Since June 19, 2026, any online shop that sells to buyers in the EU must give them a simple way to cancel online. That is the EU withdrawal button: a clear button labeled “Withdraw from contract here” or something just as clear. The buyer fills in a short form, confirms, and gets an email that says you received it. The rule covers every shop that sells to EU buyers—even shops outside the EU.
What is the EU withdrawal button?
EU buyers already had 14 days to cancel most online orders. Before, they had to write to you or fill in a form. Now the law says cancelling must be as easy as buying. So your website needs a cancel button that works on its own.
The rule comes from EU Directive 2023/2673, which added a new article to the EU Consumer Rights Directive.
Who needs the withdrawal button?
You need it if all of these are true:
- You sell through a website or app.
- Your buyers are people, not businesses.
- Some of your buyers live in the EU.
- The buyer has a right to cancel that order.
Where your business is based does not matter. A shop in the US that sells to a buyer in France needs it too.
What must the withdrawal button do?
Legal guides agree on four parts:
- A clear button. It says “Withdraw from contract here” or words that mean the same thing. It must be easy to find and must work for the whole 14 days.
- A short form. The buyer gives their name, the order they want to cancel, and how you should send the confirmation—usually their email address.
- A confirm button. A second button, such as “Confirm withdrawal.” No extra text, no ticked boxes.
- A receipt. You send the buyer an email right away with what they sent, plus the date and time.
Do you need it if you only sell digital downloads?
Often not for those orders. The button is for orders the buyer can still cancel. Most legal guides say it is not needed when the buyer has no right to cancel, for example:
- Downloads the buyer agreed to start at checkout, where they said they know they lose the right to cancel.
- Custom-made or personalized items.
This only works if your checkout has that checkbox. Here is the checkbox wording and what your digital refund policy should say. Without it, your download buyers can still cancel—and then you need the button for them too. If you sell both downloads and physical items, you need the button for the physical items.
How do you add the button to your website?
If you use Shopify, check its settings for the EU withdrawal feature. On WordPress or another platform, you can build it yourself:
- Make a page called “Withdraw from contract.”
- Add a form with three fields: name, order number, and email.
- Label the submit button “Confirm withdrawal.”
- Set up an automatic email that repeats what the buyer sent, with the date and time.
- Put a “Withdraw from contract here” link in your footer and in your order emails, so buyers can find it for all 14 days.
- Test it once yourself.
Then update your return policy so it tells EU buyers where the button is.
Does the UK have the same rule?
No. This is an EU rule, so it covers buyers in EU countries. The UK has its own consumer laws. UK buyers still have 14 days to cancel most online orders, so check the UK rules separately.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my shop does not have the button?
Each EU country enforces its own consumer laws. A missing button can lead to buyer complaints and action from consumer authorities. The easiest fix is to add it now.
Can the button be inside a customer account?
It can be, as long as buyers can easily find it and use it for the full 14 days. If your shop has no customer accounts, a public page linked from your footer and your order emails works.
Do I still need a cancellation policy?
Yes. The button is how buyers cancel. Your policy explains the rules: the 14 days, refunds, and which items can’t be cancelled.
Update your return policy too
My return and refund policy template already includes the withdrawal button line for EU buyers, the download checkbox wording, and separate notes for UK and US buyers. Not sure what else is holding your shop back? Take the free online business bottleneck diagnostic.
This post is general information, not legal advice.