Cancel Signature Request

Published on November 4, 2026 DRTE

What this covers: Part 1 helps admins set up the Cancel Request action. Part 2 shows end users how to stop a signature request and what happens afterwards.

Cancel Signature Request: Guide

Part 1: Admin setup

Before you start

1. The three fields (Cancelled By, Cancelled On, Cancel Reason) must be deployed.
2. The Cancel_Signature_Request flow and the Cancel Request quick action must be deployed, with the flow active.
3. Users who cancel need edit access to the Status field and the three new fields, for example through the permission set you updated.
4. Users also need access to run the flow. If a user can't launch it, add the flow to their profile or permission set under Flow Access.

Option A: Page layout

1. Go to Setup > Object Manager > E Signature Request > Page Layouts.
2. Open the layout your users see.
3. Add the fields: In the Fields palette, drag Cancelled By, Cancelled On and Cancel Reason into a section. A separate "Cancellation" section works well.
4. Add the button:
   • Select Mobile & Lightning Actions in the palette.
   • Drag Cancel Request into the "Salesforce Mobile and Lightning Experience Actions" area.
   • If that area shows default actions, click the override link first.
5. Optionally set the three fields to Read-Only on the layout. The flow fills them in, so users shouldn't edit them by hand.
6. Click Save.

Option B: Lightning record page

1. Open an E Signature Request record, then click the gear icon and choose Edit Page.
2. Add the fields:
   • Place a Record Detail component, or a Fields section, that shows the three fields.
   • If the page uses a Highlights Panel, you can add the action there too.
3. Add the button:
   • Select the Highlights Panel (or the Actions section).
   • In the properties panel, find Actions and click Override the page layout actions if needed.
   • Add Cancel Request.
4. Click Save and Activate if prompted, picking the correct app, record type and profile assignment.

Check it works

1. Open a request that is in Sent For Signature.
2. Confirm that the Cancel Request button shows in the actions area.
3. Click it. You should see a reason box and the Cancel Request button.
4. After cancelling, confirm that Status is Cancelled and that the three fields are filled.

Recommended extras

• Turn on field history tracking for Status (Object Manager > E Signature Request > Fields & Relationships > Status > Set History Tracking). It gives you an audit trail of status changes.
• Create a report on E Signature Requests with Status = Cancelled, showing Cancelled By, Cancelled On and Cancel Reason.

Part 2: End-user guide

When to use it

Use Cancel Request when you sent a document for signature and need to stop it, for example because of a wrong amount, the wrong signer, or the deal falling through.

How to cancel

1. Open the E Signature Request record for the document you want to stop.
2. Click Cancel Request.
3. Read the message. It tells you that all open signature requests for this document will be cancelled.
4. If you see a note that one or more signers have already signed, their signatures stay on record and are not changed.
5. Type the Reason for cancellation. This is required.
6. Click Cancel Request.
7. You'll see a confirmation. The record now shows Status = Cancelled, along with who cancelled it, when, and why.

What happens when you cancel

• Everything open for this document stops. Requests that are New, Ready To Send or Sent For Signature all change to Cancelled. This includes signers further down the sequence.
• Signers can no longer open their link. It simply stops showing for them.
• Signers who already signed are not affected. Their request stays Completed.
• Declined (Rejected) and already-Cancelled requests are not touched.

What it does not do

• It doesn't email the signers. If they need to know, tell them yourself.
• It doesn't show signers a "this was cancelled" message. The link just stops working.
• It doesn't create a log record. The cancel details live on the request.
• If you have two separate signing workflows running at once on the same record, both will be cancelled.

If the message says "Nothing to cancel"

There are no open requests left for the document. They may already be Completed, Rejected or Cancelled.

After cancelling

You can't reopen a cancelled request. To send the document again, fix it if needed, then create a new E-Signature Request. The cancelled one stays on record.

Cancel or Decline?

Knowledge Article Number: KA-00490