Why can't I select an element someone else is editing?

In TeleportHQ, when a collaborator is actively changing an element, that element is locked for everyone else so two people can't overwrite each other's work. A locked element is covered in grey with the person's name. While it's locked, you can't select, drag or edit it, and if you had it selected, your selection is removed. The lock lifts by itself as soon as they finish, usually within seconds.

What locks an element#

A TeleportHQ element is locked for you while someone else is:

• typing text in it;
• resizing it;
• dragging it;
• changing its margin or padding with the handles on the canvas;
• running the AI Assistant on it;
• translating it, or rewriting it with Tailor this project (the element then shows "Translating..." instead of a name).

Page settings being translated by someone else are locked for that language only.

What a selected element looks like#

A collaborator only selecting an element doesn't lock it. The element gets an outline in that person's color, with their name, so you know they're looking at it, but you can still edit it.

What to do#

1. Wait a few seconds. The element unlocks when your collaborator stops typing, resizing or dragging. If you had it selected and haven't selected anything else since, your selection comes back.
2. To see what they're doing, click their avatar at the top right of the editor to follow them. See How to edit a project together in real time.
3. If it stays locked, ask your collaborator to click somewhere else on the canvas.
4. Leave them a note instead of waiting, if you like. See How to leave and reply to comments.

If nobody else is working on it#

If you can't edit anything at all, not only one element, the cause is probably different:

• Your role is read-only, for example Viewer. The top bar shows View only. See Why can't I edit my project?.
• Your connection dropped. The editor shows "Connection lost. Reconnecting automatically… Your edits are paused until it is back." or "You're offline. Editing resumes when your connection returns.", and the project is read-only until it reconnects. See Why did the editor say "Access denied", "New project role" or "You're offline"?.
• The workspace's subscription ended. Every project becomes read-only until the Owner subscribes again.

Good to know#

• Undo is per person. Undo only reverses your own changes, never a collaborator's.
• No conflict window. If two people change the same setting at almost the same moment, TeleportHQ merges the two edits and everyone ends up with the same value. Check the setting afterwards if it matters.