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

# Pay Periods & Locking

> Lock a pay period to freeze its time entries, and unlock it (SUPER_ADMIN only) when a correction is needed.

Locking a **pay period** freezes its time entries so nothing changes after you've
reviewed and run payroll for it. This protects the numbers behind an approved or
paid submission. Unlocking is deliberately restricted to super admins.

## What locking does

When a pay period is locked, its time entries **cannot be edited or
force-clocked-out**. Anyone who tries sees:

> *Cannot modify time entries in a locked pay period. Contact your administrator
> to unlock.*

This keeps a finalized payroll period tamper-proof.

## Automatic locking

You usually don't lock periods by hand. PayPunch **locks a pay period
automatically** when its payroll submission is **approved** or marked **paid**.
The lock reason is recorded as an automatic lock so the history is clear.

## Locking a period manually

A pay period can be locked once it has **ended** (you can't lock the active,
current period). Locking requires a **reason**, which is stored in the period's
lock history.

<Warning>
  You can't lock a period that's **already locked**, and you can't lock the
  **current/active** period — wait until the period ends.
</Warning>

## Unlocking a period

Sometimes a correction is needed after a period is locked. Unlocking is a
**SUPER\_ADMIN-only** action.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm you have access">
    Only **SUPER\_ADMIN** users can unlock. Standard **ADMIN** users see
    *"Only super admins can unlock pay periods."*
  </Step>

  <Step title="Unlock with a reason">
    Unlock the period, supplying a **reason** for the change. The reason is stored
    in the lock history.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make the correction">
    With the period unlocked, edit the time entries as needed, then lock it again.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Lock status and history

Every lock and unlock is recorded with the **action** (Locked / Unlocked), **who**
performed it, the **reason**, and a **timestamp**. You can check whether a period
is locked, whether its entries are editable, and review the full lock/unlock
history for an audit trail.

<Tip>
  If you can't edit a time entry, the period is almost certainly locked. Check the
  lock status — and remember that re-opening it for an edit is a SUPER\_ADMIN action.
</Tip>