How to Set Up and Use The Dasher App: Guide for Beginners

How to use DoorDash Dasher App?

New to DoorDash? Follow our guide and go from newbie to pro

Bestreferral Team | December 20, 2022 | Reading Time: 00:12

Whether you’re familiar or not familiar with the apps, I’ve put this introductory guide to Dasher App just for you. This beginner’s guide will help you start with your new job. It is an overview of what I have learned in my DoorDash driver job and I'm happy to share it with you.

I’ve broken down the ins and outs of the app — from the navigation to how getting paid and more. Feel free to bookmark this page and save it as a favorite in your browser or phone.

What is the Dasher App?

DoorDash is a food delivery service. Millions of people order food through Doordash App. Doordash operates in 4,000 cities of 50 US states including Washington DC and Puerto, in 80 cities in Canada and in Australia. If you do not know how DoorDash works, basically when Doordash customers place an order, the app offers the deliveries to drivers (aka Dashers), who earn money by picking up and delivering them to the customer's home or office. Like Lyft or Uber, DoorDash also has two apps:

DoorDash App: for consumers (connects individual consumers to hundreds of restaurants in their local market.)
DoorDash Dasher App: for driver / courier

If you read our complete guide to how to become a DoorDash driver, you already know that being a Dasher is one of the trending part time or full time gigs that allow you earn extra money. The DoorDash Dasher App is your main work tool with the Red Card and the insulated bag . Thanks to the app you can schedule yourself for deliveries, receive orders, make deliveries and get paid.

If you want to start earning money and learn the basics, check out this step-by-step guide.

How to Install The Courier App

Installing the Dasher application on an Android or iPhone smartphone is simple. Start by finding the Google Play Store and Apple Store application icon on an Android or iPhone device.

Search for 'DoorDash Driver App' in the search bar, and then tap on the 'Install' button. The application will be downloaded free of charge. Follow our step by step tutorial for IOS and Android.

👀 Related Article: How Much Data Does Doordash Use

Doordash driver app for iphone

We made a video that apparently has been very successful in our Youtube channel. However, things have become simpler because now the delivery driver app is available on the Apple store.

How to download the App on iPhone IOS

Unlock your device and go to the App Store. After you have opened the App Store, look for the search functionality. There you can type ‘DoorDash Driver App’ or use our Download Link for IOS.
Tap the ‘get’ and ‘install’ buttons in order to get and install it. Before it starts to download, you might first have to sign in to the iTunes store with your Apple ID for verification. After this verification, the app will start to install. This may take a while, please be patient.
When the App is installed to your device, you can open it. The first thing you will see is the driver app login.
Login with your 'Email Address' and the Password of your driver account.

DoorDash Dasher App Android

How to download the Dasher App for Android

Downloading the App on an Android phone is really easy. Follow our step by step tutorial.

Unlock your device and go to the Play Store. After you have opened the Google Play Store, look for the search functionality. There you can type ‘Dasher App’. You can also use our Download Link for Android .
Tap the ‘install’ button in order to get and install it. Before it starts to download, you might first have to accept the permission the Dasher App wants from your device. After you accept them, the app will start to install.
When the app is installed to your device, you can open it through the Play Store. You can also find it on your home screen or between your other apps.

👀 Related Article: Does Doordash Pay for Gas

Activate Your DoorDash Red Prepaid Card

I guess you've already signed up to become a Dasher, you passed the background check and you're officially a DoorDash driver. If you do not know how DoorDash works for drivers.

I'm sure that you received the DoorDash activation kit (the red insulated hot bag + the red card). Before starting to earn money delivering with Doordash, It is so important that you activate your prepaid. You will have to use the red card to pay the customer’s order at the restaurant if prompted by the app. You cannot use the doordash card for the gas or your food.

It is very important that you carry the card with you while working with DoorDash. Otherwise you take the risk to have to pay with your money at the restaurant and ask for a DoorDash refund.

At Bestreferraldriver we love to share tips to help drivers and new drivers. We suggest you to order a red car to be kept in reserve, in case you lose yours. You can order it for free online at the DoorDash store.

To activate your Red Card open the App app or login to your driver account via the website. If you use the Dasher App, just follow these easy steps:

Open your iOS or Android DoorDash driver app
Open the menu (top/left corner)
Tap on 'Red Card'
You should see a form prompting you to enter the last 4 digits of your card number and delight number
The card last 4 are the last 4 digits of your 16 digit card number
The delight number is
Once you activate your card, you are ready to begin accepting orders requests.

How to Work with Doordash

Once your account is full activated you can start to earn money by picking and delivering food. Here is a detailed step by step guide of the delivery job that every driver with the DoorDash App should know.

Before Starting the Deliveries

You Are Not Yet Online . Before you start, the first rule is 'Do not stress yourself'. Avoid frustration and prepare everything you need to make deliveries.

Your Phone
A Phone Charger
The Insulated Bag
Your Red Card
Check the status of your vehicle (fuel, car tire pressure)
If you use a bike, wear a helmet.
You can take a look at the Dasher App to find the HotSpots. The busy areas are highlighted in red in the App.

How to Accept a Delivery Request?

If you are not getting doordash orders you are probably offline. Get on the road and log in to the app and tap on “Dash Now” to begin accepting delivery requests. Every delivery request will show you:

The delivery map
The restaurant's name and location
The number of items you need to pick up
The total miles you have to do to complete the delivery
The guaranteed pay

You have 40 second to accept the request, after these 40 second the delivery goes to another driver. To choose the delivery offer, tap “Accept.”

How to Pick up a DoorDash Order?

The app has a navigation system. You can choose your favorite navigation App between Google Maps or Waze. If you do not know the delivery area you can just follow the GPS. Once arrived at the restaurant follow these steps:

Check if there are pick up instructions
Check you pick up all the items in order
Use your red card to complete the purchase (if prompted by the app)

How to Drop Off the Order

You have almost finished. You just need to follow a few more steps and drop off the order to the customer:

Drive to the dropoff destination. Check if there are drop off details in the app
Make sure that you’re delivering it to the right customer. You can see the customer name in the app.
Once you have finished and completed the delivery, confirm that the order has been delivered to the customer.
The app will show you the total you’ve earned from the current delivery.

Understanding the Doordash Heat Map

Do you have to go to a hotspot for Doordash? The heat map is a powerful new feature of the driver app and it is important to understand how it works because it can help you find the high demand areas where drivers are needed and increase your chances of getting deliveries and earning more.

The map displays different color intensities to indicate areas of low and high demand for deliveries.

Here are all the different options:

Not Busy - The map is not highlighted
Normal - You may need to wait a little bit longer for orders
Busy - You will get orders pretty soon
Very Busy - You get orders almost instantly

DoorDash Dasher App FAQ

How to set up your Doordash schedule?

Scheduling yourself for deliveries allows you to create a flexible schedule to earn when you want without interrupting life and it is also one of the tips to earn more money with DoorDash . Please note that the Doordash schedule release time 2020 is every day at 3pm.

Step 1: Log into the DoorDash for Drivers App and tap on “Schedule” in the menu.
Step 2: Select a time to Dash between the opening and available.
Step 3: Confirm by tapping on “Sign up”

DoorDash Schedule vs Dash Now

Things to know: If there are no time slots available in the DoorDash app you can always go online by tapping ‘Dash Now’ in the main menu. However scheduling shifts will give you the opportunity to receive more orders and potentially higher earnings!

How to Set up the direct deposit?

DoorDash will transfer the driver earnings weekly to your checking account unless you use a Dasherdirect card. So, everything you need is:

Your bank's 9-digit routing number ( Routing numbers are usually on the lower left corner on personal checks. You can also call your bank if you don't have any checks.)
Your personal, 12 or 13-digit account number

Get Started

Log in to the Driver Dashboard
Open the Menu
Tap 'Earnings'
Tap on the 'bank icon' 🏦 (top /right)
Tap 'Direct Deposit'
Enter your routing and account numbers in the appropriate boxes
Tap 'Submit'

Issues with the app

The DoorDash driver App is not working? If you are having problems installing or using the App this is usually caused by a problem with your Internet connection or your phone's settings. It might not be necessary to delete and reinstall the Dasher App. Take a look at our guide if you have a login error.

Before downloading the app, make sure your mobile device is up-to-date, that you have memory on your device and a data or wifi connection. After the installation, do not ignore updates, which correct a type of security flaw. If the App stops responding, follow these steps to get help.

Force Quit the App
Restart Your Device. Then open the app to see if it works as expected.
Check for Updates
Delete and Reinstall the App
Take a look if Doordash is down with Downdetector
Contact the DoorDash Dasher Support.

Does Doordash have instant pay like Uber Eats?

Yes, you can cash out your earnings daily directly from the app.

How to change your vehicle type in the Dasher app

If you are also a Postmates driver, you know that you can use the Postmates Fleet App, to switch the vehicle you will use for making the deliveries. To add or edit your existing vehicle type (e.g. add a scooter or bike in addition to an existing car), you need to contact DoorDash Support. Check out our tutorial.

Get Started with DoorDash!

Now you know everything you have to know about the Dasher App, how to download it and use it. So, you are ready to earn money driving with DoorDash. If you want to learn more about DoorDash, check out our guide on how to make more with DoorDash. When it comes todelivery apps, DoorDash and Postmates are neck and neck. So, which one is better for you? Take a look at our complete comparison of which is better for drivers.