---
title: How to lock transactions?
description: "If you've entered transactions in ChurchTools—either manually or by importing them—and want to make sure they aren't accidentally changed later, you can *lock* the transactions. You can either lock a single transaction or multiple transactions at the same time. **Important**…"
url: "https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/how-to-finalize-transactions/"
updated: "2026-06-30"
category: Finances / Transactions
---

# How to lock transactions?

If you've entered transactions in ChurchTools—either manually or by importing them—and want to make sure they aren't accidentally changed later, you can *lock* the transactions.

You can either lock a single transaction or multiple transactions at the same time.

**Important**

According to the GoBD (Principles governing the proper maintenance and retention of books, records and documents in electronic form, and data access), once a transaction has been locked, it cannot and should not be undone. For more information on this, see the article " [How to unlock transactions? "](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/how-to-unlock-transactions/)

## Lock a single booking

To lock a single transaction, locate the transaction in the Finance module under the *Entries* tab (1) and open the *context menu* (2) for the transaction. From there, select *"Lock down the transaction"* (3).

[![Screenshot Finances Finalize a transaction](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Finances_Finalize-a-transaction.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Finances_Finalize-a-transaction.png)

You can then tell that the transaction has been confirmed by a *green check mark*.

[![Screenshot Finaces Finalized transaction](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/finaces_Finalized-transaction.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/finaces_Finalized-transaction.png)

## Lock multiple transactions

You can also select multiple transactions and then lock them all at once.
To do this, (1) *select* all the transactions you want to lock, and then click " *Lock down the transaction* " (2).

[![Screenshot Finances Finalize multiple transactions](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Finances_finalize-multiple-transactions.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Finances_finalize-multiple-transactions.png)

**Tip**

If you want to protect your transactions from accidental changes at the end of a fiscal year, you don't need to lock all transactions; instead, you can *close the fiscal year*. The transactions can then no longer be edited unless you reopen the fiscal year. You can learn more about this in the article [“How to close a fiscal year?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/how-to-close-a-fiscal-year/)”

## Read more

- [Principles of proper accounting (GoBD)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/other-finance/principles-for-proper-accounting/)
- [How to cancel bookings?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/transactions/19-how-to-cancel-transactions-2/)