> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/revenue/invoices/cancel-a-pending-payment.md).

# Cancel a pending invoice payment

If a customer wants to pay by check or another method, you can cancel their unfinished online payment from the invoice. You need permission to edit invoices.

> **Where to find it:** Invoices → open the invoice → the payment card’s upper-right **...** menu → **Cancel Payment**.

1. Find the payment attempt you want to cancel. If there are multiple payments, use the arrows on the payment card.
2. Open the **...** menu in the upper-right corner of that payment card and choose **Cancel Payment**.
3. Confirm with **Cancel Payment**, or choose **Keep Payment** to leave it alone.

Essential asks Stripe to cancel the attempt. When cancellation succeeds, the card shows **Canceled** and the remaining balance can be paid another way. Choose **Record Payment** from the invoice's **...** menu to apply a check. You keep the same invoice and its payment history.

Canceling an attempt does not record a payment or refund money. The invoice's original accounting entry stays intact. If another payment is still processing, the invoice remains **Payment Processing** until that attempt finishes or is canceled too. Existing successful partial payments stay applied.

## Payments already processing

Stripe decides whether a payment can still be canceled. A bank payment may already be beyond its cancellation window. If cancellation cannot be confirmed, Essential keeps the payment in progress and shows an explanation. Check Stripe before recording another payment.

Completed payments cannot be canceled with this action. To correct a manually recorded check or cash payment, see [Can I reverse a payment I recorded?](/revenue/invoices/can-i-reverse-a-payment-i-recorded.md).

If the payment shows **Canceled** but its invoice update was interrupted, choose **Retry Cancellation** from the payment card’s **...** menu. This finishes updating the balance and history without charging or canceling the payment again. Completed cancellation updates do not undo a later write-off.

## Canceling in the Stripe dashboard

You can also cancel an eligible payment in the Stripe dashboard. Stripe notifies Essential, which updates the payment history and invoice balance automatically. Reload the invoice after cancellation to see its current status.

Canceling one invoice payment does not cancel a recurring subscription or future scheduled payments.

## Related guides

* [Record a payment on an invoice](/revenue/invoices/record-a-payment-on-an-invoice.md)
* [How your customer pays an invoice online](/revenue/invoices/how-your-customer-pays-an-invoice-online.md)


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