Why signing is blocked
Find out why Keel won't sign your note, and what to do about each reason.
Purpose
Keel won't sign a note when you aren't allowed to sign it, when your changes aren't saved, or when a medicine needs you. Work down this list from the top and stop at the first row that matches.
Checklist
- If you see: You can't open the note, or there's no Open noteOnly an Owner or a Doctor can open notes (Resolve an unavailable action)
- If you see: Sign off is greyed out in the Keel phone appSigning isn't available in the phone app yet. Open the note in Keel in a browser and sign it there.
- If you see: Sign off is greyed out: Signing a note needs prescribing rights on your profile. Ask your clinic owner to turn them on.Ask your Owner to grant prescribing (grant prescribing)
- If you see: Sign off is greyed out: This is another doctor's note. Ask them to sign it, or your clinic owner can.That doctor signs it, or an Owner with prescribing rights signs as backup. To cover them, they must add you as their delegate (Set up and end sign-off delegation).
- If you see: Sign off is greyed out: This note has no consulting doctor on record. Only a clinic owner with prescribing rights can sign it.Ask an Owner with prescribing rights to sign it (Use a backup signer where supported)
- If you see: The key reads Save failed · try againYour changes didn't save, so nothing was signed. Select it, then Sign off again.
- If you see: Not sent. followed by a reading that isn't saved yet: fix it or clear it.Fix or clear that reading in the vitals box, then sign again
- If you see: Not signed · 1 medicine needs youFix each marked medicine (Resolve medicine review blockers)
- If you see: The dialog's Sign off key is greyed outPick a quick reason or type one (give a reason)
- If you see: Sign-off permission changed — refreshing.Your cover ended or your prescribing rights changed. Check the key again after the page reloads.
- If you see: Another doctor already signed this note. Refreshing.It's already signed. To change it, see Correct a signed note.
- If you see: The top bar shows Amend, not Sign offThe note is already signed (Correct a signed note)
- Working: Note signed at and the timeDone
Checked against the Keel product source and in the live product on 2026-10-11. No row on this page was observed. The greyed Sign off key and its reasons, the save, vitals and medicine refusals, the reason dialog and the server messages were not exercised.