> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.clarity.vote/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.clarity.vote/clarity-v1/participating-in-a-dao/staking/removing-stake-locks.md).

# Removing Stake Locks

### What are stake locks?

When a stake is used to [Create a Proposal](/clarity-v1/participating-in-a-dao/creating-a-proposal.md) or [Vote on a Proposal](/clarity-v1/participating-in-a-dao/voting-on-a-proposal.md), a 'create' or 'vote' lock is respectively placed on that stake. A stake lock serves to prevent users from adding to or withdrawing from a stake while it is active. This ensures that while a stake is being used to vote on a proposal, the power that stake represents is fixed.

### What if I want to add or remove funds to my stake?

No problem! You'll just need to remove your stake locks first. This is very simple to do.

### Removing Stake Locks

**Step 0: Navigate to the staking page of your DAO.**

**Step 1: Check if you have any locks on your stake. Your stake will either be Locked or Free.**

<figure><img src="https://1606530971-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7KeUA10Gto075Owy0rgM%2Fuploads%2F5C2ol7vPj255Fx7WoSbq%2Ffor_distinguished_anon.png?alt=media&amp;token=dd229919-4714-45ac-b37a-a4d00879cfdf" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Step 2: If your stake is locked, click 'View' on your stake**

<figure><img src="https://1606530971-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7KeUA10Gto075Owy0rgM%2Fuploads%2Ftb59BxRzYZwyd9k4Qlad%2Ffor_loyal_broski.png?alt=media&amp;token=2473fd53-5c21-44df-8c21-2920f1b2277b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Step 3: Click Remove Locks.**&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1606530971-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7KeUA10Gto075Owy0rgM%2Fuploads%2FZxenj8Yaf7BYYNDxGZL7%2Ffor_esteemed_customer%20(2).png?alt=media&amp;token=39c436f8-1ba3-49c2-b7cf-09899436c55c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You'll need to remove locks for every Proposal this stake has a lock for.

#### Removing a Vote Lock

Removing a vote lock can be done at any time, it will just retract any votes on Proposals that are actively voting.

#### Removing a Create Lock

Removing a create lock can be done once the Proposal has reached its Finished state.