--- title: "Controlling auto publishing for coordinated releases | Netlify" description: "Realize the speed, agility and performance of a scalable, composable web architecture with Netlify. Explore the composable web platform now!" source: "https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/04/controlling-auto-publishing-for-coordinated-releases/" last_updated: "2026-07-09T15:13:49.000Z" --- > Throughout December we’ll be [highlighting a different Netlify feature each day](https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/01/highlighting-a-different-netlify-feature-each-day-in-december/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=lock-deploys). It might just be the thing you need to unlock those creative juices, and [dust off that domain](https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/01/dusty-domains-your-forgotten-domains-raise-money-for-charity/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=lock-deploys) you registered but never deployed! Keep an eye [on the blog](https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/01/highlighting-a-different-netlify-feature-each-day-in-december/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=lock-deploys) and on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/netlify) for each feature! By locking deploys you can stick with your currently published deploy even though more updates and builds are taking place. Builds still happen when you commit changes, but they aren’t published. This is a very good way to say, “hey I will be working on this site all day and I’ll be pushing commits as I go, but don’t make them live until I’m ready.” This can be a very helpful technique for coordinating lots of updates for a big launch or announcement. Everything can be readied and verified, and then all go live instantly at the click of a button. ### How to lock a deploy When you deploy a site and navigate to the `Deploys` tab of your Netlify UI, you will see a `Stop auto publishing` button. If you click that button, the currently published version of this site will be locked and subsequent deploys will be built and queued. ![The Stop Auto Publishing button in the Deploys page of the Netlify admin](/v3/img/blog/lock-deploy.png "Stop Auto Publishing button") ### Unlock a locked deploy This part is pretty intuitive as you’d expect. Once clicked, the button state will change to `Start auto publishing` will give you the opportunity to unlock the currently locked version and re-start auto-publishing. > Note that previously built deploys will not auto-publish when you re-start auto publishing. You’ll need to choose which of your new deploys you want to publish, by clicking `Publish deploy` in the summary page of any of your deploys. ![The Publish deploy button in a deploy summary page](/v3/img/blog/publish-deploy.png "The Publish deploy button") ## More information - [Docs: locked deploys](https://docs.netlify.com/site-deploys/manage-deploys/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=lock-deploys#locked-deploys) - [Netlify Build](https://www.netlify.com/products/build/?utm_campaign=featdaily21&utm_source=netlify&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=lock-deploys) ### Share - [X (fka Twitter)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Controlling auto publishing for coordinated releases&url=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/04/controlling-auto-publishing-for-coordinated-releases/) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netlify.com%2Fblog%2F2021%2F12%2F04%2Fcontrolling-auto-publishing-for-coordinated-releases%2F) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/04/controlling-auto-publishing-for-coordinated-releases/) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Controlling auto publishing for coordinated releases+https://www.netlify.com/blog/2021/12/04/controlling-auto-publishing-for-coordinated-releases/) * * * ### Tags - [Tips](/blog/tags/tips/) - [Deploys](/blog/tags/deploys/) - [Build](/blog/tags/Build/) ## Keep reading ![](/images/blog-fallback-thumbnail.svg) Guides & Tutorials July 12, 2021 [ ### How to rollback a deploy in 2 seconds on Netlify ](/blog/2021/07/12/how-to-rollback-a-deploy-in-2-seconds-on-netlify/) - ![Profile picture of Ekene Eze](/_astro/c97b196f1227b05d92404625ecc4779ce8a60661-1000x1000_Z1bjliB.webp) Ekene Eze ![](/_astro/79af8b88f5004edcdbe9cc3f4680ed57655174dc-1200x675_Z1g2SMR.webp) Guides & Tutorials October 7, 2024 [ ### Enhance your development workflow with continuous deployment ](/blog/enhance-your-development-workflow-with-continuous-deployment) - ![Profile picture of Steven Carr](/_astro/8d77653fa27e1f2007d56d0867b4f9db5a2519da-3848x3376_2o2KLI.webp) Steven Carr ## Recent posts News & Announcements June 25, 2026 [ ### Netlify Functions, designed for Agent Experience ](/blog/netlify-functions-designed-for-agent-experience) - ![Profile picture of Eduardo Bouças](/_astro/52958f21e8450baf6d8e60302341a984e220c0cd-512x512_13VDlu.webp) Eduardo Bouças News & Announcements June 24, 2026 [ ### How we measure Netlify’s Agent Experience ](/blog/how-we-measure-netlify-agent-experience) - ![Profile picture of Sean Roberts](/_astro/bbf2243f8171dbddd80ab2103622106cef84d125-512x512_Z1d2LKE.webp) Sean Roberts Guides & Tutorials May 15, 2026 [ ### How to build a real-time AI chatbot in minutes with Netlify Agent Runners (no backend) ](/blog/how-to-build-a-real-time-ai-chatbot-in-minutes-with-netlify-agent-runners-no-backend) - ![Profile picture of Nahrin Jalal](/_astro/f0e7c8f227a03fe58340c99ef5439d5a896c0733-272x272_Z23kDpD.webp) Nahrin Jalal ![](/_astro/3f255b372fa958df35802666ee33b4609b2d71bd-1200x1586_1VtE2D.webp) ### How do the best dev and marketing teams work together? 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