SAN FRANCISCO — Tensions have long simmered between Uber and its drivers who power the ride-hailing service. Drivers held protests when Uber cut fares with little warning and have filed class-action lawsuits to be recognized as company employees rather than independent contractors.

Uber is now trying to improve the experience of its drivers.

On Monday, the company announced a host of software improvements to its app to address driver demands. Among the changes, drivers can now more easily pause ride requests, making it easier for them to take bathroom breaks and fill their gas tanks. Drivers can now also be paid instantly for each ride they complete, rather than weekly, and see on the app’s dashboard how much they have earned.

Uber said in a blog post that it had heard from drivers “that there are plenty of things we can do to make driving more empowering and worth your while.” The company added, “Beginning today, we are rolling out a number of features and rewards in more cities to help you get the most out of your time on the road.”

The changes come after the recent settlement of a pair of class actions by drivers who wanted to be classified as full-time employees instead of contractors, a status that gives them few worker protections. Under the terms of the settlement, Uber said it would pay as much as $100 million to roughly 385,000 drivers. It also agreed to several concessions, including giving more information on how and why drivers can be barred from using the app.