# DEVONthink tags - how do I lock them?

**URL:** <https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/devonthink-tags-how-do-i-lock-them/86375>\
**Category:** Tips\
**Tags:** devonthink3\
**Created:** [February 20, 2026, 12:48pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/devonthink-tags-how-do-i-lock-them/86375 "2026-02-20T12:48:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gregkelemen](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@gregkelemen](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/gregkelemen)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 12:48pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/devonthink-tags-how-do-i-lock-them/86375/1 "2026-02-20T12:48:46Z")

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Hello. I have a specific set of tags that I use in my work. One of my bugbears is that tags can’t be ‘locked’; that is, when I create a tag, its display in the status bar or the properties panel offers several choices: any previous tags (both current and deleted), as well as the first letter/character of the tag (as in the screenshot below).

 ![DEVONthink tags list](https://devontech-discourse.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/original/3X/a/f/af0fc2098c73ebe9bb08cc4a0a5441131d364623.jpeg)

I’ve tried clicking the lock icon for a tag in its properties window in the hopes that this would do what I want, but it doesn’t.  
What I need is for there to be a setting (per tag, per item, as well as globally) to not allow any other tags than what I’ve created. That way, when I type the first or starting letters/characters of a tag I’ve created, press enter, I can confidently be assured that its using my specific tag, not creating a new tag from whatever I typed.  
If this specific issue has been covered elsewhere (I looked, but couldn’t see that it has been), I would like to read it. I have read this [post](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/tag-maintenance-old-tags-still-in-tag-suggestion/47377).

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**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/devonthink-tags-how-do-i-lock-them/86375/2 "2026-02-20T14:08:15Z")

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Your request is noted, with no promises.

PS: Tag autocompletion doesn’t offer deleted tags, including ones in the database’s Trash.

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**Author:** ![gregkelemen](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@gregkelemen](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/gregkelemen)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/devonthink-tags-how-do-i-lock-them/86375/3 "2026-02-23T18:03:56Z")

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Thanks. I’m creating a smart rule to check to ensure all tagged items adhere to my desired tags (along with some Applescript). Anyway, would love to see this added as a feature.

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**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/devonthink-tags-how-do-i-lock-them/86375/4 "2026-02-23T18:10:45Z")

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When you get it working, feel free to share it here, if you’re so inclined.