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P4 CLI Documentation | 2026.1

# p4 unlock (graph)

Release a locked file, leaving it open.

## Syntax

    p4 unlock [-c changelistNumber -f file ...]

Syntax and naming conventions

## Description

p4 unlock releases locks on the specified files.

If no file specification is given and no changelist is specified, all open files are unlocked.

The changelist flag and file specification limit the files to be unlocked:

- If a changelist is specified, only those files open in that changelist are unlocked.
- If a file specification is given, only those files are unlocked.
- If both changelist and file specification are provided, only the matching files in the specified changelist are unlocked.

## Options

Option | Description
--- | ---
`-c changelist` | Applies to opened files in a pending changelist locked by `p4 lock` or by a failed submit.
`-f` | Enables you to unlock files in changelists owned by other users. This option requires `super` access, granted by p4 protect or `admin` permission on the affected repos. By default, files can be unlocked only by the changelist owner, who must also be the person who has the files locked.

## Usage notes

Can File Arguments Use Revision Specifier? | Can File Arguments Use Revision Range? | Minimal Access Level Required
--- | --- | ---
No | No | `read` permission for the repo. `admin` permission to unlock with the `-f` option.

## Example

p4 edit ...
//repo/main/src/foo.c - opened for edit
//repo/main/src/bar.c - opened for edit
//repo/main/src/main.c - opened for edit

p4 lock ...
//repo/main/src/foo.c - locking
//repo/main/src/bar.c - locking
//repo/main/src/main.c - locking

p4 opened ...
//repo/main/src/foo.c#none - edit default change (text) *locked*
//repo/main/src/bar.c#none - edit default change (text) *locked*
//repo/main/src/main.c#none - edit default change (text) *locked*

p4 unlock ...
//repo/main/src/foo.c - unlocking
//repo/main/src/bar.c - unlocking
//repo/main/src/main.c - unlocking

p4 opened ...
//repo/main/src/foo.c#none - edit default change (text)
//repo/main/src/bar.c#none - edit default change (text)
//repo/main/src/main.c#none - edit default change (text)

Other users can open locked files for edit, but will not be able to submit them:

p4 -u user2 submit -d edit_of_locked_files
//repo/main/src/foo.c - already locked by bruno@prc7
//repo/main/src/bar.c - already locked by bruno@prc7
//repo/main/src/main.c - already locked by bruno@prc7
File(s) couldn't be locked.
Submit failed -- fix problems above then use 'p4 submit -c 919'.

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