Lock settings
Introduction
Once your lock is started and in locked status, you can access the lock settings page to manage various aspects of your session. This page allows you to configure safety limits, review and change the lock's permissions, and perform advanced actions on your lock. Pending permission changes also appear here for you to accept or reject.
Lock settings
Lock name
You can give your lock a private name to keep track of your sessions, which is especially useful when running multiple locks at once. The name is only visible to you: your keyholder and other members never see it.
To name your lock, click the edit icon next to the lock title on your home page, or use the Lock name section of the lock settings page. The name can be up to 80 characters long, and you can change or remove it at any time.
Maximum lock date
When you create a lock, you can set a maximum lock date to ensure your lock cannot exceed a specific date. This acts as a safety feature, guaranteeing that you will be unlocked by the defined date regardless of any time additions from extensions, keyholders, or other features.
Changing the maximum lock date is one of the lock's permissions, and it always belongs to the wearer: your keyholder can never change it. If your contract grants you the permission (the "Standard" preset does), you can extend the date further into the future or remove it; the date can never be moved to an earlier one. If your contract does not grant it, changing the maximum date requires a permission change your keyholder accepts.
A lock can also carry a minimum lock date, the companion limit. It is its own permission, granted to both you and your keyholder in the "Standard" preset. You can only move it later, never earlier; your keyholder, when granted the permission, can also lower or remove it. In all cases it can never pass the maximum lock date.
If you're new to Chaster or trying new extensions, it's recommended to set a maximum lock date to avoid unexpectedly long sessions.
Removing the maximum lock date is permanent: once removed, it cannot be set again for this lock, and the guarantee that your session ends by a specific date is gone. Discuss it with your keyholder before removing it.
Initial unlock date
This displays the original unlock date range that was randomly selected when you created your lock. This information is provided for reference and cannot be changed once the lock is started.
Permissions
Every lock carries a permission contract: an agreement, made when the lock is created or joined, that says what you and your keyholder can each do during the session, from adding time and freezing the timer to changing the date limits, hiding the timer, and managing extensions. The contract starts from a preset ("Standard", "Trusted keyholder", "Full trust") or a custom mix.
The Permissions section of the lock settings page shows your current contract. Click Change permissions to edit it. Changes that give the other party more control apply immediately; every other change is sent to them as a proposal they accept or reject. Pending proposals appear in this section too.
Trusting your keyholder is one of the contract's grants, not a separate mode: it gives your keyholder the "Manage extensions" permission, matching the "Trusted keyholder" preset. Like any grant, it can be taken back by agreement: removing it is a proposal your keyholder accepts.
Unlocking, resigning as keyholder, and triggering an enabled safety mechanism are never permissions. They cannot be granted or taken away.
For the full explanation of every permission, the presets, and how changes are negotiated, see Lock permissions.
Advanced options
Archive your lock
You can archive your lock at any time by clicking the "Archive" button. This action will permanently end your session and hide it from your home page.
If you archive a lock that is still in progress (before the timer has elapsed), you will desert the lock. When a lock is deserted, you will not receive your combination immediately. You can recover it after a 7-day waiting period. Your keyholder will also see that the session was deserted.
If you need to unlock early, contact your keyholder first and ask them to unlock you instead of deserting.
For more information about deserted locks and recovering combinations, see Unlock your lock.
For keyholders
Resign as keyholder
If you are a keyholder and need to step down from a lock, you can resign from your keyholder role through the lock settings page. This feature allows you to transfer responsibility without requiring manual intervention.
When you resign as a keyholder:
- The lock continues as a self-lock (the wearer maintains their session)
- The wearer is notified of your resignation
- The wearer can select a new keyholder using the "Offer your session" option
To resign from a lock, navigate to the lock settings page, and in the lock actions section, click the "Resign as keyholder" button.