One of the biggest annoyances when making a transaction has to be a message declining it. If you’ve ever felt this frustration, you’ll know that the panic is unbearable and you’re left hoping it works on a second try. If after a few tries it still doesn’t work, that’s a whole new level of hysteria.
As a Venmo user, encountering the payment failed or transaction declined error has to be one of the worst feelings. The error message ‘Transaction declined: Please try again in a short while. Apologies for the inconvenience’ will pop up.

If you never want to see this issue again, we are on the same page. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to fix your account or troubleshoot the problem so that you won’t be left stranded if the error is encountered.
How to Troubleshoot Venmo App Error: Transaction declined please try again in a short while
Seeing the payment declined problem when sending money or making payments on Venmo app is one thing, but actually fixing it takes some understanding on your part. First, you’ll need to be aware of your account’s status.

For example, if your bank has a lot of transactions going on daily, the servers may be unable to handle the Venmo payment for a short while.
#1 – Contact Your Bank Support
If you suspect that your bank is playing a part in the failed transaction issue on Venmo app, communicate with them.
- Get the Support phone number or email and send a message
- Ask if there is a problem with Venmo on their end
If they confirm that their servers are overloaded, you’ll just need to wait for some time before the issue is solved. A good recommendation is after 15 minutes of waiting.
#2 – Clear Venmo App Cache Data

If the Venmo app has excess data stored in its cache, this error can pop up easily.
- Open your Settings app
- Scroll down to the Apps screen
- Navigate to Venmo and tap it
- Go to the Storage and Data section and tap
- Select Clear Cache
#3 – Disable your VPN
Using a VPN with Venmo is not the best decision. This app is made strictly for payments, so there are measures to ensure that you are only doing transactions from a verifiable location and IP address. It’s best to turn it off when you want to make a payment.
If using a VPN is unavoidable in your case, you can try to switch to different providers that offer premium service.
#4 – Use A Different Bank Account
If your current bank account just doesn’t seem to work with Venmo despite your attempts, it’s time to try something different and fix the issue.
- Go to the You tab and select the icon
- Tap on the gear icon for Settings and select Payment Methods
- Select Add a bank or card
- Choose a new Bank or Card you want to use for payments
- Once verified, attempt the same transaction again and see if it works
#5 – Log Out and Log In to your Venmo Account
It’s entirely possible that this is a minor error, so you should at least try to re-login and see if the issue persists. This can save you a lot of time and deliberation.
Venmo is a top choice among the many payment apps out today. However, it isn’t necessarily a perfect one. If you’ve encountered this issue, our guide has enough information to nudge you in the right direction.