# Partial read-only mode

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/partial-read-only-mode/210401>\
**Category:** Feature\
**Tags:** read-only\
**Created:** [November 29, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/partial-read-only-mode/210401 "2021-11-29T13:46:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![RGJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/rgj/32/523185_2.png) [@RGJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RGJ)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/partial-read-only-mode/210401/1 "2021-11-29T13:46:31Z")

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Every now and then we come across a situation where a forum needs to be in “read only” mode in order to prevent new posts being made.

However, it is really annoying that read only mode also prevents configuration changes, SSO synchronization and logging in.

It would be great if we had some kind of partial read only mode where only posts and post actions would be read-only.

Right now the only thing I can think of is stripping post permissions from all category security groups but that is a bit too hacky and it requires storing them somewhere else for the time being.

Does anyone have an idea on what the best way to accomplish this would be?  
Probably this is plugin territory, but still: what approach would be best?

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