Can't deactivate a container or delete a location
- Troubleshooting
- Stock Containers
- For: Admin, Warehouse Manager, Warehouse Operative
- Checked on 27 October 2026
Find out why Stockist won't take a container out of service or delete a location, and what to empty or move first.
In short
A container can't be deactivated while it holds any stock, so unpack it first. A location can't be deleted while anything is in it, including an empty or inactive container.
What you see
The Stock Container [container] still holds [number] inventory item(s) and cannot be deactivated until it is emptied.
The container still holds stock
Only an empty container can be deactivated. The message says how many lines of stock are still packed in it.
- In the Rapid Scanner, scan where the stock is going, then the container.
- Unpack each line under Contents.
- When Items Held shows 0, deactivate it again.
Stock that is Quarantined can only be unpacked into a quarantine location.
The location still holds stock or a container
A location is deleted only when nothing is in it: no loose stock and no container. An empty container counts, because its own weight is still on the location, and so does an inactive one.
- Move each container somewhere else. An inactive container can't be moved, so reactivate it first, move it, then deactivate it again.
- Move the loose stock to another location.
The location is still active
Stockist deletes a location only once its lifecycle is Inactive. Turning off Active when you edit the location doesn't change its lifecycle. No screen does that yet, so Delete refuses every location.
To stop stock going into a location now, select Flag Maintenance beside it in Warehouses › Locations and give a reason. Stockist then puts nothing away there until it is restored.
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