Lock or Unlock Live Chat Participation

QCLF’s live chat lock temporarily stops ordinary participants from sending new live Messages while leaving the live session, readable Message history, presence, and any Watch Party/Broadcast media running.

The exact Topic Host or an authorized user with the applicable live-lock/moderation authority can change the lock while the session is Live.

Lock the Chat

  1. Open an active live Topic as the Host or an authorized live moderator.
  2. Select Lock Chat.
  3. Confirm ordinary participant composers become blocked while the live session itself continues.
  4. Use Unlock Chat when participant sending should resume.

What the Server Stores

QCLF updates the active session’s chat_locked flag and records a moderation event for lock or unlock. The operation is accepted only for a session that is currently Live.

The live route also rechecks the session’s entitlement for its Topic type before applying the action.

Who Can Still Send While Locked

The live send service rejects a locked-chat Message for an ordinary participant. The Topic Host is exempt, and an authorized live moderator can use the server’s lock-bypass path when QCLF has already confirmed that moderation authority.

That allows Host/moderator announcements and moderation work to continue without reopening chat to everyone.

Lock Is Not End, Mute, or Slow Mode

  • Lock does not end the live session or start archive conversion.
  • Lock does not mute only one person; individual participant mute is a separate moderation action.
  • Lock does not change the per-user message delay; Slow Mode handles pacing.
  • Unlocking restores the ability to send only when the member still passes participation permission, sanctions/mute state, and cooldown rules.

Shared Live Chat Channel

The same chat-lock session control applies to the live Message channel used by standalone Live Chat and by Watch Party/Broadcast sessions. Media playback/Host video remains a separate part of those live experiences.

Community Discussion

Want to compare forum workflows, share practical QCLF tips, or discuss how other Joomla site owners use this feature? Visit the QC Live Forum Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific entitlement problems, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.