Turn off when ready booking in your Airbnb host settings

To turn off when ready booking, log into your Airbnb host account, go to your listing, and change your reservation settings from "when ready Book" to "Request to Book." This switch moves you from automatic confirmations to a manual approval process where you review each booking request before accepting or declining it.

The setting lives in your listing's reservation preferences, not in your account-wide settings. If you manage multiple listings, you can set a different reservation method for each one—some can stay on when ready booking while others use request to book.

Key Takeaways

  • when ready booking automatically confirms reservations; request to book lets you review and approve each guest before they're confirmed.
  • The setting is per-listing, so you control it individually for each property you host.
  • Switching to request to book gives you time to check guest reviews and communicate about house rules before they arrive.
  • Guests see which method you use before they book, so changing it affects how new bookings come in going forward.

Where to find the when ready booking toggle

Open the Airbnb app or website and sign in as a host. Click on "Listings" at the top, then select the listing you want to change. On the listing page, look for "Reservation settings" or "How guests book"—the exact label varies slightly depending on whether you're on mobile or desktop.

Once you're in reservation settings, you'll see two options: "when ready Book" and "Request to Book." Select "Request to Book" and save your changes. The switch takes effect when ready for new booking requests.

What changes when you turn off when ready booking

With when ready booking on, guests receive an when ready confirmation the moment they complete payment. You have no chance to review them first. With request to book enabled, guests submit a booking request, and you have 24 hours to accept, decline, or send a message asking questions before you decide.

During those 24 hours, you can read the guest's profile, check their reviews from other hosts, and see if they've answered any house rules questions you've set up. If something doesn't feel right, you can decline without penalty. If you don't respond within 24 hours, the request automatically expires and the guest can book elsewhere.

Why hosts turn off when ready booking

Many hosts use request to book because it lets them screen guests. You can see whether someone has hosted before, what other hosts said about them, and whether they've had cancellations. This is especially useful if your property has strict house rules, expensive furnishings, or a neighborhood where you want to know who's staying.

Request to book also gives you a chance to communicate. You can send a message saying "We require a security deposit for this booking" or "Please note the stairs are steep" before the guest is locked in. Some hosts find this reduces misunderstandings and damage claims.

when ready booking still has advantages

when ready booking books faster. Guests don't have to wait 24 hours wondering if you'll accept them, so they're more likely to complete the booking instead of moving to another listing. If you host a popular property in a competitive market, turning off when ready booking can cost you bookings to hosts who leave it on.

when ready booking also works well if you've set up strict house rules and a security deposit in your listing settings. Airbnb's system will automatically decline guests who don't meet your requirements, so you get some screening without the manual step.

How to set house rules before switching to request to book

If you're moving to request to book, consider setting up house rules first so guests know what to expect. Go to your listing, find "House rules," and add any rules that matter to you—no parties, no smoking, no pets, quiet hours, checkout time, and so on. Guests see these before they book and have to acknowledge them.

You can also set a security deposit amount in your listing settings. This applies to all bookings and gives you financial protection if a guest damages the property. The deposit is held by Airbnb and only charged if you file a damage claim after checkout.

What happens to existing bookings when you change the setting

Changing your reservation method does not affect bookings that are already confirmed. Guests with existing reservations will still arrive as planned. The new setting only applies to booking requests that come in after you make the change.

If you want to switch back to when ready booking later, you can do that anytime. There's no penalty for changing your reservation method, and you can toggle between the two as often as you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different reservation methods for different dates?

No. Your reservation method applies to your entire calendar. However, you can block dates when you don't want bookings, and you can turn off your listing temporarily if you need a break from hosting.

What if a guest's request expires and they message me later?

If a guest's 24-hour request window closes, they can send you a message through Airbnb's messaging system. You can respond and offer to send them a special offer link, which they can use to book without going through the request process again. This is useful if you want to accept them after all.

Do guests know whether I use when ready booking or request to book?

Yes. When guests search for listings, they can see which hosts use when ready booking and which use request to book. Some guests prefer when ready booking because they get when ready confirmation; others don't mind waiting 24 hours.

Can I decline a booking request without a reason?

Yes. You can decline any request without explaining why. However, if you decline too many requests from guests of a certain background or protected characteristic, Airbnb may investigate for discrimination. Decline requests based on legitimate concerns about the booking itself—not the guest's identity.

What if I forget to respond to a booking request?

After 24 hours, the request expires automatically and the guest is free to book elsewhere. You'll receive a notification when the request expires. There's no penalty to you, but the guest won't come back if they've already booked another place.