❓ What this error means
When you optimize an article with our AI content tools in Content Genius, Search Atlas places a temporary lock on that article so two edits cannot run at the same time. This lock protects your content from being overwritten or duplicated mid-edit.
If an AI optimization job is interrupted, the lock can occasionally fail to release. The next time you try to edit, you see a message like:
- "Execution already in progress"
This means the system still thinks an earlier edit is running, even though it has actually stopped. Until the lock clears, new AI edits on that specific article are blocked.
🔍 Common causes
- An AI optimization job was closed or refreshed before it finished.
- Your internet connection dropped during an edit.
- Two edits were started on the same article within a few seconds of each other.
- A temporary server-side interruption left the job in a "running" state.
A previously reported issue in Content Genius, where AI article writing could become stuck at the progress-completion stage and leave the job in a "running" state, has been resolved. If you encountered this on an older article and still see the error, the lock may simply need to be cleared using the steps below.
🛠️ How to clear the lock yourself
Most stuck locks release automatically within a short period. Try these steps in order before contacting support.
⏳ Step 1: Wait and refresh
- Close the article editor completely.
- Wait about 15 minutes so any background job can time out.
- Reopen the article and try the AI optimization again.
🧹 Step 2: Clear your browser session
- Log out of Search Atlas.
- Clear your browser cache, or open the app in a private/incognito window.
- Log back in and reopen the article.
- Run the AI optimization once and wait for it to fully complete before clicking anything else.
🗂️ Step 3: Confirm no other tab is open
- Check that the same article is not open in another browser tab or on another device.
- Close any duplicates, then retry the edit.
🆘 If the lock is still stuck
Some locks—especially those that have persisted for several days—must be cleared on our end. This is a server-side action you cannot perform from your dashboard. If the error continues after the steps above, contact support and we will release the lock manually.
📋 What to include in your request
To resolve your case quickly, please send:
- The article name or URL affected.
- The project or workspace the article belongs to.
- The date the error first appeared.
- A screenshot of the error message.
With these details, our team can locate the stuck job and clear it, usually within one business day.
💳 About credits used on failed attempts
We understand that repeated failed attempts can consume credits. Search Atlas does not charge credits for optimizations that do not produce a result. If you believe credits were deducted for edits blocked by this error, let support know in the same message.
🔁 How to request a credit review
- Note the approximate dates and number of failed attempts.
- Include your account email and project name.
- Send these to support along with the lock details above.
Our team will review your usage history and restore any credits that were charged for blocked or failed edits.
🛡️ How to prevent this in the future
- Let each AI optimization finish completely before navigating away or refreshing.
- Avoid running edits on the same article from multiple tabs or devices at once.
- Use a stable internet connection when running AI content tasks.
- If a job appears frozen, wait for it to time out instead of starting a new one immediately.
💬 Need more help?
If you are unsure whether a lock is active or you cannot edit an article at all, reach out to our support team. Include the details listed above and we will clear the lock and review any affected credits for you.