---
title: "Partial Locking for Protocols"
description: "Partial locking for protocols and custom protocol locking settings"
url: https://help.labstep.com/en/articles/10279675-partial-locking-for-protocols
collection: "Protocols"
updated: 2026-07-30
language: en
---

# Partial Locking for Protocols

Partial locking for protocols and custom protocol locking settings

_Partial locking for protocols is a powerful feature that gives workspace owners control over which actions are allowed when a protocol is locked. This functionality is designed to enhance process consistency, ensure compliance, and streamline quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) workflows._

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# **Benefits of Partial Locking**

-   **Increase Consistency**  
    Locking protocols ensures that your team follows standardised procedures every time, reducing the risk of errors and discrepancies.
    
-   **Control Over Process Execution**  
    By deciding what actions are allowed when a protocol is locked, you maintain control over critical steps in your workflows while still enabling flexibility where needed.
    
-   **Compliance**  
    Partial locking supports compliance with regulatory standards by safeguarding key elements of your processes and protocols, ensuring they remain unaltered during execution.
    
-   **QA/QC Applications**  
    Use partial locking to ensure that QA/QC steps are consistently applied without deviations, improving the reliability of your results and data integrity.
    

# **Setting Up Partial Locking**

Partial locking works at two levels. You can set the default settings for all protocols in the workspace or override the settings for individual protocols.

## Restrictable Actions:

#### Protocol

-   Edit the name of the protocol
    
-   Edit start/end date
    
-   Mark steps as complete
    
-   Edit the text and basic tables
    
-   Add comments
    

#### Interactive Tables

-   Edit the name
    
-   Edit data
    

#### Data Fields

-   Add new data fields
    
-   Remove data fields
    
-   Edit data values
    
-   Edit the field name
    
-   Edit amount used
    
-   Edit the unit of the field
    
-   Select items
    

#### Inventory Fields

-   Add new fields
    
-   Remove fields
    

#### Timers

-   Add timers
    
-   Edit timers
    
-   Run timers
    

#### Conditions Table

-   Add conditions
    
-   Remove conditions
    

#### Chemistry

-   Edit reaction schemes
    

#### Jupyter Notebooks

-   Run Jupyter Notebooks
    
-   Edit Jupyter Notebooks
    

##   
**Default Settings for the Workspace**

Workspace owners can define default locking settings for all protocols within their workspace. These settings determine which actions are restricted when a protocol is locked.

1.  Navigate to the Workspace Settings
    
2.  Go to the Protocols tab
    
3.  Click Lock Settings
    
4.  Select which actions are permitted or not when locking a protocol
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/helpcenter/699dc51d2188da0fb351700e/20260224153956_6052.gif)

##   
**Settings for Individual Protocols**

Workspace owners can override the default settings if certain protocols require more specific rules. This allows for customised locking configurations per protocol.

1.  Open the protocol you want to set custom locking settings for
    
2.  Click the vertical ellipsis
    
3.  Click Settings
    
4.  Toggle "**Lock when running protocol**"
    
5.  Adjust the allowed and restricted actions for this specific protocol
    
6.  Click Done
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/helpcenter/699dc51d2188da0fb351700e/20260224153958_6234.gif)

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**_Still need help?_**

_Contact us_ [_here_](mailto:info@labstep.com) _or start a conversation with a member of our team using our in-app chat._