Global locks

A global lock is a way by which stewards can technically prevent Wikimedia accounts logging in to any project (and thus, no editing can be done). When an account is locked, attempts to log into it fail on all Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) public wikis, such as Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikibooks, in all available languages. It is 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 with Global blocks and Global bans.

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

Reasons to request a global lock

The below reasons are not community-approved policy. Usually, global locks happen in clear-cut situations; in more complex cases, stewards may decide whether to impose or lift global locks in a case-by-case basis.

The message displayed to a globally locked account.

• Accounts that have been used only for vandalism or abuse on multiple wikis and are actively vandalizing now or obviously 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 been globally banned (community or Foundation).
• Accounts that have been created to evade a global ban (community or Foundation).
• Accounts whose owners are known to be deceased.
• Accounts belonging to former Wikimedia Foundation staff members or contractors (done by WMF staff).

Compromised account

You may be looking for Help:Compromised accounts.

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