The short answer
Yes, if you sell to EU consumers who have a right of withdrawal. Since 19 June 2026, Article 11a of the Consumer Rights Directive requires a prominent, always-available 'withdraw from contract here' function. It leads to a short form, then a 'confirm withdrawal' step, and you must acknowledge the withdrawal on a durable medium such as email.
Key takeaways
- Directive (EU) 2023/2673 added Article 11a to the Consumer Rights Directive. Member states had to transpose it by 19 December 2025, and the measures apply from 19 June 2026.
- The function must be labelled 'withdraw from contract here' or something equally unambiguous, and be prominently displayed, easily accessible and continuously available throughout the withdrawal period.
- The consumer enters their name, identifies the contract and says how they want to receive the confirmation, then presses a 'confirm withdrawal' control.
- You must send an acknowledgement on a durable medium, such as an email, without undue delay.
- It applies to distance contracts made through an online interface, which means websites and apps. It is only needed where a right of withdrawal exists.
On this page
01
What does the EU withdrawal button law require?
It requires a withdrawal function on your online interface, in addition to the existing ways of withdrawing. Directive (EU) 2023/2673 inserts Article 11a into the Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU. Consumers still have 14 days to withdraw from most distance contracts, and the model withdrawal form and written notice still work. The new rule says the consumer must also be able to withdraw by using the function.
| Element | What the law says | What to build |
|---|---|---|
| Label | 'Withdraw from contract here' or an unambiguous equivalent | A button or link with that wording in each language you sell in |
| Visibility | Prominently displayed on the online interface and easily accessible | Reachable from the account or order page without hunting |
| Availability | Continuously available throughout the withdrawal period | Visible for the whole 14 days, not only for a few minutes after purchase |
| Form | The consumer gives their name, identifies the contract and says how to receive the confirmation | Pre-fill what you already know, keep it to a few fields |
| Confirmation step | A second control, 'confirm withdrawal' | A review screen with one clear confirm button |
| Acknowledgement | Sent on a durable medium without undue delay | An email that repeats the contract details and the time of the request |
The rule is not limited to financial services. Recital 37 of the Directive makes clear that it covers distance contracts concluded through an online interface in general.
02
Who needs a withdrawal button, and who does not?
You need one when you make contracts with EU consumers online and those consumers have a right of withdrawal. Business-to-business sales do not have one, and the Directive's existing exceptions still apply.
- Online shops, subscriptions and apps selling to consumers in the EU: yes, for contracts with a withdrawal right.
- Digital content or services the buyer agreed to start straight away: the withdrawal right can be lost under Article 16(m) once the buyer has given express consent and acknowledged that, so no button is needed where no right remains. Check your checkout actually collects that consent and acknowledgement.
- Free products and B2B contracts: no withdrawal right to exercise, no button.
- Other Article 16 exceptions (for example, goods made to the buyer's specification): the right does not exist, so the button is not required for those contracts.
National laws transposed the Directive at different speeds and may add detail, so check the country you sell into most. This article reflects the Directive; it is not legal advice.
03
How do I add a withdrawal button to my app?
- 01
Find the contracts that carry a withdrawal right
List what you sell to consumers: one-off purchases, subscriptions and trials. Mark any that start immediately with the express consent and acknowledgement that end the right.
- 02
Put a labelled entry point where customers already look
Add 'Withdraw from contract here' to each order or subscription in the account area, and to the footer or terms page for guest orders.
- 03
Keep the form short
Name, which contract and how to send the confirmation. Pre-fill from the signed-in account. Do not ask for a reason, and do not add retention offers before the confirm step.
- 04
Add the confirm step
A second screen with a button labelled 'Confirm withdrawal' that records the request with a timestamp.
- 05
Send the acknowledgement
Email the consumer straight away with the contract, the content of the withdrawal and the time it was received. Keep a copy.
- 06
Hide it once the period ends
The 14 days run from delivery or from the day the contract was made, depending on what you sell. Remove the button when the right has ended.
Add an online withdrawal function for EU consumers.
- On each order or subscription in the account area, show a button labelled "Withdraw from contract here" while the 14-day withdrawal period is open. Hide it afterwards.
- The button opens a short form with: name (pre-filled), the contract/order (pre-selected) and the email address for the confirmation (pre-filled). No reason field.
- Then show a review screen with a "Confirm withdrawal" button.
- On confirm, save the request with a timestamp, and email the customer an acknowledgement that repeats the order and the time of the request.
- Do not show the button for orders that have no withdrawal right (for example digital content the customer agreed to start immediately).The same flow doubles as your cancellation path for subscriptions; see the subscription checkout and cancellation rules and the free subscription cancellation prompt.
04
How can I check whether my checkout has it?
SafeLaunch's rulebook adds the withdrawal function as a requirement under the Consumer Rights Directive for Germany, France and the EU market, among 142 laws across 58 markets. A free scan reads your checkout, terms and account pages; the paid analysis judges the withdrawal flow from what the pages show. See the rulebook for the citation and this week's briefing.
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Sources and further reading
This article is general information, not legal advice. SafeLaunch is automated software, not a law firm; a report records what was checked on one version and is not a certificate of compliance. Read the disclaimer.
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