Enable the cancellation button in WooCommerce

Since June 2026, a consumer who buys something online must also be able to withdraw the purchase online, through a clear button on your website: the withdrawal button. WooCommerce has had a built-in feature for this since version 11.1, but it's switched off by default and doesn't add a button to your site on its own. Here you can read what the button needs to do, how to switch on the feature, and how to test it.

This article describes the situation as of November 2026 and is not legal advice. If you're unsure about your situation, ask a lawyer, your trade association, or the ACM.

What the button needs to do

The rule comes from a European directive and is virtually the same in all EU countries. The cooling-off period itself doesn't change: the button is an extra way to withdraw, alongside, for example, an email or the model form. In short:

• A clearly visible function with unambiguous text. The ACM gives as an example "Terminate the agreement here" or "Cancel the purchase".
• The button appears in every place where you sell and is reachable throughout the entire cooling-off period.
• No mandatory account. Logging in may be offered as an option.
• The customer only fills in what's needed: name, details to find the order, and an email address. They then confirm with a second button.
• You immediately send an acknowledgement of receipt, for example by email, with what the customer entered and the date and time.

Your prior information (your withdrawal information) must also state that the button exists and where it's located. According to the ACM, the button is mandatory in the Netherlands from 25 June 2026; the European directive mentions 19 June 2026.

Switching on the feature in WooCommerce

1. Check under Plugins that you have WooCommerce 11.1 or newer. Otherwise, update first, preferably after a backup.
2. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Advanced > Features (Advanced > Features).
3. Switch on Order withdrawal and save.
4. The form is now located at /my-account/withdraw-order/. The first part follows the name of your My account page. You can change the last part under Advanced > Page setup (Page setup), under account addresses, for example to withdraw-agreement.
5. Check under WooCommerce > Settings > Emails. Two emails have been added: a notification for you (Order withdrawal request) and an acknowledgement of receipt for the customer (Order withdrawal request received). Leave these switched on and check the recipient of your notification.

What the feature does, and what it doesn't

• The form also works for guests: first name, last name, email address (twice), order number, and the choice between the whole order or specific products.
• After that comes a check step with the Confirm withdrawal button. Only then is the withdrawal sent.
• If the order number matches the email address of an order, WooCommerce adds a note to that order and a notification in the admin area. If the order is older than 14 days, a warning is shown. That warning counts from the order date, not from delivery; so check this yourself.
• The feature doesn't change anything about the order: no different status, no cancellation, no refund. You handle that yourself.
• WooCommerce doesn't add any link to your site, and states itself that the feature is no guarantee that you comply with the rules.

The button itself: a link in the footer

Place a link with clear text, such as Withdraw agreement, in the footer of your site, so it appears on every page. Where you edit the footer depends on your theme. Make the link point to the form address, for example https://example.com/my-account/withdraw-agreement/. Also mention the link in your withdrawal information and in the order confirmation email. If you sell in multiple languages, check the text on the button, on the form page, and in the emails for each language.

Testing

1. Open your site in a private window, without logging in, and click the link in the footer. You should see the form, not a login screen.
2. Fill in a test order with an email address at a party other than your own domain, check the details, and confirm.
3. Check that the customer email arrives, with the entered details and date and time, and that you receive your notification. If an enabled email can't be sent, WooCommerce doesn't complete the withdrawal. So email needs to work; see Sending mail from WordPress and WooCommerce reliably via SMTP.
4. Check that the note appears on the order and that the status hasn't changed.

Further reading

• ACM: cooling-off period and the withdrawal button
• Customer order withdrawal (WooCommerce, English)