---
layout: api
page_title: /sys/step-down - HTTP API
description: The `/sys/step-down` endpoint causes the node to give up active status.
---

> [!IMPORTANT]  
> **Documentation Update:** Product documentation, which were located in this repository under `/website`, are now located in [`hashicorp/web-unified-docs`](https://github.com/hashicorp/web-unified-docs), colocated with all other product documentation. Contributions to this content should be done in the `web-unified-docs` repo, and not this one. Changes made to `/website` content in this repo will not be reflected on the developer.hashicorp.com website.

# `/sys/step-down`

@include 'alerts/restricted-root.mdx'

The `/sys/step-down` endpoint causes the node to give up active status.

## Step down leader

The step-down endpoint forces nodes to give up "active" status. If you
call the endpoint against a non-active node, for example, a DR or
 performance standby node, Vault forwards the request to the active
  node.
  
    Note that the node will sleep
for ten seconds before attempting to grab the active lock again, but if no
standby nodes grab the active lock in the interim, the same node may become the
active node again. Requires a token with `root` policy or `sudo` capability on
the path.

| Method | Path             |
| :----- | :--------------- |
| `POST` | `/sys/step-down` |

### Sample request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/sys/step-down
```