0dteclose Arm a rule

PDT tracker · Robinhood · checked

Does Robinhood close 0DTE options before expiration? Auto-sell window, cutoffs, PDT status

Robinhood's expiration-day policy, per Robinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment (verified 2026-09-25): May attempt to sell the option in the market within the last 30 minutes before close on expiration day if the account lacks buying power/shares to exercise; if unsellable, may submit a Do-Not-Exercise request to the OCC so the contract expires worthless. Exercise / do-not-exercise cutoff: 4:00pm ET in the app and on the web; 5:00pm ET best-efforts. Day-trading margin check since the $25,000 PDT minimum ended on 2026-06-04: real time (intraday), per Robinhood help: day trading.

The $25,000 minimum ended (FINRA Regulatory Notice 26-10; SEC Release No. 34-105226, verified ); brokers phase in their own checks through October 20, 2027.

Every field tracked for Robinhood, as the broker publishes it (checked 2026-09-25)
Last time to submit exercise / do-not-exercise instructions on expiration day (ET)4:00pm ET in the app and on the web; 5:00pm ET best-efforts
What the broker does with an expiring ITM position the account cannot afford to take delivery onMay attempt to sell the option in the market within the last 30 minutes before close on expiration day if the account lacks buying power/shares to exercise; if unsellable, may submit a Do-Not-Exercise request to the OCC so the contract expires worthless.
How the broker applies its day-trading margin check since the PDT repealreal time (intraday)
Minimum equity the broker requires to day-trade on margin since the June 2026 PDT repeal$2,000
Settlement the broker applies to option proceeds in a cash accountT+1

Sources: Robinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment · Robinhood help: day trading · Robinhood help: T+1 settlement · methodology · no affiliate links.

0DTE expiration day at Robinhood

Robinhood on 0DTE expiration day — as stated by the broker (checked 2026-09-25)
FactWhat Robinhood statesSource
Exercise / do-not-exercise cutoff on expiration day4:00pm ET in the app and on the web; 5:00pm ET best-efforts — best-efforts; app/web exercise requests close 4:00pm ETRobinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment
verified
In-the-money position the account cannot take delivery onMay attempt to sell the option in the market within the last 30 minutes before close on expiration day if the account lacks buying power/shares to exercise; if unsellable, may submit a Do-Not-Exercise request to the OCC so the contract expires worthless.Robinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment
verified
Cash-account settlement of option proceedsT+1Robinhood help: T+1 settlement
verified
Minimum equity to day-trade on margin$2,000Robinhood help: day trading
verified

SPX 0DTE (SPXW) settles in cash at the 4:00pm ET official close regardless of broker — what an in-the-money SPXW settles to. SPY/QQQ expiring in the money are exercised by the OCC at $0.01 unless instructed by the cutoff above — what an in-the-money SPY 0DTE turns into. Missed the cutoff? What happens after the exercise cutoff passes.

Compare: Webull · Charles Schwab (thinkorswim)

Quick answers

Does Robinhood close 0DTE options before expiration?

Under its own policy it can. Per Robinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment (verified ): May attempt to sell the option in the market within the last 30 minutes before close on expiration day if the account lacks buying power/shares to exercise; if unsellable, may submit a Do-Not-Exercise request to the OCC so the contract expires worthless. Its exercise / do-not-exercise cutoff is 4:00pm ET in the app and on the web; 5:00pm ET best-efforts (Robinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment). This is broker policy, not an OCC or exchange rule.

Does Robinhood still enforce the $25,000 pattern-day-trader minimum?

The $25,000 pattern-day-trader minimum was eliminated effective 2026-06-04: FINRA replaced its Rule 4210 day-trading margin provisions with intraday margin standards, phased in through October 20, 2027 (FINRA Regulatory Notice 26-10; SEC Release No. 34-105226, verified ). Per Robinhood help: day trading (verified ): Robinhood applies its day-trading margin check in real time (intraday).

What is Robinhood's exercise cutoff on 0DTE expiration day?

Per Robinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment (verified ): exercise / do-not-exercise instructions on expiration day by 4:00pm ET in the app and on the web; 5:00pm ET best-efforts. The cutoff applies to physically settled SPY and QQQ contracts; SPXW settles in cash at the 4:00pm ET official close with no exercise decision.

What does Robinhood do if my 0DTE finishes in the money and I can't take delivery?

Per Robinhood help: expiration, exercise and assignment (verified ): May attempt to sell the option in the market within the last 30 minutes before close on expiration day if the account lacks buying power/shares to exercise; if unsellable, may submit a Do-Not-Exercise request to the OCC so the contract expires worthless. For SPY/QQQ, OCC exercises any contract in the money by $0.01 or more at the close unless a do-not-exercise instruction reaches the broker by its cutoff; SPXW settles in cash, so there is nothing to deliver.

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