Plans: All plans | Platforms: All platforms. Automatic unfulfillment after a void is currently supported for Shopify only.
Overview
Void a label when you have bought it but the parcel is not going to ship as planned, for example when a customer cancels straight after checkout, or when you spot a wrong address before the parcel leaves your warehouse.
Voiding cancels the label and, where the carrier supports it, requests a refund of the label charge. The shipment returns to the Awaiting shipment list, so you can correct the details and buy a new label, or cancel the shipment entirely.
You void a label from the shipment itself, either from the Shipped list or from the shipment's details page.
Prerequisites
Before you start, check the following:
The package has not been collected or scanned: Once a carrier has the parcel in possession, a void usually fails.
You are within the carrier's void window: Carriers allow voids only for a limited period after purchase, and the window varies by carrier.
The shipment has a purchased label: Shipments marked as shipped manually have no shipping label to void.
Void a label from the Shipped list
Use this route when you are voiding one label or several at once.
In the left navigation, select Fulfillments, then Shipped.
Find the shipments you need. Use the search bar, Bulk search, or Add filters to narrow down the list.
Select the checkbox on each shipment you want to void.
In the action bar, select Void label.
Read the confirmation dialog, which explains that the label will be voided and that you can create a new label for the order later.
Click Void to confirm.
When your selection includes shipments with nothing to void, AfterShip Shipping processes only the ones that qualify and shows the count on the button as (x of y selected).
Void a label from the Shipment Details page
Use this route when you are already reviewing a single shipment.
Select the shipment in the Shipped list to open its details page.
Select More actions at the top right.
Select Void label.
Confirm in the dialog.
What happens after you void a label
AfterShip Shipping asks the carrier to cancel the label, where that carrier supports cancellation.
A refund of the label charge is requested automatically for supported carriers. The label status changes to Voided, and AfterShip Shipping continues checking the refund with the carrier for up to 30 days, updating the status to Refunded once the carrier confirms it.
The shipment returns to Awaiting shipment, with the carrier, service, and other details still in place, so you can correct what went wrong and buy a new label.
On Shopify, the fulfillment on the source order is reverted automatically, so your store matches your shipping state.
The void is recorded in the shipment's timeline, and the voided label stays available in Label history for your records.
If the void fails, the shipment stays in Shipped and an error explains why.
Carrier supported for label cancellation
This is the most important thing to understand about voiding, because carriers behave differently. When the carrier supports cancellation through AfterShip Shipping, the void is registered on the carrier's side. The label becomes invalid in the carrier's system, and the refund follows that carrier's policy.
When the carrier does not support cancellation, AfterShip Shipping voids the label on its side only. The carrier's system does not know the label was voided, which means:
The printed label is still live. If it reaches the carrier's network, the parcel may ship and you may be charged.
Discard the printed label so nobody in your warehouse uses it.
Check your carrier invoice for the charge, and contact the carrier directly if you need a refund.
Carrier | Supports cancel via AfterShip? |
fedex | Yes |
ups | Yes |
yodel | Yes |
usps | Yes |
vesyl | Yes |
endicia | Yes |
canada-post | Yes |
australia-post | Yes |
canpar | Yes |
easyship | Yes |
happy-returns | Yes |
grab | Yes |
pitney-bowes | Yes |
uber | Yes |
dhlparcel-uk | Yes |
dhl-global-mail-asia | Yes |
gps | Yes |
lalamove-plus | Yes |
hong-kong-post | Yes |
pandago | Yes |
bjshomedelivery | Yes |
continental | Yes |
ninjavan | Yes |
mrw-spain | Yes |
dhl-global-mail | Yes |
purolator | Yes |
procarrier-returns | Yes |
spanish-seur | Yes |
star-track | Yes |
shippo | Yes |
thecourierguy | Yes |
global-express | Yes |
tipsa | Yes |
chronopost-france | Yes |
precision-deliveries | Yes |
amazon-shipping | Yes |
gls-us | Yes |
nacex | Yes |
fastway-au | Yes |
bluedart | Yes |
sendle | Yes |
asendia | Yes |
airspeed | Yes |
yunexpress | Yes |
parcel-force | Yes |
an-post | Yes |
general-overnight | Yes |
hubbed | Yes |
parcll | Yes |
pickupp | Yes |
arrowxl | Yes |
ups-qr | Yes |
apc-overnight | Yes |
ubi-logistics | Yes |
gojek | Yes |
gls-ireland | Yes |
whistl | Yes |
asendia-hk | Yes |
Void windows and timing
Carriers set their own limits on how long after purchase a label can be voided. The window is commonly counted in days from the purchase date, and it varies from carrier to carrier.
If you try to void a label after that window closes, the carrier rejects the request and the shipment stays in Shipped. When this happens, contact the carrier directly to ask about a refund.
Ecommerce platform sync after a void
What happens on your store depends on the platform.
Shopify: The fulfillment on the source order is reverted automatically. No manual work is needed.
All other platforms: Automatic un-fulfillment is not supported yet, which has two consequences worth planning for:
The original fulfillment, including the old tracking number, stays on the order in your store.
If you buy a replacement label after the void, its tracking number does not sync back to your store.
To keep your customer informed on these platforms:
Manually remove or update the original fulfillment on the order in your store after you void.
After you buy the replacement label, copy the new tracking number from the shipment in AfterShip Shipping.
Add that tracking number to the order in your store so your customer receives the correct tracking details.
Troubleshooting tips
What you see | What is happening | What to do |
Void label is not available | The shipment has no purchased label. Shipments marked as shipped manually have nothing to void. | Cancel the shipment instead if it is not going out. |
The void was rejected by the carrier | The parcel has already entered the carrier's network, or the carrier's void window has closed. | Contact the carrier directly to ask about a refund. The shipment stays in Shipped. |
Only some shipments in your selection were voided | Your selection included shipments without a voidable label. | Check the count shown as (x of y selected) and the confirmation dialog, which lists what was skipped and why. |
The label status still shows Voided rather than Refunded | The carrier has not confirmed the refund yet. AfterShip Shipping keeps checking for up to 30 days. | Wait for the status to update. If nothing changes within 30 days, check your carrier invoice and contact the carrier. |
No refund appears on your carrier invoice | The carrier may not support refunds through AfterShip Shipping, or its policy may exclude this label. | Contact the carrier directly with the label details from Label history. |
Your store still shows the order as fulfilled | Automatic unfulfillment currently works on Shopify only. | Update the fulfillment on the order manually in your store. |
The replacement label's tracking number is missing from your store | On platforms other than Shopify, tracking for a label bought after a void does not sync back. | Copy the tracking number from the shipment and add it to the order in your store. |
Important considerations
Voiding is available only for shipments with a purchased label.
A voided label stays in Label history as a record, but it must never be used to ship a parcel.
After a void, the shipment keeps the carrier, service, and rate you selected, so you are not starting from scratch.
Voiding is not the same as canceling. Voiding cancels the label and returns the shipment to your queue. Canceling moves the shipment out of your queue entirely.
Key takeaways
Void a label from the Shipped list or from More actions on a shipment's details page, and the shipment returns to Awaiting shipment so you can correct it and reship or cancel it.
A refund of the label charge is requested automatically for supported carriers, and the label status moves from Voided to Refunded once the carrier confirms, which AfterShip Shipping checks for up to 30 days.
Not every carrier supports cancellation through AfterShip Shipping. When yours does not, the label is voided on the AfterShip Shipping side only, the printed label remains usable, and you should destroy it and check your carrier invoice.
Carriers set their own void windows, so a label can be rejected if too much time has passed or the parcel has already been scanned into the carrier's network.
On Shopify, the source order is un-fulfilled automatically. On every other platform, update the fulfillment manually and add the replacement tracking number to the order yourself.
Only shipments with a purchased label can be voided, and bulk selections skip anything that does not qualify.
Need Help?
If you have any questions, contact our support team through live chat or email us at [email protected].