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

# Lock and unlock reviews

> Lock manager reviews to stop edits, then unlock them when corrections are needed.

Lock a manager review when you want to stop further changes from its owner. The manager can still read the review.

## Check access and review type

A cycle admin can lock and unlock manager reviews from **Configure cycle > Sharing**. An assigned manager who is not a cycle admin must ask a cycle admin to unlock a review.

This lock applies only to manager reviews. It does not lock self, peer, or upward reviews. Complete lock and unlock actions before the cycle is completed or archived.

## Lock manager reviews

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Sharing page">
    Open the cycle from [Review Cycles](https://app.gowindmill.com/COMPANY/performance). Select **Configure cycle**, then **Sharing**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the reviews">
    Select the employee rows for the manager reviews you want to lock. Select **Lock** in the action bar. The number beside the action shows how many selected reviews can be locked.

    For one review, you can also open the employee row and select **Lock** in its details panel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the lock">
    In **Lock reviews**, check the employee list. Select **Lock 1 review**, or the button with the number of reviews you selected.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the status">
    The review status changes to **Locked**. The manager can no longer edit, submit, or reset the review.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What a lock changes

A lock preserves the answers and submission status. It does not submit a draft, share a packet, or remove employee access to a shared packet.

You can lock a review before or after submission:

* **Before submission:** The review stays unsubmitted. It cannot be shared. Unlock it so the manager can finish and submit it.
* **After submission:** The submitted answers remain available. The manager cannot change or resubmit them until a cycle admin unlocks the review.
* **After sharing:** The employee keeps access to the shared packet. Use **Revoke Access** if you also need to undo sharing.

A future deadline does not override a lock. Extending a deadline does not unlock a review.

## Unlock manager reviews

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select locked reviews">
    Open **Configure cycle > Sharing**. Select the employee rows for the locked manager reviews, then select **Unlock**.

    For one review, you can also open the employee row and select **Unlock** in its details panel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the unlock">
    In **Unlock reviews**, check the employee list. Select **Unlock 1 review**, or the button with the number of reviews you selected.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask the manager to make corrections">
    The manager can edit and submit the review again while the cycle is active. Unlocking does not automatically notify the manager, so tell them when the review is ready.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Unlocking preserves existing answers and submission status. After the manager submits the corrections, lock the review again if you want to stop further edits.

## Lock when sharing results

The sharing dialogs include **Also lock reviews to prevent further edits (recommended)**. Select **Enable manager sharing & lock** to let managers share the packets and stop further edits. Select **Share & Lock** to share directly with employees and stop further edits.

These actions require submitted manager reviews. See [Share review results](/features/performance-reviews/share-reviews).

If you unlock a shared review, draft edits do not change the employee's packet. After the manager submits the corrections, the employee sees the updated answers when they open the packet. Windmill does not automatically notify the employee about the update. See [Edit or undo shared results](/features/performance-reviews/edit-shared-reviews).

## Continue or restart other review work

Review owners can edit and resubmit unlocked reviews while the cycle is active. A missed deadline does not require a separate reopen action for self, peer, upward, or manager reviews.

The review owner can also select **Review actions** on the review page:

* **Restart Review:** Clears your saved answers and returns you to the start screen. Earlier answers stay in answer history.
* **Reset:** Generates new context and keeps your answers. Select what to generate again: **Context report**, **Observations**, or **Resend Chat**. New context can take up to 30 minutes.

Cycle-admin access alone does not let an admin reset someone else's review. Unlock a locked manager review before its owner resets it.

A past deadline blocks admins from adding or reassigning work. Extend the deadline into the future before either action. See [Change dates and questions](/features/performance-reviews/change-an-active-cycle).