Starting June 19, 2026, a new obligation applies to all B2C online shops in Germany: the digital cancellation button. Anyone operating an online shop must then enable consumers to fully exercise their right of withdrawal online — without detours via email or letter. This article explains what's behind the new regulation, who it affects, and how to act in time.
What is the cancellation button?
The cancellation button is a digital control that lets consumers exercise their statutory 14-day right of withdrawal directly in the online shop. The legal basis is the new § 356a BGB, which goes back to EU Directive 2023/2673. Germany published the implementing law in the Federal Law Gazette on February 5, 2026 — the obligation becomes binding on June 19, 2026.
Important: the cancellation button supplements the existing withdrawal channels via email and post — it doesn't replace them. However, anyone who fails to provide it risks significant legal and financial consequences.
Who is affected by the new obligation?
The regulation applies to all B2C online merchants — regardless of company size or industry. Affected are:
Shops with physical products
Providers of digital content and services
Marketplace sellers (e.g. eBay, Amazon), if a right of withdrawal applies
Subscription models and SaaS providers at contract conclusion
Not affected are pure B2B merchants, as well as products without a statutory right of withdrawal — such as custom-made goods, perishable goods, or unsealed software.
Technical requirements at a glance
Labeling and placement
The button must be clearly labeled — recommended is "Cancel contract". Vague labels like "Cancel" or "Contact" are not permitted. In addition, the button must:
be permanently and prominently accessible (e.g. footer, customer account, order details)
be reachable without login — including for guest buyers
be fully functional on mobile devices
The two-step process
The withdrawal must take place in two steps:
Click on "Cancel contract" → cancellation form opens
Enter name, order number, and email address → click "Confirm cancellation"
The merchant must then send a confirmation email without delay. The reason for cancellation may not be requested as a mandatory field.
What are the risks of non-compliance?
Anyone who doesn't implement the cancellation button, or implements it incorrectly, must expect the following consequences:
Extension of the withdrawal period to 12 months + 14 days
Warning letters (Abmahnungen) from competitors or consumer protection associations (typically €500–2,000)
Fines of up to €50,000 — for large companies up to 4% of annual revenue
The situation strongly resembles the introduction of the cancellation button for subscriptions (Kündigungsbutton) in 2022: back then too, a wave of warning letters quickly followed after the law took effect. Acting early saves cost and legal stress.
Shopware 6: how to implement it
Shopware is planning a native solution in version 6.7.9.0 (April 2026), including a backport for Shopware 6.6 — at no extra cost in all editions. For custom templates or headless setups, manual integration by an agency is required.
Anyone who doesn't want to wait for the native update can already use plugins from the Shopware Store that fully implement the two-step cancellation process.
Checklist for your shop
Cancellation button labeled "Cancel contract" prominently placed
Button reachable without login for all customers (including guest buyers)
Two-step process correctly implemented
Automatic confirmation email set up
Cancellation policy updated (reference to the button added)
Privacy policy updated to cover form processing
Conclusion
The cancellation button becomes mandatory for all B2C online shops starting June 19, 2026. With the native Shopware solution or a suitable plugin, the technical implementation is straightforward for most merchants — what matters is acting in time and also adjusting the legal texts (cancellation policy, privacy policy).
Do you run an online shop and want to make sure it's legally compliant before June 19, 2026? We help you implement the cancellation button and update your legal texts — in Shopware 6 and other systems. Get in touch now, no obligation — we respond within 24 hours.