# Using date and time key conditions
Locksmith includes two key conditions for controlling access by date and time.
* **Is visiting before a certain date and time**\
Grants access if the current time is *before* your chosen date.
* **Is visiting after a certain date and time**\
Grants access if the current time is *after* your chosen date.
These are best for *one-off* moments. Think launches, limited sales, or short blackout periods.
If you need a recurring weekly schedule, use a weekly schedule key. See [Creating weekly schedules](/tutorials/more/creating-weekly-schedules.md).
## How each condition works
### "Permit if the customer is visiting **after** a certain date and time"
This grants access once the date and time has passed. Before that moment, access is denied.
**Example use case**
You're launching a collection on March 15 at 9:00 AM. Add a key that permits access *after* that time:
Before 9:00 AM, visitors see your lock's denial message. After 9:00 AM, the collection opens automatically.
### "Permit if the customer is visiting **before** a certain date and time"
This grants access until the date and time arrives. After that moment, access is denied.
**Example use case**
You're running early access that ends March 20 at midnight. Add a key that permits access *before* that time:
Visitors can access until the deadline. Afterwards, the lock closes automatically.
## Combining date and time conditions
This is where **AND vs OR** matters. For deeper background, see [Combining key conditions](/keys/more/combining-key-conditions.md). You can also read the [overview explanation](https://www.locksmith.guide/basics/overview#chaining-combining-conditions-together-or-versus-and).
Here’s the rule:
* Conditions inside the **same key** use **AND** logic.
* Separate **keys** on the same lock use **OR** logic.
### Use AND to grant access *during* a time window
If you want access only between two dates, use **one key**. Add both conditions to that single key.
**Example**
Open access from March 10 at 9:00 AM. Close it March 17 at 9:00 AM.
Set up one key:
* Permit if it's **after** March 10 at 9:00 AM
* **AND** permit if it's **before** March 17 at 9:00 AM
Access is denied before March 10. Access is denied after March 17.
### Use OR to grant access *outside* a time window
If you want to block access during a period, use **two keys**. No single moment can be both before a start and after an end.
**Example**
Block access during restocking. Restocking runs March 10 at 9:00 AM to March 17 at 9:00 AM.
Set up two keys:
* **Key 1:** Permit if it's **before** March 10 at 9:00 AM
* **Key 2:** **OR**, Permit if it's **after** March 17 at 9:00 AM
Before March 10, Key 1 grants access. After March 17, Key 2 grants access. During the window, neither key passes.
## Impossible combined time conditions to avoid
{% hint style="warning" %}
**Watch out for impossible conditions.**
If you have time keys combined with "AND", and your "after" time is later than your "before" time, the key never opens. No moment can satisfy both at once.
{% endhint %}
This will never work in a single combined key:
* Permit if it's after March 17
* **And** permit if it's before March 10
If you're trying to allow access outside a window, use two keys instead. See the **OR** example above.
## Quick reference
* Open access **after** a single date\
One key: "after \[date]"
* Open access **until** a single date\
One key: "before \[date]"
* Open access **during** a window\
One key: "after \[start]" AND "before \[end]"
* Block access **during** a window\
Two keys: "before \[start]" OR "after \[end]"
* Recurring weekly hours\
Use a [weekly schedule](/tutorials/more/creating-weekly-schedules.md) key instead
## A note on time zones
Date and time keys use your store time zone. Set it in Shopify under **Settings > General**.
If you need help changing it, see Shopify’s guide:
## Related articles
{% content-ref url="/pages/BbEIkISi5XdTtEe4SKt1" %}
[Creating keys](/basics/creating-keys.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/ZcLkHf2n32p0GJzwXZME" %}
[Combining key conditions](/keys/more/combining-key-conditions.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/uiI8pILDTkHLl0vARExA" %}
[Creating weekly schedules](/tutorials/more/creating-weekly-schedules.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
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