Resolving the "Sharing Locked" Error in Salesforce

This article explains how to resolve a "Sharing Locked" error in Salesforce, which occurs when you try to recalculate sharing rules but another operation is already using the sharing engine. Follow the steps below to identify and clear the blocking condition.

Step 1: Wait and Retry

Sharing recalculations can be blocked by other operations. If you receive a "Sharing Locked" error, wait for some time before attempting to recalculate the sharing rules again.

Step 2: Check for Pending Operations

• Navigate to Setup.
• Enter "Sharing Settings" in the Quick Find box and select it.
• Look for any messages indicating operations in progress, such as bulk data loads or previous sharing recalculations.
• If operations are in progress, wait for them to complete before attempting your recalculation.

Step 3: Monitor System Status

Visit Salesforce Trust (status.salesforce.com) to check for any ongoing maintenance or known issues that might affect sharing recalculations.

Step 4: Contact Salesforce Support

If the issue persists and you cannot identify any operations that would cause the lock, contact Salesforce Support for further assistance.

Best Practices

• Schedule sharing recalculations during off-peak hours to minimize the impact on users.
• Inform users of potential temporary changes in data visibility due to sharing recalculations.
• Ensure that you have a backup of your current sharing rules and understand the implications of recalculating sharing rules.

Additional Information

Recalculating sharing rules is a resource-intensive operation that can affect data visibility. Salesforce locks sharing during recalculations to maintain data integrity and prevent conflicts from concurrent operations.