← Back to status codes
HTTP Status Code
423 Locked
Client ErrorThe resource is locked and cannot be modified right now.
HTTP status code reference, response example, common causes, fixes, and related status codes.
What does HTTP 423 Locked mean?
HTTP 423 Locked is a status code sent by a server to indicate the result of an HTTP request.
Status codes help browsers, APIs, apps, and backend systems understand whether a request succeeded, failed, was redirected, or needs additional action.
In practice, HTTP 423 Locked usually appears when a server responds under specific request, validation, permission, or infrastructure conditions.
Response example
HTTP/1.1 423 Locked
HTTP example
HTTP/1.1 423 Locked
Common causes
- File or document lock
- Concurrent edit protection
- WebDAV resource lock
How to fix it
- Wait until the resource is unlocked
- Release the lock if appropriate
- Retry after resolving the conflict
Common mistakes
- Assuming the status code alone explains the full backend issue
- Ignoring related response headers that add important context
- Treating temporary errors as permanent failures
- Retrying too aggressively without checking the cause
- Debugging the frontend only when the problem is server-side
How browsers and APIs use it
Browsers, APIs, and backend services use HTTP status codes to understand the outcome of a request. Depending on the status code, an application may render content, retry a request, redirect the user, show an error, or trigger a different flow in the client or server.
Developer note
HTTP 423 appears more often in document systems, collaborative editing tools, and WebDAV-based systems than in standard public APIs.