How to Revoke Token Approvals from a Smart Contract Using Trust Wallet
You revoke token approvals from a smart contract using Trust Wallet by connecting to a token approval checker dApp (like Revoke.cash or Etherscan's token approval tool) and submitting a transaction that sets the allowance to zero. This removes the smart contract's permission to spend that token on your behalf.
Why you need to revoke token approvals
When you interact with a decentralized application (dApp) through Trust Wallet - for example, swapping tokens on a decentralized exchange or lending assets - the dApp typically asks you to approve a smart contract to spend a specific token. This approval grants the contract permission to transfer that token from your wallet up to a set limit.
Approvals do not expire. If you approved a contract that later turns out to be malicious, or if you simply no longer use the dApp, the contract still holds that permission. Revoking the approval removes it, reducing the risk of an unauthorized transfer.
What you need before starting
- Trust Wallet installed and unlocked on your phone.
- The wallet that holds the token approval must be the active wallet in Trust Wallet.
- A small amount of the network's native token (e.g., ETH on Ethereum, BNB on BNB Smart Chain) to pay transaction fees. The exact fee depends on network congestion and the token approval tool you use.
Step-by-Step: revoke token approvals using trust wallet
The process uses a third-party token approval checker. Revoke.cash is a commonly used tool. The steps below describe the general workflow; the interface of the specific tool you choose may vary slightly.
1. Open Trust Wallet and Connect to the dApp
- Tap the Browser tab at the bottom of Trust Wallet. (If you do not see a Browser tab, you may need to enable it in Trust Wallet's settings under Preferences.)
- Navigate to the URL of a token approval checker (e.g., revoke.cash).
- The dApp will prompt you to connect your wallet. Tap Connect, then select Trust Wallet. A confirmation screen appears in Trust Wallet - tap Connect again to approve the connection.
2. Select the Network
The approval checker will show a list of supported blockchains. Choose the network where the token approval exists (for example, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon). Only approvals on that network will appear.
3. review your token approvals
After connecting, the tool scans your wallet and displays a list of all tokens and the smart contracts that have approval to spend them. For each approval, you typically see:
- The token symbol and amount approved (sometimes shown as "unlimited").
- The contract address of the dApp you approved.
- The date the approval was made.
4. Initiate the Revocation
- Locate the approval you want to revoke.
- Tap the Revoke button (or similar, such as "Revoke Approval" or a minus sign icon) next to that entry.
- A transaction window opens in Trust Wallet. It will show the details, including the network fee. Review the information carefully.
5. Confirm the Transaction
- Tap Confirm in Trust Wallet to sign and broadcast the revocation transaction.
- Wait for the transaction to be mined. The time varies by network and current congestion. Trust Wallet will show a pending status, then a completed status.
6. Verify the Revocation
After the transaction confirms, refresh the approval checker tool. The revoked approval should no longer appear. You can also check the token's contract on a block explorer (like Etherscan) by searching your wallet address and looking at the token allowance for that contract - it should show zero.
Common issues and troubleshooting
The revocation transaction fails
- Insufficient native token for gas: Ensure you have enough of the network's native currency to cover the fee. If the fee is too high, wait for a period of lower network activity.
- Network congestion: If the network is busy, the transaction may take longer to confirm or may fail. You can try increasing the gas fee (if the tool or Trust Wallet allows it) or retrying later.
The approval does not appear
- Wrong network selected: Double-check that you are viewing approvals on the correct blockchain.
- Token not recognized by the tool: Some less common tokens may not be indexed by the approval checker. You can manually revoke the approval by interacting directly with the token's smart contract on a block explorer, but this is more technically involved and not recommended for most users.
Trust Wallet Shows "Cannot Connect" or "Connection Failed"
- Ensure Trust Wallet's Browser feature is enabled in settings.
- Try closing and reopening the browser tab, or restarting Trust Wallet.
- Some dApps may not support the version of Trust Wallet you are using. Check for app updates in your phone's app store.
Safety Notes
- Only use well-known, reputable token approval checkers. Revoke.cash and Etherscan's token approval tool are widely used. Verify the URL before connecting your wallet.
- Never share your recovery phrase or private key with any dApp. The revocation process only requires signing a transaction, not revealing your seed.
- Revoking an approval costs a transaction fee each time. If you have many approvals, consider whether revoking all of them is worth the cumulative cost. Focus on contracts you no longer use or that you do not recognize.
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