# Locking

## What is locking?

Locking a stake account sets a time-based lockup. While locked, the account cannot be withdrawn, deactivated, or split. The stake remains active and continues earning rewards, but you cannot access the SOL until the lockup expires.

## Setting a lockup

1. Expand a stake account card and select the lock action
2. Choose a lockup date and time
3. Approve the transaction

The lockup is enforced on-chain. The Stake Manager displays a lock icon on locked accounts and shows the unlock date.

## Locked account restrictions

While a stake account is locked:

* **Cannot withdraw**: The SOL stays in the account until the lockup expires
* **Cannot deactivate**: You cannot begin the unstaking process
* **Cannot split**: The account cannot be divided
* **Can still merge**: Two locked accounts with identical lockup settings and the same validator can be merged
* **Batch actions skip locked accounts**: Batch withdraw and batch deactivate automatically exclude locked accounts

## After the lockup expires

Once the lockup time passes, the account behaves like any other stake account. You can deactivate, withdraw, split, or send it normally. The lock icon will no longer appear.


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