What is the withdrawal button?
The withdrawal button is a permanently available digital function on your website that lets customers withdraw from their contract. It is the counterpart to the "Buy" click: whoever can order online should be able to withdraw online just as easily.
Important: the withdrawal button (§ 356a German Civil Code) should not be confused with the cancellation button (§ 312k, in force since 2022). The cancellation button ends ongoing continuing obligations (e.g. subscriptions); the new withdrawal button concerns the 14-day right of withdrawal in distance selling.
Legal basis and effective date
The obligation stems from the new § 356a of the German Civil Code, by which Germany implements EU Directive (EU) 2023/2673. The rule takes effect on 19 June 2026 — from that date the withdrawal function must be present in your shop.
Who does it apply to?
It applies to all traders who conclude distance contracts with consumers (B2C) via an online interface — website, shop or app — where a statutory right of withdrawal exists. That covers nearly every Shopify, WooCommerce or Shopware shop selling to end customers.
Not covered are:
- pure B2B business (contracts exclusively with companies)
- contracts concluded by phone, fax or order card
- contracts without a statutory right of withdrawal (e.g. certain digital content or perishable goods)
The mandatory elements in detail
To make your implementation legally sound, the function must meet several requirements:
- A visible button with the unambiguous label "Vertrag widerrufen" — easy to find, visually highlighted and accessible without login (including for guest buyers). Ambiguous terms like "Cancel" are not permitted.
- A two-step process: the first button leads to a form page where a second button labelled "Widerruf bestätigen" (confirm withdrawal) submits the request.
- Data-minimal input fields: only name, order/contract number and an electronic means of contact (email). A reason for withdrawal may not be requested.
- Acknowledgement of receipt: the shop must promptly confirm receipt to the customer on a durable medium (e.g. email) — including the content of the declaration as well as the date and exact time.
- Permanent availability: the function must be reachable throughout the entire withdrawal period.
What happens if you don't comply?
Ignoring the obligation risks warnings (Abmahnungen) from competitors or associations as well as potential fines. Since the requirement is clearly regulated by law and the deadline is known, a wave of warnings is to be expected — as happened with the cancellation button in 2022. Implementing early and cleanly protects you.
How to add the withdrawal button for free
You don't have to reinvent the wheel: we provide a free, open-source withdrawal button that meets all of the above requirements — two-step process, correct labelling, data minimisation and an automatic acknowledgement of receipt with a timestamp.
Setup takes a few minutes: register, confirm your email and paste the ready-made snippet into your shop. The button works on any website — Shopify, WooCommerce, Shopware or a custom site. Learn more about our work on the services page.
