---
title: Designate a Button as the Cancel Button Using the Designer
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "buttons [Windows Forms], cancel buttons"
  - "Button control [Windows Forms], designating as cancel button"
ms.assetid: 30e77d9c-d565-4ab5-a84a-62c043af8822
---
# How to: Designate a Windows Forms Button as the Cancel Button Using the Designer
On any Windows Form, you can designate a <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Button> control to be the cancel button. A cancel button is clicked whenever the user presses the ESC key, regardless of which other control on the form has the focus. Such a button is usually programmed to enable the user to quickly exit an operation without committing to any action.

## To designate the cancel button

1. Select the form on which the button resides.

2. In the **Properties** window, set the form's <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Form.CancelButton%2A> property to the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Button> control's name.

## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.Form.CancelButton%2A>
- [Button Control Overview](button-control-overview-windows-forms.md)
- [Ways to Select a Windows Forms Button Control](ways-to-select-a-windows-forms-button-control.md)
- [How to: Respond to Windows Forms Button Clicks](how-to-respond-to-windows-forms-button-clicks.md)
- [How to: Designate a Windows Forms Button as the Accept Button Using the Designer](designate-a-wf-button-as-the-accept-button-using-the-designer.md)
- [Button Control](button-control-windows-forms.md)