> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.decider.market/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.decider.market/documentation/markets/cancellations-and-refunds.md).

# Cancellations & Refunds

Sometimes a market cannot be resolved. Decider handles that case explicitly, so funds are never locked forever.

## When a market is cancelled

If a market is not resolved before its `resolveDeadline`, a keeper calls `forceCancel()`. The market enters the **CANCELLED** state.

## How refunds work

In a cancelled market, nobody won, so everyone gets their collateral back pro-rata:

1. The market's reserve is divided across all outstanding shares.
2. Each holder can call `refund()` to withdraw their share of the reserve.
3. Refunds are idempotent — calling twice does not double-pay.

## Why this exists

The `resolveDeadline` is a safety net. Without it, a market whose resolution source went down could sit unresolved indefinitely, freezing everyone's funds. Cancellation and pro-rata refund is strictly better than indefinite lock-up.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[resolveDeadline reached] --> B[forceCancel]
    B --> C[CANCELLED]
    C --> D[refund pro-rata]
```

See Resolution Failures & Fallbacks for the broader picture.


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