How to Unstake Solana Tokens Without Losing Rewards

Staking Solana (SOL) is a great way to earn passive income. But what happens when you need access to your tokens? Maybe you want to transfer them, sell a portion, or just take a break from staking. Unstaking is the process you’ll need to follow.

While it might sound simple, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to avoid missing out on rewards. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to unstake Solana tokens the smart way, without losing rewards in the process.

Why People Unstake Their SOL Tokens

There are many reasons why you might want to unstake your SOL:

• You want to trade or transfer your tokens
• You want to switch to a different validator
• You need access to your funds for another purpose
• You’re changing your staking strategy

Whatever your reason, it’s important to understand how the process works so you don’t accidentally reduce or lose your rewards.

Know the Basics First

Solana uses a warm-up and cool-down period when it comes to staking and unstaking. When you stake your tokens, it takes some time for them to become active and start earning rewards. Similarly, when you unstake, there’s a deactivation delay before your tokens become fully available again.

This delay usually lasts about 2 to 3 days. During this time, your tokens are in the process of being unstaked, and you will not earn rewards on them.

That’s why timing matters. To get the most out of your Solana staking, it's best to wait until the end of an epoch (a staking cycle on Solana) before starting the unstaking process.

Step-by-Step: How to Unstake Solana Safely

Let’s walk through the process in a simple, clear way.

1. Open Your Wallet

Use a trusted wallet that supports Solana, such as Phantom, Solflare, or Ledger. Make sure you have access to the wallet where your SOL tokens are staked.

2. Go to the Staking Section

Look for a section labeled “Staking,” “Delegations,” or something similar. This is where you can see your active stakes and the validators you’ve delegated to.

3. Select the Validator

Choose the validator from which you want to unstake. If you have multiple stakes, be sure to select the correct one.

4. Click “Unstake” or “Deactivate”

Each wallet has slightly different wording, but the option will be clear. You are basically telling the network that you want to deactivate your stake.

5. Confirm the Transaction

Your wallet will ask for confirmation. Once you confirm, the unstaking request is sent to the network. From this point, the cool-down period begins.

Wait for the Cool-Down Period

After you click “unstake,” you’ll need to wait about 2 to 3 days before your tokens are available. During this time, your tokens are not earning rewards and are not yet free to move.

This is the part where many people feel unsure. Just be patient. Your wallet will usually show a timer or status update letting you know how much time is left.

How to Avoid Losing Rewards

To keep your staking rewards as high as possible, try to unstake just after an epoch ends. Each epoch on Solana lasts around 2 to 3 days, and rewards are calculated per epoch.

If you unstake in the middle of an epoch, you might lose out on rewards for that period. By waiting until the epoch finishes, you get your full reward before entering the cool-down phase.

You can track epoch timing through most staking dashboards or Solana explorers like Solana Beach or Solscan.

Want to Restake or Change Validators?

If you’re just switching validators or moving your tokens to another staking setup, you’ll still need to go through the unstaking process. After your tokens are available again, you can stake them with a new validator.

To avoid long gaps without rewards, plan the switch so your tokens are re-staked as soon as they’re unlocked.

Keep Your Wallet Safe

Always double-check that you’re using official wallet apps or websites. Be cautious of phishing links or fake apps that ask you to connect your wallet. You don’t need to send your tokens to anyone in order to unstake them. Everything happens within your wallet.

Looking for a Validator You Can Count On?

Ubik Capital is a trusted validator across multiple networks, including Solana. Known for reliability, transparency, and strong community support, they provide a smooth and secure staking experience.

The team behind Ubik Capital has been active in the Proof-of-Stake space since 2019, focusing on long-term stability and performance. They operate highly available infrastructure and actively contribute to ecosystem growth through education and community engagement. Whether you are staking for the first time or switching from another validator, they offer the kind of consistency and trust that matters.

Explore their services and see how staking with Ubik Capital can make a difference!