# Closing a channel

**URL:** <https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-a-channel/864>\
**Category:** Bitcoin and Lightning\
**Created:** [May 13, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-a-channel/864 "2021-05-13T14:09:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![altvision](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@altvision](https://community.umbrel.com/u/altvision)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-a-channel/864/1 "2021-05-13T14:09:55Z")

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Hi!

I am interested in closing a channel that I have balanced with 50% inbound/outbound capacity.  
Do I need to rebalance it to have 100% outbound capacity before I close it?

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**Author:** ![DarthCoin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.umbrel.com/darthcoin/32/1628_2.png) [@DarthCoin](https://community.umbrel.com/u/DarthCoin)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-a-channel/864/2 "2021-05-13T14:25:55Z")

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There are only few cases when you have to close a channel. Otherwise is just dumb.

- the other peer is not online/responsive for long time
- the channel is too small (was open by mistake)
- you want to shut down totally your node
- you want to wipe out your node software and data
- your node is broken and you have to reinstall / recover funds

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**Author:** ![altvision](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@altvision](https://community.umbrel.com/u/altvision)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-a-channel/864/3 "2021-05-13T14:28:07Z")

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> [@DarthCoin](#):
>
> - the other peer is not online/responsive for long time
> - the channel is too small (was open by mistake)

Yes I want to close it for these 2 reasons:

- the other peer is not online/responsive for long time
- the channel is too small (was open by mistake)

So do I need to rebalance it to have 100% outbound capacity before I close it?

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**Author:** ![DarthCoin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.umbrel.com/darthcoin/32/1628_2.png) [@DarthCoin](https://community.umbrel.com/u/DarthCoin)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-a-channel/864/4 "2021-05-13T14:30:48Z")

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no. but if is so small that will not cover the fees, you will end up with nothing.  
So be aware.