All you need to know about canceling transactions.
When it comes to transactions, you can only cancel before the transaction (including any pending) is added to a block. Once added, there’s no going back. You can check if a transaction has been successfully added by copying and pasting the transaction ID into your chosen network block explorer.
You can access the block explorers for each of our supported blockchains here:
If the transaction has at least one confirmation in the block explorer, this means it’s already been added and therefore can’t be canceled. If it hasn’t been added, then you may still be able to reverse or cancel the transaction.
If the transaction hasn’t yet been added to a block, you can cancel it using either of the following processes:
In-app cancellation:
Canceling your transaction is straightforward.
- Look for your most recent transaction in the MetaMask app in the “Activity” section.
- You’ll find your transaction pending in the ‘Queue’ section.
- Simply select the “Cancel” button and you’re done!
Important note: A transaction can only be canceled if it's still pending on the network. Unfortunately, if a transaction has been confirmed it can’t be reversed.
Custom Nonce cancellation (desktop extension):
You can cancel a transaction through a custom nonce (an identifying number for every transaction), by creating a new transaction with the same nonce as the original transaction.
You can cancel from your desktop extension in four simple steps:
Firstly, visit MetaMask “Advanced settings” and enable “Customize transaction nonce” and “Advanced gas controls”. This will allow you to manipulate the gas you pay and make sure your cancellation transaction is processed.
Next, click “Send a new transaction”. You’ll need to make sure you send the new transaction to your own MetaMask public address.
You’ll need to fill in the 'Custom Nonce' field with the same nonce as the pending transaction. Click “Edit”.
To prioritize your cancellation request, you’ll need to pay an additional gas fee - this may cost more than what you originally paid. For more guidance on recommended fees, check a gas tracker such as Etherscan's or ETH Gas Station.
Custom Nonce cancellation (mobile):
You can cancel a transaction through a custom nonce (an identifying number for every transaction), by creating a new transaction with the same nonce as the original transaction.
You can cancel from your mobile device in four simple steps:
Firstly, open up your MetaMask app and go to the “Settings” menu. Next, scroll to “Advance” and enable the “Customize Transaction Nonce”.
Click “Send a new transaction”. You’ll need to make sure you send the new transaction to your own MetaMask public address. Fill in the “Custom Nonce” section with the same nonce as the transaction that’s still pending.
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- You can locate the custom nonce setting by clicking on the transaction confirmation screen that appears after you’ve entered the token and quantity receipt. Once you’ve found it, click the “Edit” button.
You need to ensure that you have gas settings configured so that your replacement transaction is executed. From the transaction confirmation screen please tap the highlighted gas value, from here you can select the “Advanced options” from the menu that appears. You can now adjust the gas to make sure your transaction is picked up and prioritized.
To prioritize your cancellation request, you’ll need to pay an additional gas fee that may cost you more than you originally paid. For more guidance on recommended fees check a gas tracker such as Etherscan's or ETH Gas Station.
