> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ava.do/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ava.do/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/exit-from-a-gnosis-validator.md).

# Exit and Withdraw Your GNO

Exiting a Gnosis validator stops it for good. Your 1 GNO stake, plus any rewards you have not claimed yet, is then paid out to your **withdrawal address**. On Gnosis you collect it with one final "claim" in your wallet.

{% hint style="info" %}
**You don't have to exit.** Gnosis is retiring its validators (GIP-153), but your validators keep earning until the switch, and you can simply wait for it. See [GIP-153: Gnosis Validators Are Retiring](/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/gip-153-gnosis-validators-are-retiring.md). Use this page if you prefer to stop earlier.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
**An exit cannot be undone.** Once a validator has exited, it can never validate again.
{% endhint %}

## Before you start: two checks

1. **Your withdrawal address is set.** Open **Gnosis Teku** from **My DApps** (there it is called "Gnosis Validator + Beacon Chain (Teku)"). On the **Main** page, look at the **Withdrawals** column:
   * **enabled** or **enabled+compounding**: all good, continue.
   * **todo**: [set your withdrawal address](/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/set-withdrawal-address.md) first. If you exit without one, your GNO stays locked until you set it, and after Gnosis retires its validators it may no longer be possible to set one. If this looks too technical, contact AVADO support and we will help you.
2. **Your AVADO is healthy.** Open **Home** in the AVADO Admin. It should not show a problem for Gnosis Teku or Gnosis Nethermind, and both should be synced. The exit message is sent by your own node, so it has to be up to date.

## Step 1: Click Exit in Gnosis Teku

1. Open **Gnosis Teku** from **My DApps** (or click **Open** on its card on **Home**).
2. On the **Main** page, find the validator you want to exit.
3. In the **Actions** column, click the **exit icon** (an arrow pointing up out of a tray), to the right of the trash can. The exit icon is only shown while the status is `active_ongoing`.

<figure><img src="https://2996176873-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0YTdumceG05uJMtaEgaT%2Fuploads%2FA12JklJXr6nKYDYbTgOg%2Fvalidator-exit-button.png?alt=media&amp;token=d6275956-0239-4048-b956-790f28a712f2" alt="The exit icon in the Actions column, next to the trash can"><figcaption><p>The exit icon, next to the trash can</p></figcaption></figure>

4. Type `agree` in the box and click **Exit validator**.

<figure><img src="https://2996176873-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F0YTdumceG05uJMtaEgaT%2Fuploads%2Fcr1o5b0OqdNdBPnxM29f%2Fvalidator-exit-confirm.png?alt=media&amp;token=16f49e96-8163-4fc7-be4d-0fc68363a7e6" alt="The Exit validator confirmation window: type agree, then click Exit validator" width="563"><figcaption><p>Type agree, then click Exit validator</p></figcaption></figure>

5. You will see the message **Exit initiated**. Repeat for each validator you want to exit. Each validator has its own exit icon.

## Step 2: Keep your AVADO running until the exit is done

Leave your AVADO switched on, and don't stop (pause) or remove Gnosis Teku yet. Your validator has to keep doing its duties until the exit is complete. If it goes offline before that, it loses small amounts of GNO.

After a few minutes, the status on the **Main** page starts to change:

| Status                | What it means                                                |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `active_exiting`      | Your exit is on its way. The validator is still working.     |
| `exited_unslashed`    | The validator has stopped. It no longer needs your AVADO.    |
| `withdrawal_possible` | Your stake is about to be paid out.                          |
| `withdrawal_done`     | Your stake has been paid out and is ready to claim (step 3). |

Gnosis says a full exit is usually ready to claim within 1 to 2 days. That is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee: it takes longer when many people exit at the same time.

You can also follow your validator on the Gnosis beacon chain explorer, [**beaconchain.gnosischain.com**](https://beaconchain.gnosischain.com/). Search for your validator's index number or public key.

{% hint style="info" %}
In Gnosis Teku 0.0.27 and older, the satellite-dish icons still open the old gnosischa.in site, which no longer works. Search on [beaconchain.gnosischain.com](https://beaconchain.gnosischain.com/) instead.
{% endhint %}

## Step 3: Claim your GNO

On Gnosis, your GNO is not sent straight to your wallet. It waits in the Gnosis deposit contract until someone claims it for your withdrawal address.

1. On a computer, go to Gnosis's validators app: [**validators.gnosischain.com**](https://validators.gnosischain.com/).
2. Connect the wallet that holds your **withdrawal address**. A hardware wallet connected through MetaMask works fine.
3. The **Ready to claim** panel shows how much GNO is waiting for you. Click **Claim** and confirm in your wallet. You pay a tiny fee in xDAI.
4. The GNO arrives at your withdrawal address on Gnosis Chain.

Claim only on validators.gnosischain.com, typed in yourself. AVADO and Gnosis will never ask for your 24 words or keystore files, and never send you a link to "claim" or "migrate" your GNO.

There is also a way to claim directly on the deposit contract. See [Claiming the GNO rewards](/more-staking-opportunities/gnosis-staking/rewards-and-penalties.md#claiming-the-gno-rewards).

## Step 4 (optional): Free up disk space

Once **every** validator in Gnosis Teku shows `withdrawal_done`, and your GNO is in your wallet, you no longer need the Gnosis apps:

1. Open **Gnosis Teku** from **My DApps**, open the **⋯** menu, click **Remove**, and confirm with **Remove package**.
2. Do the same for **Gnosis Nethermind** (in My DApps: "Gnosis Execution Client (Nethermind)").
3. Switch to **Advanced** mode, open **System**, and run **Disk cleanup** to free the space.

Keep your 24-word secret recovery phrase safe anyway. It is the master key to your validators and their withdrawal address.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Only remove Gnosis Teku when **none** of its validators is still active or exiting. Removing it while a validator is still active takes that validator offline, and it slowly loses GNO.
{% endhint %}

## If your AVADO cannot run

If your AVADO is broken and you still want to exit, Gnosis's validators app can also start an exit from the wallet that holds your withdrawal address. See the Gnosis documentation on [voluntary exits](https://docs.gnosischain.com/node/management/voluntary-exit), or contact AVADO support and we will help you.