What capture and release mean
When a Stripe authorization hold is active, two actions are available: capture and release. These are not the same thing, and understanding the difference matters before you touch anything on the order.
Capture converts the reserved funds into a real payment. Money moves from the customer’s card to your Stripe balance. You can capture the full hold amount or a partial amount. A capture is irreversible once confirmed.
Release cancels the hold and frees the reserved funds on the customer’s card. No money is transferred. No refund is issued. The pending line on the customer’s bank statement simply disappears. A release is the correct action when no deposit is owed.
Both actions must happen within the authorization window. If the hold expires before you act, neither capture nor release is available, and the funds return to the customer automatically.
Capturing a hold moves money. Releasing a hold frees the reserved amount without creating a refund. These two actions should be handled carefully from the WooCommerce order workflow.
Before capturing a deposit hold
A capture should always be intentional. Before you capture, confirm that you have a clear and documented reason to do so.
- Open the WooCommerce order and confirm which hold is associated with it.
- Check the capture reason. Common reasons include damage, late return fees or verified extras. Avoid capturing without a written justification.
- Confirm the amount. Decide whether a full capture or a partial capture is appropriate. The amount should match the documented cost.
- Document the damage or fees before you capture. Notes on the WooCommerce order and any supporting records are good practice.
- Avoid automatic captures without justification. Capturing a deposit without a clear reason can generate disputes.
- Communicate with the customer if appropriate, depending on your process and the amount involved.
Step-by-step: capture a hold
- 1Open the WooCommerce order associated with the deposit hold.
- 2Review the SecureHold deposit status to confirm the hold is still active.
- 3Confirm the capture reason and the amount you intend to capture.
- 4Choose full or partial capture depending on the situation.
- 5Confirm the capture action in the order interface.
- 6Check the updated deposit status and review the order notes for confirmation.
Step-by-step: release a hold
- 1Open the WooCommerce order associated with the deposit hold.
- 2Confirm that no deposit capture is needed for this order.
- 3Review the hold status to confirm it is still active and within the authorization window.
- 4Click the release action.
- 5Confirm the action when prompted.
- 6Check that the deposit status is updated and the order notes reflect the release.
Full capture vs partial capture
When you capture a hold, you can choose how much to capture. Here is how full and partial captures compare.
| Full capture | Partial capture | |
|---|---|---|
| When it is used | Damage or fees equal the full hold amount | Partial damage or fees below the hold amount |
| Amount captured | 100% of the original hold | A defined portion of the hold |
| Remaining funds | None released separately | Automatically released back to the customer |
| Customer impact | Full deposit collected | Partial deposit collected, remainder freed |
| Admin risk | Higher if not well documented | Requires a precise amount decision |
| Best use case | Clear full-cost damage or fee | Specific known cost below the hold amount |
For many standard card payments, uncaptured PaymentIntents are canceled after a set number of days, 7 days by default. The exact authorization window can depend on the payment method, card network, transaction type and Stripe configuration. Do not wait too long before deciding whether to capture or release.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Capturing without a clear reason. Always document the justification before capturing.
- Waiting until the hold expires. Once the authorization window closes, the hold is released automatically and capture is no longer available.
- Confusing release with refund. A release does not appear as a refund on the customer’s statement. No money was moved.
- Assuming partial capture can be repeated. After a partial capture, the remaining amount is released immediately. You cannot recapture the released portion.
- Testing on a live customer order. Use Stripe test mode for any workflow testing.
- Not reviewing Stripe or WooCommerce order notes. Both contain useful diagnostic information if a capture or release does not behave as expected.
How SecureHold WP helps
SecureHold WP brings the full capture and release workflow into the standard WooCommerce order screen. You do not need to open Stripe Dashboard to manage individual deposit holds.
- Deposit status is visible directly on the WooCommerce order so you can confirm hold state before acting.
- Capture action is available from the order view, with support for full capture.
- Release action is available from the same interface, with a single confirmation step.
- Health Check surfaces Stripe configuration issues that could affect capture and release reliability.
- Order notes log each deposit action so you have a record on the order itself.
Manage deposit capture and release from WooCommerce
SecureHold WP helps WooCommerce stores handle Stripe security deposit holds with clear capture and release actions.
FAQ
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Is releasing a Stripe hold the same as refunding?
No. A release cancels the authorization hold without transferring any money. The reserved amount is simply freed on the customer's card. There is nothing to refund because no charge was made. A refund, by contrast, returns money that was already transferred. -
Can I capture only part of a Stripe authorization hold?
Yes. You can capture any amount up to the full hold amount. If you capture less than the original hold, the remaining portion is automatically released back to the customer. -
What happens to the remaining amount after a partial capture?
The remaining amount is released immediately after a partial capture. It becomes available again on the customer's card. You cannot capture the released portion again. -
What happens if I do not capture the hold in time?
For many standard card payments, uncaptured PaymentIntents are canceled after a set number of days, 7 days by default. The exact window depends on the payment method and card network. If the hold expires, it is released automatically and you can no longer capture it. -
Can I capture or release deposits from WooCommerce?
Yes, with SecureHold WP. The plugin adds capture and release actions directly to the WooCommerce order view, so you can manage the full deposit lifecycle without leaving the admin.
