# Closing channels efficiently

**URL:** <https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-channels-efficiently/7747>\
**Category:** Support and Troubleshooting\
**Created:** [May 18, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-channels-efficiently/7747 "2022-05-18T14:02:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MEHarris333](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@MEHarris333](https://community.umbrel.com/u/MEHarris333)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-channels-efficiently/7747/1 "2022-05-18T14:02:49Z")

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So how does one fairly close a channel so both parties get their sats back?

I was in another post and understand you could force close a channel and get back the local, but not remote sats? If the channel is unbalanced this isn’t going to be fair.

Clearly I’m missing something.

Thanks,

MEH

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**Author:** ![DarthCoin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.umbrel.com/darthcoin/32/1628_2.png) [@DarthCoin](https://community.umbrel.com/u/DarthCoin)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/closing-channels-efficiently/7747/2 "2022-05-18T14:30:08Z")

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> [@MEHarris333](#):
>
> Clearly I’m missing something.

Yes: study, reading documentation.  
Start here: [https://www.lightningnode.info/](https://www.lightningnode.info/)  
And here  
[http://community.umbrel.com/t/important-links-to-learn-more-about-bitcoin-lightning-network/](http://community.umbrel.com/t/important-links-to-learn-more-about-bitcoin-lightning-network/)