diff --git a/cmd/unlock.go b/cmd/unlock.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6742917
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/unlock.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"github.com/cupcakearmy/autorestic/internal"
+	"github.com/cupcakearmy/autorestic/internal/colors"
+	"github.com/cupcakearmy/autorestic/internal/lock"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+var unlockCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "unlock",
+	Short: "Unlock autorestic only if you are sure that no other instance is running (ps aux | grep autorestic)",
+	Long: `Unlock autorestic only if you are sure that no other instance is running.
+To check you can run "ps aux | grep autorestic".`,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		internal.GetConfig()
+		err := lock.Unlock()
+		if err != nil {
+			colors.Error.Println("Could not unlock:", err)
+			return
+		}
+
+		colors.Success.Println("Unlock successful")
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(unlockCmd)
+}
diff --git a/docs/pages/cli/unlock.md b/docs/pages/cli/unlock.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96096f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/pages/cli/unlock.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Unlock
+
+In case autorestic throws the error message `an instance is already running. exiting`, but there is no instance running you can unlock the lock.
+
+To verify that there is no instance running you can use `ps aux | grep autorestic`.
+
+Example with no instance running:
+
+```bash
+> ps aux | grep autorestic
+root       39260  0.0  0.0   6976  2696 pts/11   S+   19:41   0:00 grep autorestic
+```
+
+Example with an instance running:
+
+```bash
+> ps aux | grep autorestic
+root       29465  0.0  0.0 1162068 7380 pts/7    Sl+  19:28   0:00 autorestic --ci backup -a
+root       39260  0.0  0.0   6976  2696 pts/11   S+   19:41   0:00 grep autorestic
+```
+
+**If an instance is running you should not unlock as it could lead to data loss!**
+
+```bash
+autorestic unlock
+```