Withdrawal Button Germany 2026: How §356a BGB Affects Your Online Shopping
Cancel any online contract in two clicks — no account, no phone call, no excuse from the shop.
By Checkalle · Last updated:
From 19 June 2026, every German online shop must offer a withdrawal button (in German: Widerrufsbutton) for consumers who have a 14-day right of withdrawal. The rule comes from §356a of the German Civil Code (BGB), implementing EU Directive 2023/2673. With two clicks you withdraw — no login, no phone hotline, no reason required.
Note on terminology: in English coverage this is often called the "cancellation button", but it is legally distinct from Germany's older Kündigungsbutton (§312k BGB), which targets ongoing subscriptions. Both buttons run in parallel — see the comparison below.
Key Takeaways
- Effective date: §356a BGB applies from 19 June 2026 — basis is EU Directive 2023/2673.
- Two-click process: button labelled "Vertrag widerrufen" → order number plus email → "Widerruf bestätigen". Login is forbidden.
- Financial services included: online loans, savings, brokerage — broader scope than the older §312k.
- Fines: up to €50,000 per violation, or 4 % of EU annual turnover for shops above €1.25 million.
- If the button is missing: your withdrawal window extends by up to 12 months, and consumer authorities can issue warnings.
Effective date
19 June 2026
Fines
up to €50,000 or 4 % turnover
Extended period
+12 months if button missing
What §356a BGB changes
The 14-day right of withdrawal under §355 BGB has existed for years. What §356a adds is a delivery channel: shops must let you exercise that right through a clearly labelled button, not just by formal letter or email. In practice, many shops bury the cancellation form three menu levels deep. The new rule blocks that pattern.
Three requirements stand out in the statute:
- Clearly labelled button. The label must be "Vertrag widerrufen" or an equally unambiguous wording. It has to be legible, highlighted and continuously visible during the withdrawal window.
- Two-stage flow with no login. After the first click, an identification page asks for order number or name plus email and your preferred confirmation channel. The second click sends the withdrawal: "Widerruf bestätigen".
- Immediate electronic confirmation. The shop must acknowledge receipt right away, typically by email, so you have a record.
The German consumer authority Verbraucherzentrale publishes a plain-language guide and template letters. The full statute is on gesetze-im-internet.de.
Withdrawal Button vs. Cancellation Button
The two buttons sound similar in English but they trigger different rights. Mixing them up means clicking at the wrong moment or looking on the wrong page. Here is the line:
| Withdrawal Button (§356a BGB) | Cancellation Button (§312k BGB) | |
|---|---|---|
| In force since | 19 June 2026 (new) | 1 July 2022 |
| Right exercised | 14-day withdrawal of distance contracts | Termination of ongoing subscriptions |
| Typical contracts | Online purchases, loans, insurance — anything with a withdrawal right | Streaming, mobile, electricity, gym memberships |
| Financial services? | Yes, expressly included | No, excluded |
| Button label | "Vertrag widerrufen" → "Widerruf bestätigen" | "Verträge hier kündigen" → "Jetzt kündigen" |
Short version: use the withdrawal button within 14 days of a fresh online purchase if you changed your mind. Use the cancellation button when you want to end an ongoing subscription. They live on different pages and require different wording.
Which businesses must offer the button
The duty hits every business that signs distance contracts with consumers through an online interface — websites, apps or marketplaces. There is no carve-out for small shops. Everyday examples:
Online retail shops
Fashion, electronics, furniture — anything with a 14-day right of withdrawal.
Financial services
Online loans, savings accounts, brokerage — new compared to §312k.
Online insurance
Travel, car or liability policies concluded entirely online.
Apps and marketplaces
Any online interface in the meaning of EU Directive 2023/2673.
If you are about to take out an online loan, you can rely on the new button from June. Before signing, compare conditions in our loan comparison. For credit cards, our free credit card guide for Germany covers what to check before applying.
What shops CANNOT demand
§356a BGB draws a hard line against tactics that make withdrawal harder. Four classic moves are expressly forbidden:
Login required
Withdrawal must work without an account. Guest buyers get the same access path.
Phone or address as mandatory field
Only data needed to identify the contract is allowed. Order number plus email is enough.
Hidden behind pop-ups
The button must remain visible throughout the withdrawal window — no overlays may cover it.
App install required
Forcing you to install a proprietary app to withdraw is not permitted. The browser is enough.
How the two-click withdrawal works
Find the button
The shop must place "Vertrag widerrufen" visibly — usually in the footer or order area. No login wall in front.
Identify the contract
Order number or name, email address, preferred reply channel — and that is all they may ask.
Confirm, done
Click "Widerruf bestätigen". The shop sends an electronic confirmation, usually by email within seconds.
What to do when the shop has no button
Not every business will be compliant on day one. This sequence works:
- Send a formal withdrawal. Email or letter with order number is enough. Note date and time, take a screenshot.
- Use the extended deadline. Without a proper button your withdrawal window extends by up to 12 months — you have time on your side.
- Contact a consumer authority. The German Verbraucherzentrale offers free advice, template letters and collective enforcement.
- Report systematic violations. Repeat offenders face fines of up to €50,000, or 4 % of EU turnover for larger corporations.
For higher-value disputes, check whether your insurance comparison includes legal expenses cover (Rechtsschutzversicherung). It typically pays lawyer fees if a shop refuses to honour the withdrawal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new German withdrawal button in 2026?
It is a mandatory button on every German online shop from 19 June 2026 under §356a BGB. With two clicks you can exercise your 14-day right of withdrawal from a distance contract: click "Vertrag widerrufen" (withdraw contract), confirm with "Widerruf bestätigen". No login or phone call required.
Is the withdrawal button the same as the cancellation button (Kündigungsbutton)?
No. The withdrawal button (§356a BGB, from 19 June 2026) is for your 14-day right of withdrawal after signing a distance contract. The cancellation button (§312k BGB, since 1 July 2022) is for ending ongoing subscriptions like streaming, gym or mobile contracts. Both exist side by side and use different labels.
Which businesses must install a withdrawal button?
Every business that concludes distance contracts with consumers through an online interface — websites, apps or online marketplaces. There is no exception for small shops. Unlike the cancellation button, online financial services (loans, savings, brokerage) are also covered.
What happens in a two-click withdrawal?
Step 1: Click "Vertrag widerrufen" on the shop’s page. Step 2: Identify the contract with order number plus email — no account needed. Step 3: Confirm with "Widerruf bestätigen". The shop must send you an immediate electronic confirmation, usually by email.
What is the shop NOT allowed to demand?
Forbidden: forcing you to log in or register, requesting phone number, address or reason for withdrawal, hiding the button behind pop-ups or sub-menus, requiring an app download. Order number and email are the maximum data they can ask for.
What if a shop has no withdrawal button after 19 June 2026?
Two consequences. First, your withdrawal period extends by up to 12 months because the seller failed to facilitate the withdrawal. Second, fines of up to €50,000 per violation can apply, or 4 % of EU annual turnover if the shop has revenue above €1.25 million.
Does the withdrawal button apply to subscriptions like Netflix or mobile contracts?
No. Those remain covered by the cancellation button under §312k BGB. The withdrawal button under §356a BGB applies only during the 14-day withdrawal window after concluding a distance contract — not to ongoing termination of subscriptions.
More 2026 consumer rights: the right to repair from 1 July and the greenwashing ban. The full list lives in our Germany 2026 changes overview.