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If you accidentally locked an object and are now confused about what to do? Do not start from scratch. This is fixable! Your solution for the problem is unlocking the object. If you need to learn how to do it, we are here to help you.
By using the selection tool, select the object and right-click on it. From the options that appear, choose Unlock. You can also select the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+L or Command+Option+L.
To learn more in detail, please continue reading.
Locking And Unlocking Objects In InDesign
One of the features in InDesign is the ability to lock and unlock objects, which is useful for preventing accidental changes to important design elements or temporarily disabling elements during the design process.
Once an object is locked, it cannot be moved, resized, or modified until it is unlocked. In the layers panel, a lock icon appears next to the object’s layer to indicate it has been locked.
Locking an object in InDesign only prevents modifications to that specific object. Other objects on the same layer can still be modified, and layers can be locked to prevent changes to those on that layer. Moreover, it does not prevent it from being selected or deleted, so be careful when working with locked objects.
We will get into everything in this article.
How To Lock An Object In InDesign
To lock an object in InDesign:
- Choose the selection tool.
- Click and drag on the object that you want to lock to select it.
- In the menu on top, choose an object. In the drop-down menu, choose Lock> Selection.
- You can also right-click on the object from the drop-down menu and choose Lock.
- You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command+L for Mac or Ctrl+L for windows.
How To Unlock An Object In InDesign
If you accidentally locked an object and wish to unlock it so you can change it, follow the instructions below to accomplish that.
- From the tools panels on the left, select the Selection Tool.
- Now click and drag your cursor across the object and then release the mouse.
- From the menu on top, choose object> Unlock > Selection from the menu.
- You can also right-click on the object and choose Unlock from the menu that opens up.
- You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+L for Mac or Ctrl+Alt+L for Windows.
Watch this Youtube video for a detailed tutorial:
Locking And Unlocking Layers In InDesign
Similar to objects, layers can also be locked and unlocked in InDesign. This is done if you wish to lock multiple objects. For example, if you want to lock all the objects on one layer, it may get tiresome to lock each separately.
The solution to that is to lock the entire layer. The rules are the same for the layer. It cannot be modified and edited when locked, but it can still be selected, deleted, and hidden if you choose to. It can also be moved up and down in the order of layers.
Lock Layers In InDesign
Now that you know how to lock objects, locking layers will not be too hard. We have listed the steps below to understand how to perform the procedure.
- Often layers do not show automatically in InDesign.
- To open the Layers panel, choose Window > Layers from the menu.
- Locate the layer you want to lock and click on the empty square to the left of the layer name. This will toggle the lock icon, indicating whether the layer is locked or unlocked.
- A locked layer will display a small lock icon to the right of the layer name.
Unlock Layers In InDesign
If the layer you locked still needs to be worked on or modified because the work requires it, you can unlock it. To accomplish this, follow the detailed instructions below:
- Open the Layers panel by choosing Window > Layers from the menu on the top.
- Now, look for the layer that needs to be unlocked.
- Look for the lock icon next to the layer.
- The lock icon indicates that the layer is locked.
- Click on the Lock to toggle it and unlock the layer.
Conclusion
Locking and unlocking can be extremely useful if you are new to the work. Sometimes the number of objects on a canvas can be overwhelming, and making errors becomes common. To avoid such a hassle, lock your objects when you are done with them.
