What is a temporary deactivation?
A temporary deactivation is an automatic pause that prevents new orders from coming in. This happens when DoorDash detects issues that could delay or prevent customers from receiving their orders.
Why was my DoorDash store temporarily deactivated?
Your store may be temporarily paused when DoorDash suspects one or more of the following issues:
Avoidable wait times: Orders consistently take longer than expected
Avoidable cancellations: Orders are canceled for reasons within your control (for example, unavailable items or missed acceptances)
Missing or incorrect items: Fulfillment accuracy drops
Order reception issues: Your tablet or POS isn't receiving orders correctly (for example, the tablet is turned off or not communicating properly)
How do I reopen my store?
You can reactivate your store using either your DoorDash Tablet or the Merchant Portal.
Using the DoorDash Tablet
The screen you see depends on whether you have active orders.
If you have no active orders:
On your tablet, select Change status
Reopen your store to start receiving orders
If you have active orders:
Click Update Store Status and change it from Busy to Normal
Using the Merchant Portal
Sign in to the Merchant Portal
Select Store Availability from the left-hand menu
Click Make Store Available to start receiving orders again
Learn more about managing hours, pauses, and closures in Store Essentials.
What is Tablet Heartbeat and how is it triggered?
Tablet Heartbeat is a tracking system. It automatically pauses your store if your DoorDash Tablet can't receive orders for five minutes or longer.
Tablet Heartbeat may be triggered if:
The tablet is powered off
The tablet battery is drained or not plugged in
Internet connectivity is unstable
The Order Manager app isn't open, logged in, or active on the Orders page
Tablet Heartbeat pauses are automatic and temporary.
Why can my POS cause a temporary deactivation?
If you use a POS integration, your store may be paused when orders fail to reach your POS. An order is considered failed when it's rejected by the integration provider or confirmation isn't received.
Common causes include:
Items marked as available, but are actually out of stock
Incorrect or outdated menu data
Store availability or hours not matching POS settings
How can I prevent temporary deactivations?
Follow these best practices to keep your store available on DoorDash:
Tablet and connectivity
Keep your DoorDash Tablet powered on and plugged in
Keep the Order Manager app open on the Orders page
Use Pause or Special Hours/Closures instead of turning the tablet off
Check that your Internet connection is stable
Menu and operations
Keep store hours accurate in your tablet, POS, or Merchant Portal
Keep your menu up to date and mark items out of stock promptly
Use the "Busy Kitchen" feature
Confirm incoming orders as soon as possible
Dasher experience
Add clear pickup and parking instructions in the Merchant Portal
Designate a clear pickup area to reduce confusion
Will I be notified if my store is temporarily deactivated?
Yes. When a temporary deactivation is triggered, you'll receive an automated Temporary Deactivation email with the time and reason.
You can manage who receives these emails in the Store Communications tab in the Merchant Portal. If you use a tablet, the screen will turn red and display deactivation details.
