How to add or edit milestones on Upwork

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How do I add a new milestone for my freelancer?

Go to Manage work > All contracts and open the contract
From Overview, choose Add new milestone
Enter the milestone details and choose Save or Save and add another

Can I create multiple milestones at once for a fixed-price contract?

Yes. When setting up a fixed-price contract, you can create multiple milestones in one go. This helps you structure your project into clear, trackable stages — each with its own deliverable, due date, and budget.

A few key things to know:

You can only have one active milestone at a time. Before the next milestone can begin, the current one must be marked complete and the payment released
You don’t need to fund everything upfront. You can fund one milestone to start, then fund others as the project progresses
You can add more milestones later. It’s easy to adjust or build out additional steps once the contract is underway
Each milestone must be for a minimum of $5 USD
Each milestone is a chance to review progress, release payment, and align on next steps — keeping the work on track and expectations clear.

How do I edit or delete a future milestone I have with my freelancer?

You can delete or edit the title, due date, and amount of any future milestones that have not yet been activated and funded.

Go to Manage work > All contracts
Select the contract
From the Overview section, choose Manage milestones
The button will open a window where you can add, edit, delete, or reorder your milestones — choose the pencil icon to edit the milestone
To rearrange the milestone list, grab the drag-and-drop toggles on the left of each milestone
Check your progress with the Show Changes toggle in the window's upper right corner
Select Save to save your changes

Can I change the order of milestones for my project?

You can’t change the order of active milestones, but you can rearrange any that haven’t started yet.

To do that, just use the drag-and-drop handle (the six dots) to the left of each inactive milestone. This lets you adjust the sequence before they go live.

How do I request changes to an active milestone I have with my freelancer?

Note: This feature is being tested and is not available to everyone yet.

You may be able to request changes to an active milestone — including title, description, due date, and payment amount — as long as the freelancer has not already submitted work for payment. The freelancer can approve or reject the request. To make a request for changes:

In the contract workroom, select Manage milestones
Select the edit icon next to the active milestone
Update the details and select Send for approval

Once you submit the request, you’ll see “Pending change request” in the workroom. You can still edit or withdraw the request until the freelancer responds.

Important to know:

If the freelancer rejects the request, the milestone stays the same
If the freelancer approves, the milestone will automatically update — if you increased the amount, you may need to add funds
If the freelancer submits work OR you release payment on the milestone while the change request is pending, the request is automatically canceled
If no action is taken, the request expires after seven days

My freelancer is asking to change a milestone, what should I do?

Freelancers and agencies can send requests to add, edit, and delete future milestones. If your freelancer submits a milestone change request, you’ll be notified by email and can accept or reject it. You’ll need to respond to the request before you can make any additional changes.

Select the link provided in the email or Review changes in the contract room
Select Accept or Decline

How many milestones can I have per fixed-price contract?

There is a limit of 200 milestones per contract. After that, you will need to close the current contract and create a new contract.

Can freelancers directly edit milestones without my knowledge?

No — freelancers cannot directly edit milestones without your knowledge or approval.

While a freelancer can in some cases request a change, you must review and approve any updates before they go into effect. This maintains transparency and ensures you're always in control of the scope, timing, and budget of the project.