1---
2layout: "docs"
3page_title: "operator seal - Command"
4sidebar_title: "<code>seal</code>"
5sidebar_current: "docs-commands-operator-seal"
6description: |-
7  The "operator seal" command seals the Vault server. Sealing tells the Vault server to
8  stop responding to any operations until it is unsealed. When sealed, the Vault
9  server discards its in-memory master key to unlock the data, so it is
10  physically blocked from responding to operations unsealed.
11---
12
13# operator seal
14
15The `operator seal` seals the Vault server. Sealing tells the Vault server to
16stop responding to any operations until it is unsealed. When sealed, the Vault
17server discards its in-memory master key to unlock the data, so it is physically
18blocked from responding to operations unsealed.
19
20If an unseal is in progress, sealing the Vault will reset the unsealing process.
21Users will have to re-enter their portions of the master key again.
22
23This command does nothing if the Vault server is already sealed.
24
25For more information on sealing and unsealing, please the [seal concepts
26page](/docs/concepts/seal.html).
27
28## Examples
29
30Seal a Vault server:
31
32```text
33$ vault operator seal
34Success! Vault is sealed.
35```
36
37## Usage
38
39There are no flags beyond the [standard set of flags](/docs/commands/index.html)
40included on all commands.
41