What it means
WebDAV: the resource is locked, so the method cannot be applied.
Common causes
- Another user has the file open or locked
- A stale lock from a crashed client
How to fix it
As a client or visitor
Wait for the lock to be released, or ask its owner to unlock it.
As the site or API owner
Expire locks with timeouts and let admins remove stale locks.
Example response
HTTP/1.1
HTTP/1.1 423 Locked
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:30:00 GMT
Server: nginx
Content-Type: application/xml; charset=utf-8
Content-Length: 0Specification
FAQ
› Why does SharePoint or OneDrive say the file is locked?
Someone, or a crashed session, holds a WebDAV lock. It usually expires after some minutes.
› Can REST APIs use 423?
Some do for locked records, but 409 is more widely understood.