soft lock

**soft lock**
A “soft lock” refers to a temporary or partial restriction in a system, game, or application where the user is unable to proceed further or interact as intended, but the system itself remains responsive and does not crash. Unlike a hard lock or crash, a soft lock often requires specific actions to resolve or reset, such as restarting a level or adjusting settings. This term is commonly used in gaming, software development, and troubleshooting contexts.