How to revoke token approvals on Polygon
Guide · 07 Oct 2026
Token approvals are one of the quiet permissions that let decentralized apps move tokens from your wallet. On Polygon PoS, as on other EVM chains, an approval does not transfer tokens by itself. It gives a specific contract permission to spend a specific amount of a specific token later. If you approved a contract months ago and no longer use it, revoking that approval reduces your exposure. Revoking is an on-chain transaction, so you need a small amount of POL for gas. Older interfaces may still label the gas token as MATIC.
What a token approval actually is
- ERC-20 approval: You call
approve(spender, amount)so a contract can transfer up to that amount of one token. Many apps request an unlimited approval. - NFT approval: For ERC-721 or ERC-1155 collections, you may grant
setApprovalForAll(operator, true), letting an operator manage all tokens in that collection. - Permit and Permit2: Some apps use off-chain signatures or a universal approval contract. These may not appear in a simple ERC-20 allowance list.
- Revoking: For ERC-20, you set the allowance back to 0. For NFTs, you set the operator approval to false.
Revoking does not move your tokens, undo past transfers, or cancel other approvals. It only changes what that spender can do next.
Before you revoke: check the right network and wallet
Approvals are network-specific. An approval on Ethereum mainnet is not the same as one on Polygon. Before using any tool:
- Switch your wallet to Polygon.
- Confirm the tool is reading Polygon, not another chain.
- Connect only the wallet you want to manage. Avoid connecting hardware wallets to unknown sites.
- Never enter your seed phrase. No legitimate approval tool needs it.
How to revoke approvals with a blockchain explorer
PolygonScan provides a token approval checker for Polygon addresses. The exact menu labels can change, so look for “Token Approvals” or a similar tool. 1. Open PolygonScan and go to the approval checker. 2. Connect your wallet or paste your public address. 3. Review each row: token, spender, allowance, and last updated. 4. Click revoke next to the approval you want to remove. 5. Confirm the transaction in your wallet and pay the gas fee in POL. 6. Wait for confirmation, then refresh to verify the allowance is 0.
If the list is long, start with unlimited approvals and spenders you do not recognize or no longer use.
How to revoke with approval-management tools
Dedicated approval managers can make the process faster. Revoke.cash is a well-known example that supports Polygon, and some wallets include their own approval dashboards.
- Check the URL carefully before connecting.
- Use a fresh browser profile or a wallet you use for lower-risk activity if you are unsure.
- Revoke one approval at a time if gas prices are high.
- After revoking, disconnect the site if you no longer need it.
NFT, Permit2, and hidden approval cases
NFT approvals work differently from ERC-20 allowances. If you approved a marketplace to move all NFTs in a collection, you need to revoke the operator approval, not an individual token. Some newer apps use Permit2 or similar systems. Look for a “Permit2” or “Allowance” section in the approval tool. If you signed a malicious permit, revoking existing allowances may not cancel that signature. If you suspect your private key or seed phrase is compromised, revoking approvals alone may not secure the wallet; move remaining assets to a new wallet and stop using the compromised one.
FAQ
Does revoking an approval cost gas?
Yes. Revoking is an on-chain transaction on Polygon, so you pay gas in POL. The cost is usually small, but it varies with network conditions.
Will revoking stop a scam contract from taking my tokens?
It can stop future transfers through that specific approval. It will not undo past transfers, and it may not help if you signed a malicious permit or your wallet is compromised. Check for other approvals to the same spender.
Can I revoke NFT approvals the same way?
Yes, but you revoke the operator approval for a collection rather than each NFT. Use the same approval tools and confirm the transaction on Polygon. A closing note: Shingan is a non-custodial, Telegram-first wallet-security bot for EVM wallets across twelve chains; always verify any approval change directly in your wallet before signing.