---
title: "Can't edit a purchase order attached to an exported invoice"
slug: "edit-a-po-that-is-attached-to-an-exported-invoice"
tags: ["Area - Accounting", "Area - Inventory and POs", "Focus - Construction", "Focus - Service Replacement", "Role - Accountant", "Role - Admin", "Type - Commercial", "Type - Residential"]
updated: 2026-10-16T00:27:48Z
published: 2026-10-16T00:27:48Z
canonical: "help.servicetitan.com/edit-a-po-that-is-attached-to-an-exported-invoice"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.servicetitan.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Can't edit a purchase order attached to an exported invoice

![](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/anvil-wrench.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-27T02%3A02%3A10Z&se=2026-10-27T03%3A02%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2B281mSqjlohiI8rbdXRDo%2Bxqt1IfgcYZKyWtShpskA4%3D) Troubleshooting **Role:** Office employees · Accountants · Administrators**Area:** Purchasing · Inventory · Accounting export · All business types · All versions

## **What you're seeing**

You try to edit or add a purchase order on an invoice, but the change won't save. The system shows an error: *Cannot add a PO to invoice because it is exported.* The invoice has already been exported to your accounting software, which locks it against changes.

## **Why this happens**

**Reason 1**

**Exported invoices are locked to keep your books in sync.** Once an invoice is exported to your accounting software, ServiceTitan locks it to keep your books and the accounting system in sync. Because the PO is tied to that locked invoice, you can't edit the PO directly. To make the change, you work through an adjustment invoice instead.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Some accounts are configured to allow adding a PO to a posted or exported invoice. If you don't run into this restriction, your account may be set up that way. Contact Support for details.

## **Before you start**

- You need **Purchase Orders** permissions to cancel and create purchase orders and to create adjustment invoices. If you don't have it, contact your administrator.
- If the PO's receipt and bill were also exported, they can't be un-exported, and you can't add or change the job on that PO afterward. Exported records are final. In that case, use the return-based workaround below rather than trying to un-export anything.
- It's best to make PO changes before the invoice is exported. This workaround is for cases where the invoice is already exported.

## **How to fix it**

### **1****Correct the PO through an adjustment invoice**

1. Search for and open the purchase order you need to change, then **create a return** on it.
2. Search for and open the invoice tied to that PO.
3. Add an **adjustment invoice** to it.
4. Create a new PO with the correct details.
5. In the **Job #** field on the **Create a Purchase Order** screen, enter the job number of the invoice tied to the original PO.
6. Attach the new PO to the adjustment invoice.

> [!NOTE]
> **✓ Done ·** The corrected PO is attached to the adjustment invoice, the original exported invoice stays intact, and your accounting software stays in sync.

## **Still not working?**

Contact ServiceTitan Technical Support at [**go.servicetitan.com/ask**](https://go.servicetitan.com/ask) with:

- The purchase order number and the invoice number
- The job number tied to the original PO
- The exact error message you're seeing
- Whether a bill or receipt was also exported for this PO
- Which steps from this article you already tried

## **Want to learn more?**

[**Create an adjustment invoice ›**](https://help.servicetitan.com/docs/create-an-adjustment-invoice) Step-by-step guide to creating the adjustment invoice this workaround depends on.

[**Edit, copy, and cancel a purchase order from the office ›**](https://help.servicetitan.com/docs/edit-copy-and-cancel-a-purchase-order-from-the-office) How to modify, duplicate, or cancel a purchase order from the office.

[**What is the process for editing a Purchase Order after it has been received but not exported? ›**](https://help.servicetitan.com/docs/edit-a-purchase-order-after-received-but-not-exported) Covers editing a PO that has been received but not yet exported to accounting.