# Locked flow: Allow to view node content (readonly)

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/locked-flow-allow-to-view-node-content-readonly/101606>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [7 August 2026 18:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/locked-flow-allow-to-view-node-content-readonly/101606 "2026-08-07T18:26:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ZTHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/dbc845/32.png) [@ZTHawk](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ZTHawk)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2026 18:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/locked-flow-allow-to-view-node-content-readonly/101606/1 "2026-08-07T18:26:19Z")

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When a flow is locked, then you cannot modify nor move any node. This is good.  
But sometimes I need to check the content of a node. This is not possible.  
I need to:

1. Unlock the flow
2. check the content of node I am interested in
3. Lock the flow again

Could we get the possiblity to view the content of locked nodes?

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**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2026 21:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/locked-flow-allow-to-view-node-content-readonly/101606/2 "2026-08-07T21:45:36Z")

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It does seem reasonable to allow you to open a node's config read-only. I don't know how easy it would be to implement though.

Incidentally you can see the popup if a node's config contains a description, even on a locked flow. Not at flow level though, tabs don't display the "I have documentation" flag.

You can also select a node or nodes on a locked flow and copy to another tab, which will not be locked. (!)

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**Author:** ![PdeJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c89c15/32.png) [@PdeJ](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PdeJ)\
**Post date:** [8 August 2026 09:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/locked-flow-allow-to-view-node-content-readonly/101606/3 "2026-08-08T09:49:58Z")

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Incidentally, there is no need to relock the flow if it hasn't been deployed.

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**Author:** ![ZTHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/dbc845/32.png) [@ZTHawk](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ZTHawk)\
**Post date:** [8 August 2026 11:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/locked-flow-allow-to-view-node-content-readonly/101606/4 "2026-08-08T11:41:48Z")

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Yes, but that way you have the risk of accidentily save an unlocked flow if you need to check some more stuff.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [7 October 2026 11:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/locked-flow-allow-to-view-node-content-readonly/101606/5 "2026-10-07T11:42:21Z")

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