A reserved order sets aside tickets without taking payment, so that inventory counts as unavailable until the order is paid or released. This is why a registration type can read “sold out” when you have not actually sold every ticket.
Tickets reserve in two ways: automatically, when a buyer adds them to their cart and starts checkout, and manually, when you put a hold on an order. Cart reservations release on their own after a set time; held orders stay reserved until you complete or void them.
Requirements: An event with at least one registration type.
Find reserved orders for one registration type
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Open the event and go to its registration types.
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In the inventory table, read the Reserved column. It sits between Available and Requested and shows how many units are currently reserved.
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Click the number in the Reserved column.
The orders holding those tickets open, filtered to that registration type.
Find all reserved orders
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Open Orders from the main menu.
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In the search panel, set the State filter to Reserved, then apply the search.
The list shows every order currently in the reserved state.
Free up the tickets
Open a reserved order, then either finish it or release it:
- Complete the order — take payment, or process a comped order. The tickets convert from reserved to issued.
- Void the order — click Void to cancel it and return the tickets to available inventory.
Once the order is completed or voided, the Reserved count on the registration type drops accordingly.
Hold an order
A hold reserves an order’s tickets and keeps them reserved until the order is completed or voided — it does not expire on its own.
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Open the order.
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In the order details, click Hold.
The Held by field records who placed the hold, and the order no longer shows an expiry time.
Related articles
- Create an order — book an attendee in from the backend and take or skip payment.
- Registration types — set up the ticket types whose inventory gets reserved.
- Issuing refunds and exchanges — refund or change tickets after an order is complete.
FAQ
A registration type shows sold out but I haven’t sold them all. Why?
Reserved orders count against available inventory. Open the registration type and check its Reserved column — those units are held by in-progress checkouts or manual holds, not sales. Completing or voiding those orders frees the inventory.
Do cart reservations release automatically?
Yes. When a buyer adds tickets to their cart, those tickets reserve while they check out and release automatically if the order is not completed in time. The order’s Expires at time shows when an unheld reservation lapses.
What’s the difference between holding an order and a cart reservation?
A cart reservation is temporary and releases on its own. A hold is manual and permanent — the tickets stay reserved until you complete or void the order. Use a hold when you need to guarantee tickets for someone before they pay.
Why can’t I place a hold on an order?
The Hold action is only available on an in-progress order that hasn’t expired, been voided, or already been held. Completed orders can’t be held, because their tickets are already issued.
