# Lock a closed period

Understand the permanent lock action and how it differs from closing a fiscal period.

Canonical: https://demo.qixcount.com/help/period-close-and-audit/lock-a-period

Who can do this: Owners, or people with *View fiscal periods* and *Manage fiscal periods (close/reopen/lock)*

Where: Books, then Fiscal periods

You'll need: Period close turned on in Features; a closed monthly period

> [!WARNING]
> The lock action cannot be undone through the period controls. It also blocks year-end closing entries that need to post into that period.

Locking changes a closed period to **Locked**. Unlike closing, this workflow provides no action to reopen the period.

## Lock the period

1. Open **Books**, then **Fiscal periods**, and select the closed month.
2. Confirm the dates and status at the top of the page.
3. Select **Lock Period** under **Actions**.
4. Read the dialog's warning.
5. Select **Lock Permanently** only when you intend to remove the reopen option.

![Closed period with the Lock Period action](https://demo.qixcount.com/images/help/period-lock.webp)

## What happens next

The status becomes **Locked**. The page no longer offers the close or reopen controls. Its checklist remains visible without completion controls.

A lock controls posting and the available period actions. It does not establish that every business record is unchangeable, that every event was logged or that the books have been independently checked.

If you need a closed month open for corrections, use [reopen a period](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/period-close-and-audit/reopen-a-period) before locking it. For the separate year-end posting, read [close a General fiscal year](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/period-close-and-audit/year-end-close-general) or [close a Nonprofit fiscal year](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/nonprofit/nonprofit-year-end-close), depending on your edition.

## Who can do this and what you need

You need **View fiscal periods** and **Manage fiscal periods (close/reopen/lock)** permissions. The period must already be **Closed**. An open period must be closed before it can be locked.

If **Fiscal periods** isn't in the sidebar, someone with settings access can turn on **Period close** in [Features](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/setup/features-and-presets).