> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.zata.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.zata.ai/manage/bucket/object-lock/legal-hold.md).

# Legal Hold

**Legal Hold** provides the same protection as a retention period, but it has no expiration date. Instead, a Legal Hold remains in place indefinitely until you explicitly turn it **OFF**.

## How Legal Hold Works

* **Independent Protection:** Legal Hold operates completely independent of Retention Modes (Governance and Compliance). An object can have both a retention period and a Legal Hold active at the same time.
* **No Expiration:** If an object's retention period expires, but Legal Hold is still ON, the object still cannot be deleted.
* **Toggle Freedom:** Unlike Compliance mode which cannot be removed, Legal Hold can be toggled ON and OFF freely at any time by users with the appropriate permissions.

## Managing Legal Hold on Individual Versions

Legal Hold is applied on a per-version basis rather than as a default bucket rule. Legal Hold can apply double protection alongside both Governance and Compliance modes, and it is also applicable as a single protection on its own.

To turn Legal Hold on or off for an object version:

1. Navigate to your bucket and click on an object to expand its versions list.

<figure><img src="https://2683631041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FPPVG4W649TwXN8OejRhb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e282c16fc103f93da94b36fd43881a1bbc4cee20%2Fobject-lock-dash.png?alt=media" alt="View Object Versions"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Click on the three dots (Actions) next to a specific version and select **Lock Settings**.

<figure><img src="https://2683631041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FPPVG4W649TwXN8OejRhb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1179329bba9b6bb0ceb12b51a3293a561b7f408b%2Fobject-lock-dash-2.png?alt=media" alt="Open Lock Settings"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. This opens the **Version Details** panel. Under the **Legal Hold** section, click the toggle switch to turn it **ON**.

<figure><img src="https://2683631041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FPPVG4W649TwXN8OejRhb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5d13d8ef5d8f97fb38ef8a5e560c27d5cbadff69%2Flegal-hold-1.png?alt=media" alt="Toggle Legal Hold"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Confirm the Legal Hold activation.

<figure><img src="https://2683631041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FPPVG4W649TwXN8OejRhb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5f82a76928f229112cc1fd1d2366580d47b29c36%2Flegal-hold-2.png?alt=media" alt="Confirm Legal Hold"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

5. The Legal Hold is now active for this version.

<figure><img src="https://2683631041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FPPVG4W649TwXN8OejRhb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-512ab80eb3580da740be53ad112fa7904b256f48%2Flegal-hold-3.png?alt=media" alt="Legal Hold Active"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

6. To turn it off, simply click the toggle switch again and confirm.

<figure><img src="https://2683631041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FPPVG4W649TwXN8OejRhb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4036dc8fac26f6f9c4009419ffce7c9e84d9589e%2Flegal-hold-4.png?alt=media" alt="Disable Legal Hold"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Deleting a Legal Hold Protected Version

> **Note:** Nobody can delete the version whenever the toggle is not turned off.

If you attempt to delete a version that has an active Legal Hold, the system will block the action entirely until you explicitly toggle the Legal Hold off.

<figure><img src="https://2683631041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FPPVG4W649TwXN8OejRhb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bc440c03a338f929683ad55ed7ebb699728766b6%2Flegal-hold-delete.png?alt=media" alt="Cannot Delete Legal Hold Version"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>