Remove need for beforeunload listener

[bsingerftm]

Preliminary Checks

• I have reviewed the documentation: https://clerk.com/docs

• I have searched for existing issues: https://github.com/clerk/javascript/issues

• I have not already reached out to Clerk support via email or Discord (if you have, no need to open an issue here)

• This issue is not a question, general help request, or anything other than a bug report directly related to Clerk. Please ask questions in our Discord community: https://clerk.com/discord.

Reproduction

https://github.com/vedaterenoglu/nextjs-clerk-template.git

Publishable key

pk_test_bW9kZWwtbG9ic3Rlci0xNS5jbGVyay5hY2NvdW50cy5kZXYk

Description

Started a thread on Discord and then was directed here: https://discord.com/channels/856971667393609759/1466175692575346698

I don't like that this usage of the beforeunload event is forced on me just because I choose to used Clerk. It creates a somewhat annoying UX if the user ever wants to use the browser navigation or refresh button, go through a redirect flow for an integration...or in some cases just navigating pages.

javascript/packages/clerk-js/src/core/auth/safeLock.ts

Lines 8 to 10 in 583f7a9

	window.addEventListener('beforeunload', async () => {
	await lock.releaseLock(key);
	});

At the very least, could you provide a config option to disable it?

Screen.Recording.2026-01-30.at.8.10.33.AM.mov

Environment

System:
    OS: macOS 26.2
    CPU: (12) arm64 Apple M4 Pro
    Memory: 70.84 MB / 48.00 GB
    Shell: 5.9 - /bin/zsh
  Binaries:
    Node: 22.22.0 - /Users/bsinger/.local/state/fnm_multishells/55170_1769643612439/bin/node
    npm: 10.9.4 - /Users/bsinger/.local/state/fnm_multishells/55170_1769643612439/bin/npm
    pnpm: 10.28.2 - /Users/bsinger/.local/state/fnm_multishells/55170_1769643612439/bin/pnpm
  Browsers:
    Chrome: 144.0.7559.110
    Safari: 26.2
  npmPackages:
    @ai-sdk/openai: ^2.0.87 => 2.0.87 
    @ai-sdk/react: ^2.0.116 => 2.0.116 
    @clerk/backend: ^2.20.0 => 2.29.6 
    @clerk/clerk-react: ^5.53.8 => 5.60.0 
    @clerk/nextjs: ^6.37.0 => 6.37.0 
    @clerk/themes: ^2.4.33 => 2.4.41 
    @convex-dev/migrations: ^0.3.1 => 0.3.1 
    @dnd-kit/core: ^6.3.1 => 6.3.1 
    @dnd-kit/sortable: ^10.0.0 => 10.0.0 
    @dnd-kit/utilities: ^3.2.2 => 3.2.2 
    @next/third-parties: ^16.0.10 => 16.0.10 
    @radix-ui/react-icons: ^1.3.2 => 1.3.2 
    @radix-ui/react-toggle-group: ^1.1.11 => 1.1.11 
    @radix-ui/themes: ^3.2.1 => 3.2.1 
    @sentry/nextjs: ^10.32.0 => 10.32.0 
    @tanstack/react-query: ^5.90.12 => 5.90.12 
    @tanstack/react-table: ^8.21.3 => 8.21.3 
    @testing-library/jest-dom: ^6.9.1 => 6.9.1 
    @testing-library/react: ^16.3.1 => 16.3.1 
    @testing-library/user-event: ^14.6.1 => 14.6.1 
    @types/lodash: ^4.17.21 => 4.17.21 
    @types/node: ^22.13.10 => 22.19.1 
    @types/react: ^19.0.10 => 19.2.7 
    @types/react-dom: ^19.0.4 => 19.2.3 
    @vitejs/plugin-react: ^5.1.2 => 5.1.2 
    @vitest/coverage-v8: ^4.0.16 => 4.0.16 
    ai: ^5.0.114 => 5.0.114 
    babel-plugin-react-compiler: ^1.0.0 => 1.0.0 
    convex: ^1.31.2 => 1.31.2 
    convex-test: ^0.0.41 => 0.0.41 
    dotenv: ^16.4.7 => 16.6.1 
    framer-motion: ^12.23.25 => 12.23.25 
    husky: ^9.1.7 => 9.1.7 
    jsdom: ^27.3.0 => 27.3.0 
    lodash: ^4.17.21 => 4.17.23 
    msw: ^2.12.4 => 2.12.4 
    next: ^16.0.1 => 16.1.6 
    npm-run-all: ^4.1.5 => 4.1.5 
    oxfmt: ^0.27.0 => 0.27.0 
    oxlint: ^1.33.0 => 1.33.0 
    patch-package: ^8.0.1 => 8.0.1 
    postcss: ~8 => 8.5.6 
    raw-loader: ^4.0.2 => 4.0.2 
    react: ^19.2.3 => 19.2.3 
    react-cookie-consent: ^9.0.0 => 9.0.0 
    react-day-picker: ^9.12.0 => 9.12.0 
    react-dom: ^19.2.3 => 19.2.3 
    react-idle-timer: ^5.7.2 => 5.7.2 
    react-markdown: ^10.1.0 => 10.1.0 
    recharts: ^3.5.1 => 3.5.1 
    snaptrade-typescript-sdk: ^9.0.11 => 9.0.158 
    sonner: ^2.0.3 => 2.0.7 
    streamdown: ^1.6.10 => 1.6.11 
    stripe: ^20.0.0 => 20.0.0 
    svix: ^1.81.0 => 1.82.0 
    typescript: ~5.7.2 => 5.7.3 
    vitest: ^4.0.16 => 4.0.16 
    zod: ^4.2.1 => 4.2.1

[bsingerftm]

My assistant did an assessment of the codebase and found that the beforeunload listener can be removed.

PR: #7775