The ability to modify a location within the DoorDash platform depends on whether the user is a customer seeking delivery or a Dasher looking for work. For customers, the process is designed for immediate, temporary use, allowing them to browse local options based on a specific address. For Dashers, changing a location involves navigating a zone-based system for short-term work or a more involved process for permanent market relocation.
Changing Your Delivery Location as a Customer
For a customer, changing the delivery location is a straightforward action performed directly on the main interface of the app or website. This temporary change is necessary to view the available restaurants and stores in a different area without altering the user’s saved account profile. The system uses this newly entered address to define the geographic boundaries for searching and ordering.
To begin, a customer should navigate to the top of the DoorDash home screen where the current delivery address is displayed. Tapping this field opens a search bar that allows for the input of a new location, such as a workplace, hotel, or friend’s house. Once the full address is entered, the application automatically refreshes the feed to show only the restaurants that offer delivery to that specific point.
This method allows customers to check availability and pricing for an order they plan to place while physically elsewhere or to test service availability in a new neighborhood. The entered address can also be selected from a list of previously saved locations or pinned manually on a map interface if the exact street address is unknown. This action only affects the current browsing session, and any order placed will be routed to this specified delivery point. The system does not automatically overwrite the user’s default or saved home address in their profile settings.
Updating Your Permanent DoorDash Account Address
Updating the permanent account address is a profile modification that applies to the user’s primary information, distinct from a single-order delivery change. This address is used for various purposes, including billing, notifications, and setting the default location for future orders. Both customers and Dashers must manage this information through the account settings menu.
To update this data, users navigate to the “Account” or “Profile” tab within the application. They will find a section dedicated to “Addresses” or “Personal Information,” where they can modify, add, or delete any saved addresses linked to their profile.
A Dasher must ensure their residential address is current for tax and legal compliance, especially if relocating to a new state or region. This permanent address update is separate from the Dasher’s active working zone and requires accessing the profile settings to manually input the new details. After making changes, the system may require two-factor authentication to verify the user’s identity before saving the new information.
How Dashers Select a Working Zone
Dashers operate within a network of predefined geographic areas known as zones, which serve as the boundaries for receiving delivery offers. The selection of a working zone is a day-to-day choice made through the Dasher app, allowing for flexibility within a registered metropolitan area. The application’s heatmap displays the current demand level in these zones, guiding Dashers toward areas where deliveries are most needed.
Zones marked as red or dark pink indicate high demand, making the “Dash Now” option available for Dashers to immediately begin accepting orders. If a zone is gray, it signifies low current demand, and a Dasher must schedule a shift in advance to work there. Dashers can view the map, select an available zone, and either start a shift immediately or reserve a time block for a later period.
It is common for a Dasher to start a delivery in one zone and complete the drop-off in an adjacent one. In these instances, the app may prompt the Dasher with an option to officially switch to the new zone if it is currently busy. This flexibility allows Dashers to maximize their earning time by following the flow of orders, rather than being strictly confined to their starting point.
Changing Your Market for Long-Term Dashing
Changing a market for long-term dashing is the process of updating a Dasher’s primary work location to a new city or state for a permanent relocation. The process for this change is largely automated and handled directly through the Dasher application. Dashers do not need to contact support for a formal “transfer” when moving to a new region where DoorDash operates.
The simplest method is to physically travel to the desired new city and open the Dasher app. The application uses the device’s current GPS location to recognize that the Dasher is outside of their previously designated market. When the Dasher attempts to start a shift by selecting the “Dash Now” option in a busy zone, a prompt will appear asking them to confirm the change to the new dashing location.
Confirming this prompt instantly updates the Dasher’s active market, allowing them to see the new local zones and schedule shifts within that region. If the Dasher arrives in a new area during a slow period where “Dash Now” is unavailable, they may need to drive to a nearby busy zone or wait for a scheduled time slot to become available. This in-app update ensures the Dasher is always receiving relevant order offers based on their physical location.
Troubleshooting Common DoorDash Location Issues
Location-based issues, such as the app failing to pinpoint a precise delivery point or a Dasher’s GPS not tracking correctly, often stem from device settings rather than the DoorDash platform itself. A primary step in resolving these problems is ensuring the mobile device’s Location Services are enabled and set to the highest accuracy mode. This setting allows the app to utilize Wi-Fi, cellular data, and GPS satellites for precise geographical positioning.
If the app appears stuck or is showing an incorrect location, force-closing the application and restarting the device often resolves temporary software glitches. Users should verify that the DoorDash app has the necessary permissions to access the device’s location data, found within the phone’s privacy or application settings. For Android users, clearing the app’s cached data can eliminate corrupted files that may interfere with location services. Checking for and installing any available updates for the DoorDash app is also practical, as newer versions frequently include fixes for known location and tracking bugs.