# Void a Payment

## Overview

**Voiding** a payment is an essential function that allows Main Account holders to cancel a payment before it is fully processed, ensuring that funds are not captured or settled.

For all payments routed under the Main Account holder, and therefore of type [Single Payment](/documentation/get_started/initiate_payments/single_payment), or [Recurring Payments](/documentation/get_started/initiate_payments/recurring) and [Unscheduled Payments](/documentation/get_started/initiate_payments/unscheduled) without a Sub-Account involved, Main Account holders have the ability to void payments using either the Ryft Dashboard or the Ryft API.

For any other payment types and payments involving Sub-Accounts, voiding can only be done through the Ryft API via the [paymentSessionVoidById](/documentation/api/reference/openapi#operation/paymentSessionVoidById) endpoint.

## Prerequisites

A payment can only be voided **if it has been authorized but not yet captured or settled**. Payments that have already been captured or settled cannot be voided and require a [refund](/documentation/get_started/manage_payments/refund) instead.

By default, unless otherwise specified in the Payment Session, payments are automatically authorized and captured in a single step. This means that such payments cannot be voided. In order to initiate a payment that can be voided, please follow the instructions in the [Authorize Only Payments](/documentation/get_started/initiate_payments/additional_settings#authorize-only) section.

Payments that have been authorized but not yet captured will typically have a status of **Approved** in the Payment Session, and will show as **Not Captured** in the Ryft Portal.

## Voiding via the Ryft Portal

To void a payment using the **Ryft Portal**, you can select the payment you wish to void from the list of payments under the Payments page.

If the payment is in a **Not Captured** state and therefore eligible for voiding, you will see a **Void Payment** button available. Clicking this button will initiate the void process.

## Considerations

Please note that when voiding a payment, the following considerations apply:

- Authorized payments can only be voided by the Main Account holder. Sub-accounts do not have the capability to void payments.
- Once a payment has been successfully voided, its status will be updated to **Voided**, and it will no longer be eligible for capturing or settlement.
- Voiding a payment does not generate a refund, as the funds were never captured. If a payment has already been captured or settled, you will need to process a [refund](/documentation/get_started/manage_payments/refund) instead.
- The timeframe for voiding a payment may vary depending on the payment method and the policies of the acquiring bank. Please refer to the [Authorization Validity](/documentation/get_started/initiate_payments/additional_settings#authorization-validity) section for more information on authorization timeframes.