--- title: What happens when you load a locked protocol onto a task? description: Learn what happens when you load a locked protocol onto a task in SciNote — including which actions are restricted, what you can still edit, and how locking affects steps and content blocks. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/what-happens-when-you-load-a-locked-protocol-onto-a-task#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Leave us a message](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) ![SciNote\_logo\_color\_2023.png\]](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/hs-fs/hubfs/SciNote_logo_color_2023.png?height=40&name=SciNote_logo_color_2023.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Leave us a message](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) - Contact us Contact us How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Customer Support](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Using SciNote](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en) 3. [Protocols](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#protocols) # What happens when you load a locked protocol onto a task? ## When a protocol template contains locked steps or locked content blocks, loading it onto a task applies certain restrictions to preserve the integrity of the approved workflow. The restrictions that apply depend on the locking state of the template - whether entire steps are locked, only content blocks within steps are locked, or neither. ### **1.The protocol template has at least one locked step** This is the most restrictive scenario. When at least one step in the template is locked, the following restrictions apply to the entire protocol on the task, including its unlocked steps. **Protocol-level restrictions** The structure of the protocol cannot be changed. Specifically: - Adding new steps is disabled (the "+ New step" button and the "Add step" option between steps are both removed) - Steps cannot be duplicated or archived - this applies to all steps, including unlocked ones - Steps cannot be rearranged   ![](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-13-2026-07-47-24-9688-AM.png?width=1843&height=712&name=image-png-Aug-13-2026-07-47-24-9688-AM.png)   The following protocol actions are also disabled: - Load from templates - Create with AI - Add protocol steps - Revert protocol - Unlink protocol - Archive all steps - Update version of protocol In the Archived steps tab, restoring steps is not possible. Deleting archived steps remains enabled - this is controlled separately by the Deletion prevention feature. **Within a locked step** The content of a locked step is fully read-only: - The step title cannot be renamed - The "Insert content" button and the content insertion toolbar are removed - no new content blocks can be added - The step's "More options" menu is removed, so the step cannot be duplicated, archived, or have its content rearranged - All content blocks inside the step are disabled for editing - The "More options" button on individual content blocks is also removed - If an attachment block is locked, adding or editing attachments is not supported; locked steps (or steps with locked attachment blocks) will not appear as a destination when moving content from other steps - Linking results to a locked step remains possible and is fully supported ![](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-13-2026-07-49-30-7433-AM.png?width=1771&height=287&name=image-png-Aug-13-2026-07-49-30-7433-AM.png)   **Within an unlocked step that contains locked content blocks** Adding new content blocks to an unlocked step is always allowed, even if some of its existing content is locked. Beyond that: - Locked content blocks cannot be edited and their "More options" button is removed - Unlocked content blocks within the same step retain all options: edit, duplicate, archive, restore, and delete from archive - Content can be rearranged within the step - Content can be moved into this step from other steps - Unlocked content blocks can be moved out of this step; locked steps (or steps with locked attachment blocks) will not appear as a valid destination when moving content ### **2. All steps are unlocked, but some content blocks are locked** When no steps are locked but individual content blocks within steps are locked, the protocol-level restrictions from above do not apply. Adding new steps works as normal. The behaviour for unlocked steps with locked content blocks is the same as described above. ### **3. Adding steps from a locked template to an empty task (or a task with an unlocked protocol)** When steps from a locked protocol template are added to a task that is empty or already contains an unlocked protocol, the locked flags from the template are **not carried over**. The steps are added without any locking restrictions applied.         - [Getting Started](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [First Steps](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#first-steps) - [How to get most out of SciNote](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/getting-started?hsLang=en#how-to-get-most-out-of-scinote) - [Using SciNote](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#general) - [Protocols](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#protocols) - [Experiments](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#experiments) - [Tasks and workflows](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#tasks-and-workflows) - [Inventory](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#inventory) - [App](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/using-scinote?hsLang=en#app) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/frequently-asked-questions?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Troubleshooting](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/frequently-asked-questions?hsLang=en#troubleshooting) - [General](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/frequently-asked-questions?hsLang=en#general) - [Self-Guided Learning](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/self-guided-learning?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Courses](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/self-guided-learning?hsLang=en#courses) - [Video Tutorials](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/self-guided-learning?hsLang=en#video-tutorials) - [In-app Guides](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/self-guided-learning?hsLang=en#in-app-guides) - [Account Settings and Management](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/account-settings-and-management?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account settings and preferences](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/account-settings-and-management?hsLang=en#account-settings-and-preferences) - [Organization and Workspace settings](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/account-settings-and-management?hsLang=en#organization-and-workspace-settings) - [Users and permissions](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/account-settings-and-management?hsLang=en#users-and-permissions) - [Referrals](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/account-settings-and-management?hsLang=en#referrals) - [Installations and Integrations](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/installations-and-integrations?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Hosting and local installation](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/installations-and-integrations?hsLang=en#hosting-and-local-installation) - [Integrations](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/installations-and-integrations?hsLang=en#integrations) - [Technical specifications and programming](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/installations-and-integrations?hsLang=en#technical-specifications-and-programming) - [Privacy and Data Security](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/privacy-and-data-security?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account access](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/privacy-and-data-security?hsLang=en#account-access) - [Activity log and data traceability](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/privacy-and-data-security?hsLang=en#activity-log-and-data-traceability) - [Data security](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/privacy-and-data-security?hsLang=en#data-security) - [Billing and Pricing](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/billing-and-pricing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Subscription and billing](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/en/knowledge/billing-and-pricing?hsLang=en#subscription-and-billing) - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://scinote-3850750.hs-sites.com/blog) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://knowledgebase.scinote.net/hs-fs/hubfs/SciNote-Logo-2018-1024x203-1.png?width=151&height=30&name=SciNote-Logo-2018-1024x203-1.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.scinote.net/) Customer Support Copyright © 2026, SCINOTE LLC