# Force-unlock option **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [December 5, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/force-unlock-option/4483 "2023-12-05T19:04:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/force-unlock-option/4483/2 "2023-12-05T19:56:36Z")
The “database is locked” indicates that sometimes you are not exiting Gramps properly. (Such as launching the Console version of Gramps and closing the console window instead of the Gramps window. Or you killed the Gramps task with the Task Manager… or had a crash.) The following thread describes the unlocking process: > [@My family tree is locked](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/my-family-tree-is-locked/3671/2): > > This indicates your system had an abnormal exit. (A crash or system shutdown without closing Gramps.) In the Manage Family Tree dialog, there should be a padlock in the Status column of the row with your Tree name. Double-clicking the row should bring up a dialog with a Break Lock button. Use that to remove the lock. The Load Family Tree button should no longer be ghosted. Load the tree normally, [make a backup](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_5.1_Wiki_Manual_-_Manage_Family_Trees#Backing_up_a_Family_Tree) immediately, shutdown Gramps normally and restart it. This process in th… --- _[View the full topic](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/force-unlock-option/4483)._