---
title: Setting up a Change Window and Lockout
slug: neurons-for-itsm/admin-user-help/enu/latest/setting-up-a-change-window-and-lockout
createdAt: 2026-07-14T19:16:48.817Z
---

- [About Change Windows and Lockouts](docId\:iE1vIago_rdqGv9Or63It)
- [Setting Up a Change Window](docId\:iE1vIago_rdqGv9Or63It)
- [Creating a New Schedule](docId\:iE1vIago_rdqGv9Or63It)
- [Linking Configuration Items to a Change Window](docId\:iE1vIago_rdqGv9Or63It)
- [Setting Up a Change Lockout](docId\:iE1vIago_rdqGv9Or63It)
- [Linking Configuration Items to a Change Lockout](docId\:iE1vIago_rdqGv9Or63It)

## About Change Windows and Lockouts

Configuration Managers can create a lockout period and a change window for a configuration item. The lockout period appears on the change scheduler in red, while the change window appears in green.

A change lockout period indicates that changes should not be made during this time. They can be overridden by the Change Manager, if necessary.

A change window indicates to the Change Manager that it is a preferred time to implement a change for the configuration item.

## Setting Up a Change Window

By setting up a change window for a configuration item, you are letting Change Enablement know of the preferred time to implement changes that affect the configuration item. For example, you can set up a change window during weekends or non-work hours.

1. Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.
2. Open the **Configuration Item** workspace. The list of objects appears.
3. Double-click a record. The record details appear.
4. Click the **Change Window** tab.
5. Click **Link**. A list of schedules appears.
6. Choose a schedule, then click **Select**. The schedule appears in the list.
7. Click **Save**.

## Creating a New Schedule

1. Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.
2. Open the **Configuration Item** workspace. The list of objects appears.
3. Double-click a record. The record details appear.
4. Click the **Change Window** tab.
5. Click **New Change Window**. A blank change window form appears.
6. Enter information into the fields.

| Field                 | Description                                                                                                                                                |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Name                  | A unique, descriptive name for the schedule.                                                                                                               |
| Description           | Optional. Describes how the schedule is to be used.                                                                                                        |
| Start Time / End Time |                                                                                                                                                            |
| All Day Event         | Does not specify specific times.                                                                                                                           |
| Start Date / End Date | The start and end dates (according to your local time) of the change lockout.                                                                              |
| No End Date           | Does not specify an end date.                                                                                                                              |
| Daily                 | Runs the change lockout daily within the above specified dates. Enter the number of days, such as, recurs every 2 days.                                    |
| Weekly                | Runs the change lockout weekly within the above specified dates. Enter the number of weeks, such as recurs every 1 week on Wednesday.                      |
| Monthly               | Runs the change lockout monthly within the above specified dates. Enter the number of months, such as, recurs every 3 months on the second Monday.         |
| Yearly                | Runs the change lockout annually within the above specified dates. Enter the number of years, such as recurs every 2 years in January on the first Monday. |

7. Click **Save**.

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
If this configuration item links to a change, the Change Manager can view the change window and know the preferred time to implement any changes that involve this configuration item.
:::

## Linking Configuration Items to a Change Window

You can associate a single configuration item or multiple configuration items to a change window. If a change is created using any of the associated configuration items, the change window is shown in the **Change Calendar** tab of the change record.

1. Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.
2. Open the **Change Window** workspace. The list of objects schedules appears.
3. Double-click a record. The record details appear.
4. Click the **CI** tab.
5. Click **Link** :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/parib0MC3hVoUNdfQdnac/1DkyG_DYP0pD9XYW791JE_link.png" alt caption size="10" width="18" height="11"}. A list of records appears.
6. Select a record, then click **Select**.
7. Click **Save**.

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
The configuration items are now associated with the change window. If a new change is created for any of the configuration items that are associated with this change window, the change window appears in the **Change Schedule** tab of the change record. The configuration item records also show the change window associated with the configuration items.
:::

## Setting Up a Change Lockout

By setting up a change lockout for a configuration item, you are letting Change Enablement know that changes that affect the configuration item should not be made during the lockout window. For example, you can set up a change lockout during business hours on weekdays.

1. Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.
2. Open the **Configuration Item** workspace. The list of objects appears.
3. Double-click an object from the list. The record details appear.
4. Select the **Change Lockout** tab.
5. Click **Link** :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/parib0MC3hVoUNdfQdnac/1DkyG_DYP0pD9XYW791JE_link.png" alt caption size="10" width="18" height="11"}. A list of schedules appears.
6. Select a schedule and click **Select**. The schedule appears in the list.
7. Click **Save**.

## Linking Configuration Items to a Change Lockout

You can also associate a configuration item or bulk configuration items to a change lockout from the **Change Lockout** workspace.

1. Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.
2. Open the **Change Lockout** workspace. The list of object schedules appears.
3. Double-click an object from the list. The record details appear.
4. Select the **CI** tab, then click **Link** :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/parib0MC3hVoUNdfQdnac/1DkyG_DYP0pD9XYW791JE_link.png" alt caption size="10" width="18" height="11"}. A list of records appears.
5. Select a record, then click **Select**.
6. Click **Save**.

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
The configuration items are now associated with the change lockout. If a new change is created for any of the configuration items that are associated with this change lockout, the change lockout appears in the **Change Schedule** tab of the change record. The configuration item records also show the change lockout associated with the configuration items.
:::