Aglobal lock is a way by whichstewards can technically preventWikimedia accounts logging in toany project, and thus, no editing can be done through that account. When an account is locked and attempts to log in, it fails on allWikimedia Foundation (WMF) public wikis, such asWikipedia,Wiktionary,Wikimedia Commons, andWikibooks, in all available languages. Global locks are generally applied to cross-wiki vandalism-only accounts, spam-only accounts, long-term abuser sock accounts, and compromised accounts. The locking interface also offers the option of hiding the account name in all logs, for usernames that are impersonating, harassing or offensive. Global locks should not be confused withGlobal blocks andGlobal bans.

• To report a user who should be globally locked (or other users that are locked by mistake), seeSteward requests/Global.
• If you are globally locked (for reasons other than being Foundation banned or compromised), you should appeal via emailingstewards-appealswikimediaorg

Global locks are implemented by stewards at their discretion. Global locks are globally-set actions that lock a user out of their account and do not permit local projects to place exemptions. These are preferred overglobal blocks in cases where:^[1]

• the likelihood of a successful appeal is low given the severity of the abuse, and stewards would be best suited to handle appeals and evaluate the risk of the user's return to Wikimedia projects, or
• when the account should not be logged into at all, such as due to account compromise or if the user has become deceased.

The following list identifies common reasons for global locks:

• Accounts that have been used only forvandalism or abuse on multiple wikis and are actively vandalizing now orobviously are otherwise being disruptive on multiple wikis are candidates for a global lock. Please include links to block histories or other evidence of abuse on other projects, and indicate where the account is still active.
• Accounts whose only intent is to spam on Wikimedia wikis.
• Accounts whose names are offensive or abusive are also eligible for locking, and may be hidden from logs as well.
• Accounts that have violated other principles which are grounds for indefinite blocks on multiple individual wikis, such as making repeated legal threats, publishing child pornography, or posting private personal information about others which may endanger them.
• Accounts that are suspected to have been compromised, as a temporary measure to maintain account security until the owner is contacted.
• Accounts that have beenglobally banned (community or Foundation).
• Accounts that have been created to evade aglobal ban (community or Foundation).
• Accounts whose owners are known to bedeceased.
• Accounts belonging to former Wikimedia Foundation staff members or contractors (done by WMF staff).
• Accounts that have beenvanished.

You may be looking forHelp:Compromised accounts.

Sometimes stewards lock with reason as "Compromised account". If your account has been locked with this reason, please contactcawikimediaorg.

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