Unlock a Standing Desk | The Ultimate Guide

One thing that irritates me the most while using tech devices is unexpected hiccups. That arises out of nowhere, and says hi to you and teases you like an uninvited guest. Ugh! A standing desk is a blessing, saving us from multiple health and productivity concerns.

But this same standing desk can be a hassle if it locks. Mainly, if it sticks at an undesired height. Now what? You can’t work on this desk, at least.

You’ll have to find numerous guides to unlock a standing desk (as you’re doing now), or you’ll spend your day working from a dining table, coffee table, or the living room’s most comfy couch. As an interior designer, I’ve faced this problem multiple times and received calls from my friends and circle, anxious to find a solution. 

Instead of receiving a call every time and giving them complete instructions, I planned to write it here to help you all together. So, let’s unlock a standing desk together. 

Quick Fix: How to Unlock a Standing Desk?

If you are patient, you can fix your stuck standing desk with only a few steps. You need to follow this quick fix manually. This quick fix is for those looking for the fastest way to bring their desk back up and running. 

  • First, inspect your standing desk as any obstruction may be causing this hindrance. 
  • If the path is clear, press your standing desk’s down button (or M button) and keep it pressed for a while. (until it says LOC)
  • The desk will reach its minimum height, and some will even start a function reset. 
  • This should solve the problem and make your desk a smooth sail. 

This manual fix works wonders for locked desks. But if this fix doesn’t work, you need to keep reading to find more ways to fix your desk. I’m sure you’ll have your desk functional again after following the steps as suggested. 

Why is My Standing Desk Locked? 

To understand the solution to unlocking your desk, you first need to discover who is causing your frustration. Once you know the reason for locking, you can apply the fix efficiently. 

  • Standing Desk Power Loss:

No creature on earth can work without Energy. WeEnergyumans, the most super beings, can’t work if we don’t have the Energy to work or haven’t eaten all day. Similarly, we all know, tech stuff and electronic items need electricity to stay alive. Once they are out of power, no one can make them work again. Yeah! They win at this. 

So, before fretting out, check your desk’s power. Check if the outlet power source is plugged in. In most cases, the standing desk automatically resets if it’s unplugged. In unplug mode, it only travels down. 

How Do We Fix The Power Loss Issue? | Unlock a Standing Desk

If power is an issue, you need to manually reset your standing desk. Refer to the table below for instructions. 

  • Locking Due to Obstruction:

If we have a traditional lock at our house, we can’t use it to keep our items safe if there’s any obstruction. Similarly, you can’t pass water through your kitchen sink if the pipe is obstructed. A standing desk won’t go down or up if an object is resting in its way. Something on top of your desk may be causing this inefficiency. 

Many standing desks are wise and efficient, as they highlight a collision detection feature. This feature prevents your desk from hitting any object. If there’s any object resting on the way, the table will automatically move down and allow you to remove that object. Isn’t it a wise move? Well, this smartness is another reason I love standing desks. 

How Do We Fix This Issue?

Remove the object getting in the way, and you’re good to go. 

  • Uneven or Wobbly Legs:

Standing desks use electric motors to work efficiently. The motors have a self-locking feature that helps them lock the desk when it reaches the desired height. 

These motors are synchronized in their function and move precisely simultaneously. If this feature isn’t working efficiently, the legs will become uneven. The legs may become uneven as one motor completes its turn, but the other may be left behind. 

Once the legs become uneven, you can expect two things;

Either the desk will recognize the damage and prevent it from moving and causing further damage.

Or

The desk won’t be wise enough, and it continues to move and finally gets stuck. 

Wondering how to fix a Wobbly Desk? Find out here

Fixing The Mechanical Issue:

You can resolve this issue by manually resetting the standing desk. Once you do the reset, the legs will be aligned and balanced. 

  • Duty Cycle and Desk’s Homeostasis:

Like our brain sets the temperature, it activates our sympathetic response to maintain Homeostasis. SimiHomeostasis, a standing desk, reaches its limit and becomes dormant to prevent overheating.

This phenomenon is also called the Duty Cycle. Consider it a time when the desk can be functional and move, but if you keep moving it up or down, it stops for its safety. So, if your desk suddenly stops working, don’t fret; wait a while. 

The control box of the standing desks maintains this duty cycle, just as our brains do. Most control boxes have a fixed 10% duty cycle, which means 2 minutes active (on) and 18 minutes dormant (off).

Should you place your desk in front of a window to maintain homeostasis? Read Homeostasis to Fix the Duty Cycle Problem.

Stay calm and wait for 18-20 minutes, as required by most standing desks. Your desk will automatically turn on and come back to life. Once it comes, you can easily use it like you usually do. 

If the time is up and the desk doesn’t start. You may need to perform a manual reset. The procedure is given in the table below. 

  • Upper Container Stop:

It is a feature that a user employs to redefine the highest position a standing desk can reach. The user sets a limit for the height of the desk. 

As this feature is in our control. We can manage and change its settings whenever required. 

A locked desk may be due to a feature you set one day and forgot the other. This feature avoids any collision between the desk and any other object nearby, such as a cabinet or shelf. So, we limit the maximum height to prevent such incidents. 

How To Fix This Issue?

First, grab your user manual and read the instructions provided. Then, change or delete the settings. Once deleted, the upper container stop feature will halt, and your desk can move beyond the set limit. 

  • Lower Container Stop:

The upper container stop is for the desk’s maximum height. Similarly, the lower container control feature is in the user’s hands. You may use it to set the minimum possible height for a standing desk. It’s better to set the height between 28 and 30 inches instead of keeping it down. 

Like the previous feature, this prevents desk collisions with surrounding elements. 

Fix For This Problem:

Similarly, as you deleted the upper container, stop to reset the table. The lower container stop is also deleted.

  • Poor Cable Management:

Poor cable management may cause such scenarios in addition to clutter and frustration. If you haven’t designated a proper place for your desk cables and wires, you may experience a locked desk. The power cable may be loose, and there may be an intermittent power supply to the desk. 

Before finding other solutions, check if the cables are secure. Otherwise, the desk will reset every time the power cable is loose and the supply is intermittent. 

How To Fix?

Inspect and secure the cables firmly in the power outlet. Also, invest in cable management accessories to prevent such issues in the future. 

(It’s better to be safe than sorry, huh?) 😌

  • Overloaded Desk | Unlock a Standing Desk

Everything has a load-lifting capacity; if we exceed that, overloading will occur. That load isn’t similar to the workload on your brain or shoulders. That’s the real, tangible load. 😆 The desk may turn off due to overloading. 

How to fix? 

Simply put only essentials on the desk and never overload it with unnecessary items. When you remove the excessive weight from the desk, it should automatically return to normal operation. To fix this, check the manual and see how much lifting capacity your standing desk has. 

The lifting capacity may be written in two forms

→ Base Only

→ Base + Worksurface 

If the manual states that “Base-only: total lifting capacity: 400 lbs,” the total weight on the top base should not exceed 400 lbs.

Resetting a Standing Desk – Made Easy:

Follow the steps below to reset your standing desk:

Step Instructions
1 Make sure there’s no clutter under your desk that could get in the way. It doesn’t look good!!
2 Disconnect your desk from the power outlet and wait about half a minute.
3 Look at all the other cords connected to your desk’s motor or control box and check if they’re firmly plugged in.
4 Plug the power cord back into the wall socket.
5 Press and hold the downward arrow button (▼) until the desk lowers to its lowest position. Once it’s there, leave the button.
6 Hold down the button again for about 10 seconds. You’ll notice the desk dipping slightly and then rising back up during this time. This indicates that the reset process is happening.
7 Once you see the desk perform this action, release the button.
8 You’re all set! You can now resume using your desk as usual.

 

Conclusion | How to Unlock a Standing Desk?

I know a stuck desk is irritating, as I’ve been through it. But let me tell you one thing: If you have patience and the right instructions to unlock your standing desk, you can fix this issue in a breeze. Believe me, you won’t have to spend days finding a solution and dealing with that unwanted anxiety. Just follow the instructions above, and you’ll be good to fix this problem.

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