# Release a reservation

> The reservations.release operation: POST /api/v1/reservations/{id}/release in the REST API and the reservations_release tool in the MCP server.

Gives what a reservation still holds back to the wallet (each part to the credits it came from) and closes it
as `released`. Releasing a released reservation returns it unchanged; a captured or expired one can't be
released (`reservation_not_open`). Releasing changes no balance: the credits only stop being held.

## At a glance

- **REST:** `POST /api/v1/reservations/{id}/release`
- **MCP tool:** `reservations_release`
- **Operation ID:** `reservations.release`
- **Scope:** Brand
- **Permission:** `wallets:write`
- **Risk tier:** `write`
- **Dry run:** Supported (send `Ownrecord-Dry-Run: true`)
- **Idempotency:** `Idempotency-Key` required
- **Modes:** Test and live
- **Authentication:** API key with the `wallets:write` scope
- **Since:** M6

## Request

### Path parameters

| Field | Type       | Description                |
| ----- | ---------- | -------------------------- |
| `id`  | `res_…` ID | The reservation (`res_…`). |

### Body

This operation takes no body.

## Response

`200 OK` with a JSON object:

| Field            | Type                                                                  | Description                                                                    |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `id`             | string                                                                |                                                                                |
| `object`         | `"reservation"`                                                       |                                                                                |
| `brandId`        | `brd_…` ID                                                            |                                                                                |
| `livemode`       | boolean                                                               |                                                                                |
| `walletId`       | `wal_…` ID                                                            |                                                                                |
| `kind`           | one of `single`, `lease`                                              | `single` (§17.2) or `lease` (§17.3).                                           |
| `status`         | one of `active`, `expired_pending`, `captured`, `released`, `expired` | `active`, `captured`, `released`, `expired` (or `expired_pending` for leases). |
| `amount`         | money                                                                 | What was reserved.                                                             |
| `captured`       | money                                                                 | What was captured so far.                                                      |
| `outstanding`    | money                                                                 | What is still held: `amount − captured` while open, zero once closed.          |
| `expiresAt`      | date-time                                                             |                                                                                |
| `closedAt`       | date-time or null                                                     |                                                                                |
| `idempotencyKey` | string                                                                |                                                                                |
| `metadata`       | object                                                                |                                                                                |
| `createdAt`      | date-time                                                             |                                                                                |
| `updatedAt`      | date-time                                                             |                                                                                |

## Examples

### The job was cancelled

```http
POST /api/v1/reservations/res_01m4ty7w2a5qx7mhd9k8w6s0b4/release
Authorization: Bearer or_test_…
Idempotency-Key: 3f1c9a52-7d0e-4b8f-9a61-0c2d5e8b7f14
```

Response (`200`):

```json
{
  "id": "res_01m4ty7w2a5qx7mhd9k8w6s0b4",
  "object": "reservation",
  "brandId": "brd_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf47x4",
  "livemode": false,
  "walletId": "wal_01m4ty7w2a5qx7mhd9k8w6s0b1",
  "kind": "single",
  "status": "released",
  "amount": {
    "amount": "3000000",
    "currency": "EUR"
  },
  "captured": {
    "amount": "0",
    "currency": "EUR"
  },
  "outstanding": {
    "amount": "0",
    "currency": "EUR"
  },
  "expiresAt": "2026-10-16T10:20:00.000Z",
  "closedAt": "2026-10-16T10:16:00.000Z",
  "idempotencyKey": "job-8841",
  "metadata": {
    "job": "8841"
  },
  "createdAt": "2026-10-16T10:15:00.000Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-16T10:16:00.000Z"
}
```

## Errors

| Code                                                                                         | HTTP status | When                                                                                  | What to do                                                                                                                                         |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`validation_failed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#validation_failed)       | 400         | `id` isn't a reservation ID (`res_…`).                                                | Fix the fields listed in `details.issues` and send the request again.                                                                              |
| [`resource_not_found`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#resource_not_found)     | 404         | This brand has no such reservation in this mode.                                      | Check the ID and that your credentials are scoped to the right organization, entity, brand and mode.                                               |
| [`reservation_not_open`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#reservation_not_open) | 409         | The reservation was already captured or expired.                                      | Create a new reservation. A reservation is closed once it is captured, released or expired (`details.status`).                                     |
| [`version_conflict`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#version_conflict)         | 409         | The wallet changed at the same moment (another reservation, capture or grant); retry. | Fetch the object again and retry the change.                                                                                                       |
| [`scope_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#scope_required)             | 400         | The request names no brand (an org or entity key without `Ownrecord-Brand`).          | Call the operation with credentials or a target at its level: an organization, a legal entity, a brand or the platform (`details.required_scope`). |
| [`permission_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#permission_denied)       | 403         | You can't change this brand's wallets (`wallets:write`: owners, admins and support).  | Ask an organization owner or admin for a role or scope that allows this action.                                                                    |
| [`livemode_not_allowed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#livemode_not_allowed) | 403         | You have no live-mode access, so you can't use live wallets.                          | Use test mode, or credentials for the target's mode. Developers need live access granted by an organization owner or admin.                        |

It can also return these [common errors](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference.md#common-errors): [`api_version_unsupported`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_version_unsupported), [`invalid_json`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#invalid_json), [`unsupported_media_type`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#unsupported_media_type), [`authentication_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#authentication_required), [`api_key_invalid`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_key_invalid), [`idempotency_key_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_required), [`idempotency_key_reused`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_reused), [`idempotency_in_progress`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_in_progress), [`approval_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_required), [`approval_rejected`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_rejected), [`approval_expired`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_expired), [`stale_approval`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#stale_approval), [`approval_policy_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_policy_denied), [`rate_limited`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#rate_limited), [`internal_error`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#internal_error).