# Canceling Workflows Sometimes it is necessary to cancel an active workflow and remove all outstanding tasks from participants' task lists. For each lifecycle state, Admins can define a **Workflow Cancel State**. When you cancel a workflow, Vault checks which state the document or object record is currently in and its selected cancel state. Vault then moves the document to the appropriate state. By default, the document or object record returns to the state it was in when the workflow started. However, an Admin can change this setting to either any available lifecycle state or prompt the workflow to remain in the state it was canceled in. When canceling a legacy workflow, Vault does not execute any entry actions or entry criteria configured in the workflow.

Note: This article refers to workflow tasks. Vault also includes a User Task object class to track unplanned work. For information on user tasks, see Working with User Tasks.

## How to Cancel Workflows To cancel an active workflow: 1. From Vault Home, open the **Active Workflows** view. 2. Click on the **Actions** menu and select **Cancel Workflow**. 3. In the dialog, click **Continue**. ## Related Permissions To cancel an active workflow or workflow task you must be the Workflow Initiator or have a security profile that grants the **Workflow Administration: Cancel** permission. Generally, users with administrator profiles will have this ability. This permission also controls the visibility of the **Cancel Task** action.

Note: In Vaults that use Atomic Security for Documents: Active Workflow Actions, you must be assigned to a role with Cancel Workflow permission through Atomic Security and have the Workflow Administration: Cancel permission.