How to Revoke Token Approvals on Ethereum

02 October 2026

You revoke a token approval on Ethereum by sending a transaction that sets the approved amount to zero for a specific spender contract. This is done using a block explorer like Etherscan, a wallet’s built-in approval manager, or a dedicated revoke tool. The process requires ETH for gas and a few minutes of attention.

Why Revoking Matters

Token approvals give a smart contract permission to spend a specific amount of your tokens. If you approved a dApp, a bridge, or an exchange in the past, that approval remains active until you revoke it. A compromised or malicious contract could drain approved tokens at any time. Revoking removes that risk. It costs gas but is a standard security hygiene step.

What you need before you start

• ETH for gas - The revoke transaction costs gas, typically between $1 and $10 depending on network congestion. Check current gas prices on a site like Etherscan’s gas tracker before proceeding.
• The token address - The contract address of the token you approved (e.g., USDC, DAI, UNI).
• The spender address - The contract address of the dApp or platform you approved. You can find this on the approval transaction in your wallet history or on Etherscan.
• A wallet with the approving account - MetaMask, Rabby, Ledger, Trezor, or any wallet that holds the private key for the address that made the approval.

Method 1: Revoke Using Etherscan (Most Reliable)

This method works for any ERC-20 token and does not require a special tool.

1. Open Etherscan - Go to etherscan.io and connect your wallet by clicking “Connect” in the top right. You can also use a non-connected view, but connecting makes the process smoother.
2. Find the token contract page - Search for the token’s contract address. For example, for USDC, search 0xA0b86991c6218b36c1d19D4a2e9Eb0cE3606eB48.
3. Go to the “Token Approvals” section - On the token contract page, click the “Contract” tab, then select “Read Contract” from the sub-menu. Scroll down to the “Token Approvals” section (or use the search box on page for “allowance”).
4. Check the allowance - Enter your wallet address in the “owner” field and the spender address in the “spender” field. Click “Query.” The result shows the current approved amount. If it is greater than zero, you have an active approval.
5. Revoke the approval - Return to the “Write Contract” tab (under “Contract”). Connect your wallet if not already connected. Find the “approve” function. Enter the spender address and set the amount to 0. Click “Write” and confirm the transaction in your wallet. Wait for confirmation.
6. Verify - Go back to the “Read Contract” tab, query the allowance again, and confirm it shows zero.

Method 2: Revoke Using a Wallet’s Built-in Tool

Some wallets include an approval manager.

• MetaMask - Open the wallet, click the three-dot menu, select “Account details,” then “View on Etherscan.” This opens your address page on Etherscan. Scroll to the “Token Approvals” section (if available) and use the “Revoke” button. Not all MetaMask versions show this; if absent, use Method 1 or 3.
• Rabby - Rabby’s “Approvals” tab lists all active approvals for your connected account. Click “Revoke” next to any approval, confirm the gas fee, and the transaction sends.
• Ledger Live - Ledger Live does not have a native revoke function. Use Etherscan or a third-party revoke tool.

Method 3: Revoke Using a Dedicated Revoke Tool

Tools like Revoke.cash (revoke.cash) or Unrekt (unrekt.net) scan your address for approvals and present them in a list. You connect your wallet, select the approvals to revoke, and confirm the transactions. These tools are convenient but require trusting the site’s code. If you use one, verify the URL is correct and check the site’s reputation. For high-value accounts, Method 1 is safer because you interact directly with the token contract.

What to expect after revoking

• The transaction appears on Etherscan as a normal ERC-20 approval with amount set to zero.
• The dApp or platform can no longer spend your tokens unless you approve it again.
• Revoking does not affect your token balance or other approvals.
• You may need to re-approve the spender if you want to use the same dApp later. For example, if you revoke a Uniswap approval, you must approve again before swapping that token.

Common Mistakes

• Wrong token - Revoking approval for the wrong token leaves the dangerous one active. Double-check the token address.
• Wrong spender - Revoking the wrong spender address does nothing. Verify the spender matches the dApp you are revoking.
• Insufficient gas - A revoke transaction requires gas. If your ETH balance is too low, the transaction fails. Top up before starting.
• Revoking on the wrong chain - Approvals are chain-specific. Revoking on Ethereum mainnet does nothing for approvals on Arbitrum or Polygon. Check the network your wallet is connected to.

When to Revoke

• After using a new or untrusted dApp.
• After a bridge or exchange you used was hacked or shut down.
• Regularly, as part of a security review - once every few months for active wallets.
• Immediately if you suspect your wallet or a connected dApp is compromised.

Revoking token approvals is a simple transaction that closes a common security gap. The cost in gas is small compared to the potential loss from a drained approval. Do it now for any old or unused approvals you find.

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