Your drive supports a temporary file locking system to prevent simultaneous edits by other users during non-collaborative editing.

This extension allows you to lock files currently being edited to avoid conflicts. It offers two types of locking: automatic and manual.

Automatic Locking

A file is automatically locked when you open it to prevent concurrent modifications by other users.

When you open a file from the web interface (browser), other users who also have access to it will see that it is:

• editable in the web interface (browser) in collaboration mode

• locked (read-only) in the local file explorer on their computer (sync client)

Opening the file from the local file explorer is still possible, but the Read-only label will appear.

When you open a file directly from your local file explorer on Windows – Mac – Linux, other users who also have access to it will see that it is:

• locked (read-only) in the web interface (browser)

• locked (read-only) in the local file explorer on their computer (sync client)

Again, the Read-only label appears when opening the file locally.

When you open a local file (Windows – Mac – Linux) from the web interface using the “Edit locally” button, other users who also have access to it will see that it is:

• locked (read-only) in the web interface (browser)
• locked (read-only) in the local file explorer on their computer (sync client)

With automatic locking, once you close a document, it is automatically unlocked.

Collaborative Work

When multiple users want to edit a file simultaneously in collaborative mode, there are two options:

• Via the web interface (browser): all users with access to the file can collaboratively edit it by opening it with OnlyOffice.

• Via the local file explorer (sync client): to work collaboratively, users must follow this procedure: link

Manual Locking

Manual locking is initiated by the user without having to open the document.

When you manually lock a file, whether from the web interface (browser) or from your local file explorer on Windows – Mac – Linux, the file remains editable for you, but other users who have access to it will see that it is:

• locked (read-only) in the web interface (browser)
• locked (read-only) in the local file explorer on their computer (sync client)

Closing the document does not automatically unlock it. You must manually unlock it through the interface or file explorer.

Practical Example: Manual Locking from the Web Interface

To activate locking on a file, click on the three dots and select Lock file.

A notification and a padlock icon will appear to indicate that the file is locked.

Other users accessing the file will see this appear on their interface:

They cannot cancel the file lock.

On the left, the file is opened by the person who locked it and can be edited. On the right, it is opened by another user who cannot edit it.

The user who locked the file can unlock it from the file options.

Practical Example: Manual Locking from the Leviia Application

If you have installed the Leviia application, you can also lock a file directly from the file explorer.

To do this, simply right-click on the file and select Show more options, then Leviia > Lock file.

The padlock icon will then appear like this:

Updated on: 14/10/2025