To void a DocuSign envelope, open the envelope from your dashboard, select Actions, then Void, type a reason, and confirm. The entire process takes about 30 seconds, but the envelope must still be “In Process” for the option to appear.
Which Envelopes Can Be Voided
You can only void an envelope that has a status of “In Process,” meaning at least one recipient has not yet completed their required action. If every recipient has already signed and the envelope status has changed to “Completed,” the void option will not be available. There is no time limit on voiding an in-process envelope. Whether you sent it five minutes ago or five weeks ago, the option remains as long as the envelope has not been fully completed.
Only the sender of the envelope can void it. If you received a document to sign and want it canceled, you will need to contact the person who sent it and ask them to void it on their end.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Log in to your DocuSign account and locate the envelope you want to void. You can find it under your “Sent” or “Action Required” views on the dashboard, or use the search bar if you have many envelopes.
Once you have the envelope open:
- Select Actions, then Void. The Actions menu sits near the top of the envelope detail view.
- Type a reason for voiding. This is required. DocuSign includes your reason in the notification email sent to any recipients who have already signed, so keep it clear and professional (for example, “Incorrect contract terms” or “Replaced by updated agreement”).
- Select Void to confirm. The envelope status immediately changes to “Voided.”
After you confirm, the change is permanent. You cannot undo a void or reopen the envelope. If you still need signatures on the same document, you will need to create and send a new envelope.
What Recipients See After You Void
Recipients who have already finished signing receive an email notification that includes the reason you entered. This gives them a record of why the signed document is no longer valid.
Recipients who have not yet signed lose access entirely. They cannot view or sign the enclosed documents, and if they click the original signing link from their email, the envelope will show as voided. You do not need to contact unsigned recipients separately to prevent them from signing, since DocuSign blocks access automatically.
Voiding vs. Deleting
Voiding and deleting serve different purposes. Voiding cancels an active envelope so that no further signatures can be collected, and it notifies all parties. The voided envelope remains visible in your account with a “Voided” status, preserving a record of what happened.
Deleting, on the other hand, removes an envelope from your view. You might delete a draft you never sent or clean up old completed envelopes from your folders. Deleting does not cancel an in-process envelope. If you need to stop someone from signing, voiding is the correct action.
What to Do if You Cannot Void
If the Void option is grayed out or missing entirely, the most likely reason is that all recipients have already signed and the envelope is complete. A completed envelope cannot be voided through the standard interface. In that situation, your options depend on your account type and organization. Account administrators may have additional tools, and you can always send a new corrected envelope to replace the completed one, then communicate directly with the other parties that the prior version should be disregarded.
If you are using DocuSign through an organization’s account rather than your own, your admin may have restricted voiding permissions. Check with your account administrator if the option does not appear on envelopes you sent.