Methods, systems, and devices for configuring user plane functions in mobile communication technology are described. An exemplary method for wireless communication includes determining, at a network node, a processing order for processing a plurality of user plane functions based on at least one of a type of service, a deployment type, a connection mode, one or more capabilities of the network node, or one or more capabilities of a wireless device, and transmitting, to the wireless device, a first control plane message comprising the processing order. Another exemplary method for wireless communication includes receiving, from a network node, a first control plane message comprising information that includes a processing order for processing a plurality of user plane functions, and processing, at the wireless device, a plurality of user plane functions based on the processing order.