Timesheet Locking and Period Controls
Past timesheets lock automatically so payroll data stays intact. Administrators can unlock any period when a genuine correction is needed. Every change is tracked.
How timesheet locking works
Auto-lock past periods
Configure past periods to lock automatically after each week ends. No manual action required once set up.
Manual admin lock
Administrators can lock any specific period at any time - useful for month-end close or payroll finalization.
Admin unlock for corrections
Any locked period can be unlocked by an administrator when a correction is genuinely needed.
Edit prevention
Locked timesheets cannot be modified by members or managers. Only administrators can intervene.
Payroll data integrity
Locking ensures the hours used for payroll do not change after the fact - protecting the accuracy of your records.
Audit trail
The lock and unlock history is preserved so you can see exactly when periods were opened and who made changes.
Who uses timesheet locking
- Finance teams who need to close payroll periods with confidence
- HR departments running monthly or biweekly payroll cycles
- Compliance-sensitive organizations that need a documented audit trail
- Admins managing teams who occasionally need to correct historical entries
How to lock timesheets in three steps
- Open Settings, go to Time tracking, open Locking timesheets, and enable Auto-locking timesheets.
- Set the unlock duration, so a week opened for a correction closes again on its own.
- Lock a single member’s week by hand from their timesheet view when month-end close needs it early.
Free here, paid there: timesheet locking sits on Clockify Standard and Toggl Track Premium, and TimeCamp bundles it with approvals on TimeCamp Ultimate, each priced per user. On Sandtime.io locking is included free for unlimited users.
Timesheet locking questions
When does a timesheet lock?
Past periods lock automatically on the schedule you configure, and an approved timesheet locks as part of the approval itself.
Can a locked period still be corrected?
Yes. Someone asks for an unlock from the locked timesheet, and an administrator grants it for a set duration rather than permanently, so the window closes on its own.
Does locking respect time zones?
Yes. The lock boundary is adjusted for the time zone, so a period does not close early or late for people working in a different one.
Who is told when a period locks or unlocks?
The people involved are notified when a week is locked, when it is unlocked and for how long, and when an unlock request is rejected.
Which time tracking apps charge to lock timesheets?
Clockify locks timesheets on its Standard plan, Toggl Track on Premium, and TimeCamp bundles locking with approvals on Ultimate, all priced per user. Sandtime.io locks past periods free for unlimited users.
Can I lock timesheets for a whole team for free?
Yes. Auto-locking, manual locks, timed unlocks, and the lock history are included for every organization, with no seat charge and no team size at which locking becomes paid.
Lock down your payroll periods
Free for unlimited users. No credit card required.