By the end of this guide, you'll know how to reverse the launch of accidentally launched leads, understand when reversal is possible, and use filters to quickly identify and unreview leads before they receive any emails.

Accidentally launching leads happens. Maybe you clicked too fast, imported the wrong list, or realized you need to update lead data before outreach begins. If caught quickly, you can reverse the launch and move leads back to "To Launch" status, preventing unwanted emails and keeping your campaign data clean.

However, reverse launch only works before Step 1 sends. Once a lead receives their first email, the launch cannot be reversed. Understanding this window and acting quickly protects your campaign integrity and prevents embarrassing mistakes.

You CAN reverse launch when:

✅ The lead was just launched but hasn't received Step 1 yet

✅ The campaign is paused before Step 1 sends

✅ The lead shows "Ready to Send" status (scheduled but not sent)

You CANNOT reverse launch when:

❌ The lead has already received Step 1

❌ Step 1 has been sent and is showing in the lead's activity history

❌ The lead has progressed to Step 2 or beyond

💡 Critical timing: If you realize the mistake immediately after launching, pause the campaign right away. Every minute counts. Once Step 1 sends, reversal is impossible.

Before attempting to reverse launch:

Step 1: Pause your campaign

As soon as you realize leads were launched by mistake, go to Campaigns, then switch your campaign OFF to pause it.

This immediately stops all scheduled sends, including Step 1 emails that haven't gone out yet.

💡 Speed matters: If your campaign is scheduled to send in the next few minutes, pause immediately. Even a few minutes can be the difference between reversible and irreversible.

Step 2: Open the campaign

From the campaigns list, click the campaign name to open it.

Step 3: Go to the Lead list

In your campaign, click Lead list to view all leads.

Step 4: Apply the "Ready to Send" filter

Click the Filter icon, select Status, choose Ready to send, then click Apply.

This shows only leads that are scheduled to receive Step 1 but haven't received it yet, exactly the leads you can reverse launch for.

💡 What "Ready to Send" means: These leads are in the queue waiting for their scheduled send time. Since the email hasn't been sent yet, they can still be unreviewed and moved back to "To Launch."

Step 5: Identify the leads to unreview

Review the filtered list and identify which leads need to be reversed. You can:

Step 6: Select the leads and unreview them

Check the box next to each lead you want to reverse, then click Unreview X lead(s) in the bulk action bar (the number X will match how many leads you selected). A confirmation pop-up may appear asking if you're sure. Confirm the action.

Step 7: Verify leads moved back to "To Launch"

The selected leads are immediately moved from "Ready to Send" back to the To Launch section.

Go to the Review or Launch tab to confirm they now appear in "To Launch" status.

Step 8: Address the root cause

Before relaunching, fix whatever caused the accidental launch:

Step 9: Review and relaunch when ready

Once the issue is resolved:

Step 10: Resume the campaign

Click Resume or Start to reactivate the campaign.

Leads will now follow the correct sequence with accurate data.

When you unreview leads:

✅ Leads move back to "To Launch" status

✅ Scheduled Step 1 emails are cancelled (they will not send)

✅ Lead activity history is cleared – The lead shows no campaign activity

✅ Campaign statistics are updated – These leads no longer count as launched

The lead is effectively reset to pre-launch state, as if they were never launched in the first place.

Ready to Send means:

This is the critical window where reverse launch is possible.

Once Step 1 sends, the status changes to "In Progress" or "Active," and the lead can no longer be unreviewed.

💡 How to maximize your reversal window: If your campaign sends emails at 9 AM and you launch leads at 8:55 AM, you have only 5 minutes to catch mistakes. Launch leads well before scheduled send times to give yourself a buffer.

Marketing Agency Accidentally Launches Wrong Lead List

A marketing agency managing multiple client campaigns accidentally launched 150 leads from Client A into Client B's campaign.

Timeline:

Their fix:

Result:

Key takeaway: Fast action saved the campaign. If they had waited until 9:05 AM, those leads would have received Step 1, and reversal would have been impossible.

Issue: The "Unreview" option is grayed out or missing

Root cause: The leads have already received Step 1 and can no longer be unreviewed

Fix:

Issue: I unreviewed leads but they still show as launched

Root cause: Browser cache or display lag

Fix:

Issue: Some leads in "Ready to Send" can't be unreviewed

Root cause: Those specific leads may have just sent Step 1 between when you filtered and when you clicked unreview

Fix:

Issue: I want to reverse launch for leads on Step 2

Root cause: Reverse launch only works before Step 1 sends

Fix:

Launch during low-activity hours: Launch leads when your campaign isn't scheduled to send soon. This gives you a larger window to catch mistakes before emails go out.

Use test launches: Before launching large lead lists, launch 5-10 leads first as a test. Verify everything looks correct, then launch the rest.

Double-check filters before launching: Use the "To Launch" section filters to verify you're launching the correct segment before clicking launch.

Set up approval workflows: For team environments, require a second person to approve launches before they go live. This catches mistakes before they happen.

Review campaign settings first: Before launching any leads, review sequence content, sending schedule, and campaign settings one final time.

Name campaigns clearly: Use descriptive campaign names and lead tags to reduce the chance of launching the wrong leads into the wrong campaign.

Enable auto-launch carefully: Auto-launch is powerful, but it removes the manual check. Only use it when you're confident in your lead quality and campaign setup.

Create a pre-launch checklist: Before launching any campaign, run through a checklist: correct leads, correct campaign, sequence finalized, settings confirmed. This prevents rushed mistakes.