Function and purpose
When a user edits a record, Joomla locks it to prevent concurrent changes. The global check‑in releases these locks centrally so administrators can free stuck items without opening each one individually.
Use cases
- Article management: Frees locked articles and categories when editors haven’t logged out properly.
- Menus and modules: Unlocks navigation items and modules for further editing.
- System maintenance: Cleans up locks left behind by browser crashes or sessions that didn’t end cleanly.
Important notes
- Avoid data loss: Only run global check‑in when you are sure no one is editing the affected items.
- Access: Find the tool under Control Panel > System > Global Check‑in.
- Use regularly: Run it as part of routine maintenance to keep the database tidy.
