Cash App takes about five minutes to set up and verify. Once verified, you can send up to $7,500/week, get a free debit card, set up direct deposit, and access Bitcoin and stock investing — all from the same app. This guide walks through every step.
See Cash App limits and Cash App fees for the numbers behind each feature.
Step 1: Download and Create Your Account
- Download Cash App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
- Open the app and enter your mobile phone number or email address
- Cash App sends a 6-digit sign-in code — enter it in the app
- Enter your full legal name (must match government ID)
- Choose a $Cashtag — your unique username (e.g.,
$JohnSmith) used to receive payments - Link a debit card or bank account (tap the banking tab → add bank)
Your account is active. At this stage you are unverified with a $250/week sending cap and $1,000/30-day receiving cap.
Step 2: Verify Your Identity
Verification is free and unlocks the full Cash App feature set.
- Tap your profile icon (top right of home screen)
- Tap Personal
- Tap Verify Your Identity
- Enter your date of birth
- Enter the last 4 digits of your SSN
- Some accounts require a full SSN or government ID photo — follow in-app prompts
Verification typically completes in minutes. Once verified, you unlock:
- $7,500/week sending limit
- Unlimited receiving
- Cash Card (free Visa debit card)
- Bitcoin trading
- Stock investing
- Direct deposit
Step 3: Send Money
By $Cashtag (most common):
- Tap the $ icon at the bottom of the home screen
- Enter the dollar amount
- Tap Pay (you are paying them) or Request (you are asking them to pay you)
- Search for the recipient by $Cashtag, phone number, or email
- Add an optional note
- Tap Pay and confirm with your PIN or biometric
Sending from your Cash App balance or a linked bank account is free and instant for the recipient.
Funding source priority:
- Cash App uses your Cash App balance first, then your linked bank account
- To send via credit card: tap the bank icon next to the amount → select your credit card (3% fee applies)
Safety note: Cash App payments are instant and final. Double-check the $Cashtag or phone number before confirming — there is no buyer protection and no undo button after payment.
Step 4: Request Money
- Tap $ → enter the amount → tap Request
- Search for the person by $Cashtag, phone number, or email
- Add a note explaining the request
- Tap Request
The recipient receives a notification and can choose to pay or decline. Requests expire after 14 days if not fulfilled.
Step 5: Cash Out (Transfer to Your Bank)
Option A — Standard (recommended):
- Tap your balance on the home screen
- Tap Cash Out
- Enter the amount
- Select Standard (free, 1–3 business days)
- Select your bank account → confirm
Option B — Instant:
- Same steps as above → select Instant (0.5–1.75% fee, within 30 minutes)
- Select a linked debit card or bank account
Option C — Cash Card (no cash-out needed): Use the Cash Card to spend your balance directly at any Visa-accepting merchant or ATM. This avoids any cash-out fee entirely.
Step 6: Set Up Your Cash Card
The Cash Card is a free Visa debit card linked to your Cash App balance.
- Tap the Cash Card icon in the tab bar (card icon)
- Tap Get Cash Card → Continue
- Choose your card design and optional Boost
- Enter your mailing address
- The physical card arrives in 7–10 business days; a virtual card is available immediately in the app
Boosts: Tap a Boost (discount) to activate it — only one Boost is active at a time. Boosts rotate and include instant percentage discounts at coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Step 7: Set Up Direct Deposit
- Tap the Banking tab (bank icon in the tab bar)
- Tap Get Account Number
- Note your routing number and account number
- Provide these to your employer’s payroll department or your benefits provider (Social Security, unemployment, etc.)
Direct deposits arrive up to 2 days early compared to traditional bank processing. With $300+/month in qualifying direct deposits, Cash App reimburses up to 3 ATM fees per month.
Step 8: Buy and Sell Bitcoin
- Tap the Bitcoin icon (₿) in the tab bar
- Tap Buy → enter a dollar amount (minimum $1)
- Review the price and fee estimate → confirm with PIN
To sell: Tap the same Bitcoin tab → Sell → enter amount → confirm.
To withdraw Bitcoin to an external wallet via Lightning Network:
- Tap Bitcoin → Withdraw Bitcoin
- Scan or paste the recipient Lightning address
- Enter the amount (max $999/transaction via Lightning)
- Confirm
Note that Cash App applies a spread (price markup/markdown) on Bitcoin transactions. The exact cost is shown before you confirm — review it before proceeding.
Step 9: Paper Money (Cash Deposit at Retailers)
If you need to deposit physical cash into Cash App:
- Tap Banking → Paper Money
- Show the barcode to a cashier at a participating retailer (Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar General, CVS)
- Hand the cashier the cash — it posts immediately to your Cash App balance
Daily deposit limit: $1,000. Monthly limit: $4,000. Most retail partners do not charge a fee for Paper Money deposits.
Security Best Practices
- Enable Security Lock (Profile → Privacy & Security → Security Lock) to require PIN/biometric before every payment
- Never share your sign-in code or PIN with anyone — Cash App will never ask for these
- Verify $Cashtags carefully before sending — payments are instant and final
- Review your transaction history weekly
For the full security guide including common scams, see Is Cash App safe?.
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