Locking a connector on a PCB is useful, but the word locked can refer to different protections. Component position, individual footprint primitives, and editor selection behavior may have separate controls. Verify the intended protection instead of assuming that one padlock icon prevents every possible change.
Altium’s PCB editing documentation distinguishes locked design objects from component primitive locking and describes related preferences. Check the actual configuration used by the team, because the same object attribute may behave differently when protection preferences change.
Define the geometry that must remain stable
Identify connector origins, mounting holes, board references, and other mechanically constrained objects. Record the reason for protection and the controlling drawing or coordinate requirement. A lock without a design reference makes an intentional later change difficult to assess.
Decide whether protection applies to object placement, internal pad geometry, text, or all relevant attributes. Locking a component’s location does not establish that its library footprint is correct or that a later library update is acceptable.
Test protection in a disposable copy
| Attempted action | Behavior to verify |
|---|---|
| Move or rotate the component | Expected warning or prevention |
| Group move including locked objects | Which objects are actually included |
| Edit a pad or other primitive | Whether internal geometry is protected |
| Update from a library or project source | What changes remain possible through that path |
Do these checks in a recoverable copy and discard the test edits. The aim is to understand the tool’s behavior, not to prove that a locked file is immutable. Document any operation that can legitimately change protected geometry.
Review deliberate unlocks
- Identify the mechanical or electrical requirement motivating the edit.
- Record the affected objects and their original placement.
- Apply the reviewed change.
- Recheck related clearance and alignment requirements.
- Restore the intended protection settings.
A coordinate comparison is useful when evaluating whether an accidental move occurred. Include rotation and board side, not only X and Y position. Confirm the coordinate origin used for comparison so an origin change is not mistaken for movement of every component. For connector interfaces, inspect the relevant mating and enclosure geometry after the change.
Do not use locks as a substitute for revision control or design review. They reduce accidental edits during interactive work, while release evidence establishes which geometry was approved. Preserve both the controlling requirements and the final coordinates.
The footprint-update guide addresses a separate path by which pad geometry can change even when the component’s intended location remains fixed.
Move from reading to a build-ready project
Use the fabrication and assembly checklists to prepare drawings, production files and test requirements.
Open the DFM checklist