors
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

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Is there money in your PayPal account that you need to transfer to your bank? Once you've linked your bank account to PayPal, withdrawing your balance is quick and easy. Read on to learn more about moving money from PayPal into your bank account, and what to do if you can't transfer your funds.

Transferring Money from PayPal

1. Open PayPal on your phone or in a browser.
2. Select your balance.
3. Select "Transfer."
4. Enter the amount you'd like to transfer.
5. Choose your transfer method (in minutes, or in days).

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Using the Mobile App

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1. 1
   Tap your PayPal balance. Your PayPal balance is at the top of your screen.
2. 2
   Tap Transfer. It's towards the bottom of the page under the "More options" header.
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3. 3
   Tap Tranfer to bank. This is usually the first option with two arrows: one pointing left and the other pointing right.
4. 4
   Verify the transfer amount and choose the speed of the transfer. You have two options:

   • Instant transfers your funds to your bank account instantly for a small fee.The fee amount will display once you tap the tile. You can choose this option whether you have a debit card or bank account linked.
   • 1-3 days is a completely free standard bank transfer that takes slightly longer to hit your bank account. Transfers made after 7 PM on weekends and holidays might take a little longer. You cannot choose this option if you don't have a bank account linked.
     • Some banks might charge additional fees or take more time to complete the transfer. In general, most major banks won't have these fees and do process the transfer within 1 to 3 business days without problems.
   • By default, all the money in your PayPal balance is included in the transfer. If you don't want to transfer it all, tap the pencil icon to change it to the amount you want to move to your bank account.
5. 5
   Select your bank account. If the correct bank account is not already selected, tap Change and select it now.

   • If you don't see the bank you want to transfer to, you'll need to link it to PayPal before you can withdraw your funds.
6. 6
   Tap the Transfer (amount) Now button. You'll see it at the bottom of the screen. This transfers your funds to the selected bank account.
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Section 2 of 3:

Using a Computer

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1. 1
   Click Transfer Money. You will see this below your current balance on the left side of the page.

   • If you want to send your balance to another person's bank account instead of your own, that person will need to sign up for PayPal and then link their bank account. You can then send the money to them using the free "Friends and Family" option, and they'll be able to transfer the balance to their account easily.
2. 2
   Select Transfer to your bank. This option lets you withdraw funds to your linked bank account.

   • If you want to transfer money to an international bank that is not linked to your PayPal account, choose Send internationally instead. This option lets you transfer your PayPal funds to bank accounts in more than 100 countries through a service called Xoom.
3. 3
   Choose the transfer amount and either Standard or Instant Transfer. All linked accounts will appear here. If you don't see the bank you want to transfer to, you'll need to link it to PayPal before you can withdraw your funds.

   • in minutes (fee): If you need your money sooner and don't mind paying a small fee, you can select your bank account or debit card under "Instant" to transfer instantly. You'll see how much the fee is once you click this option.
   • in 1-3 days (no fee): If you are okay with waiting 1 to 3 business days for the money to hit your bank account, you can do a completely free transfer by selecting your bank account under "Standard."
     • Some banks have additional fees or may take more time to complete the transfer. Most major banks allow transfers for free and process the transfer within 1 to 3 business days without problems.
   • By default, all the money in your PayPal balance is included in the transfer. If you don't want to transfer it all, click the X icon next to the transfer amount to change it to the amount you want to move to your bank account.
4. 4
   Click Transfer (amount) Now. This initiates the transfer of your PayPal funds to your bank.
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Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting Transfer Errors

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1. 1
   "There's a limitation on your PayPal account that blocks the transfer functionality temporarily." If you see this error, you'll need to remove the limitation on your account by providing further ID or verification. To do so:

   • Go to https://www.paypal.com/disputes in a web browser.
   • Select Go to Account Limitations.
   • Click or tap Resolve next to any outstanding requirements.
   • Submit the requested documents.
     • If you need to provide proof of ID, you can use any government-issued ID, employment authorization, or permanent residence card.
     • Documents that qualify for proof of address include utility bills and bank or financial statements dated within the past 3 months.
     • Legal name change documents can be marriage or divorce certificates, certificates of name changes, or commitment certificates.
     • Business documents include articles of incorporation, business licenses, or any forms filed with the business's governing state.
   • Once PayPal approves your documents, the restrictions on your account will be lifted, and you'll be able to transfer money to your bank account.
2. 2
   "Our security system may have detected an unusual activity." This error means that PayPal needs you to complete a security check to confirm that you're the one authorizing the withdrawal. Choose one of the options under "Let's make sure it's you" and select Continue to verify your identity.
3. 3
   "Your debit card or bank account may not be eligible to process Instant Transfer." This error appears if you're trying to do an instant transfer to an unsupported bank. To get around this, select a different bank or transfer method, or stick to a standard transfer.
4. 4
   "The information you entered when linking your bank account doesn’t match what your bank has on file." This error might happen if there's been a name, address, or account number change on your bank account that you haven't yet updated with PayPal. Double-check the bank account information you've entered into PayPal and make any necessary changes before trying again.

   • Sometimes this error may result in you needing to delete and re-add your bank account in PayPal.
5. 5
   Try an alternative to bank account withdrawals.

   • If you have a debit card, link it to your PayPal account and transfer to that instead.
   • If you're in the United States, you can get a PayPal Cash Card, which allows you to spend your PayPal balance anywhere Mastercard is accepted, as well as withdraw funds from ATMs for a small fee.
   • Another US-only option is to use Get Cash, a feature that lets you withdraw your PayPal balance at one of 4600 Walmart stores nationwide. Just choose the Get cash option after choosing to transfer your balance and follow the on-screen instructions.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Can I send money from PayPal to someone who is not on PayPal?

  

  Community Answer

  No, you can't send money through PayPal to a person who does not have a PayPal account.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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  Not Helpful 14 Helpful 26
• Question

  What fees are associated with transferring money from my PayPal account to my bank account?

  

  Community Answer

  You can expect a small withdrawal fee in most cases, with an additional processing fee as set by PayPal for your country/currency. You may also face a fee for the exchanging of currencies if the currency of the balance you wish to transfer is different than that of your bank account.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 13 Helpful 18
• Question

  Can I send money from my Paypal account to another person's bank account?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, as long as you have that person's account information.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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