# Withdrawal Delay
**Withdrawal Delay** adds a user-defined waiting period to withdrawals **sent to new external addresses**, giving you time to detect and stop unauthorized activity.
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### Why Withdrawal Delay Is Needed？
Withdrawal Delay is a **last-line defense** against irreversible on-chain mistakes and unauthorized transfers. It creates a short, controlled window to **review, detect, and cancel** suspicious withdrawals **before** they are broadcast to the blockchain.
**What it protects you from**
* **Human error:** Typos or copy-paste mistakes when sending to a **new external address**.
* **Clipboard hijacking/malware:** Malicious software replacing the intended address with an attacker’s.
* **Account misuse:** Unauthorized withdrawals initiated by someone who obtained your credentials.
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### **How To Enable Withdrawal Delay？**
1. Go to **Settings**.
* Open the **Security** tab.
* In the **Withdrawal Delay** row, click **Enable**.
2. Choose a delay duration from the dropdown, then click **Change**.
3. Complete verification:
* Enter the **Email verification code**.
* Enter the **Authenticator app code**.
* Click **Submit**.
4. :tada:All set!
* When you initiate a withdrawal, you’ll see a notice at the bottom of the page confirming that **Withdrawal Delay** is enabled on your account.
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### Scope & Applicability
* **Applies to:**
* Withdrawals **to external wallet addresses** that are **not yet saved** in your **Address Book**.
* **Does not apply to:**
* **Internal/subaccount transfers** (processed immediately).
* Withdrawals to addresses that have already been in your Address Book **longer than the current delay**.
> **Definition — “New address”**\
> Any external address **not present** in your Address Book at the time you submit the withdrawal, or saved **more recently** than your configured delay duration.
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### How It Works (execution flow)
1. **Submit withdrawal** to an external address.
2. **Eligibility check:**
* If the address is **new** (see definition above) → withdrawal is **scheduled** and held until the delay expires.
* If the address has been saved **longer** than your current delay → withdrawal is **processed immediately**.
3. **Countdown:** A timer (e.g., “Scheduled for YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm UTC”) is shown in [**Withdrawal History**](https://backpack.exchange/portfolio/transfers/withdrawals).
4. **Completion:** Once the delay elapses, the withdrawal is automatically released to the network.
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### Best Practices
* **Pre-save** payout addresses and let them age past your delay to avoid operational friction.
* Combine with [**Address Whitelisting**](/exchange/deposit-and-withdraw/crypto/withdrawals/travel-rule.md#adress-book) for layered protection.
* Keep [**Email & 2FA** factors secure](/exchange/security.md); review [**Withdrawal History**](https://backpack.exchange/portfolio/transfers/withdrawals) regularly.
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### How To Change Your Delay Duration？
Simply repeat the initial setup steps: go to **Settings**, open the **Security** tab, find **Withdrawal Delay**, click **Enabled**, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
:warning:**Please note：**
* When you **change** the delay duration, the **new value takes effect only after the currently active delay window expires**.
* Existing scheduled withdrawals keep their original release time.
* Future withdrawals use the new delay once it becomes active.
**Example：**If you change the delay from 24h to 12h while a 24h delay is active, the new 12h setting takes effect only after the current 24h window ends.
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### Address Book
* **Add Address:**
* You’ll receive an email notification confirming the addition.
* The **“age”** of the address starts at the moment it’s saved.
* **Withdrawals to Saved Addresses:**
* If the address has been in the Address Book **longer than your current delay**, the withdrawal is **immediate**.
* **Editing/Removing Addresses:**
* Removing and re-adding an address makes it **new** again (its age resets).
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### :warning:Urgent Withdrawals
If you must move funds while a delay is active (e.g., operational urgency), please use the email address linked to your exchange account to contact **** and request the delay cancellation. Our team will verify ownership and assess options.
***
### FAQs
What happens if I shorten my delay right after scheduling a withdrawal?
The scheduled withdrawal keeps its original release time. Your new, shorter delay applies only after the current delay window ends.
If I add an address and immediately withdraw to it, does the delay apply?
Yes. The address must be saved **longer than your configured delay** to qualify for immediate processing.
Do API withdrawals follow the same rules?
Yes. Withdrawals created via API are subject to the same delay checks and notifications as the UI.
Does the delay affect fees or network confirmation time?
No. The delay pauses **before** broadcast. Once released, normal network fees and confirmation times apply.
Can I cancel a scheduled withdrawal during the delay?
In this case, please use the email address linked to your exchange account to contact **** and request the delay cancellation.
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