Sharing and public links
A public link makes a cluster viewable by anyone with the URL, with no account and no sign-in. Links are always view-only, can be set to expire after 7 or 30 days, can include or exclude nested clusters, and can be marked as not indexable by search engines. Inviting by email is separate and is how you grant edit access.
Two different mechanisms live behind the Share button, and mixing them up is the main thing to avoid.
Public links — view only, no account
A public link is a URL anyone can open. No account, no sign-in, no request for access. It is always read-only.
Options when you create one:
| Option | Choices |
|---|---|
| Expiry | Never · 7 days · 30 days |
| Include sub-clusters | Whether nested clusters can be opened too |
| Allow indexing | Whether search engines may index it — off by default |
With sub-clusters included, viewers can navigate into nested boards with breadcrumbs. With it off, the link shows exactly one board.
Links can be revoked at any time from the same dialog.
By default a shared board tells search engines not to index it. It is reachable by anyone with the URL, but it will not turn up in a search unless you allow indexing or publish it to Explore.
The board renders in a real canvas — viewers pan, zoom and open images at full size. It is not a flattened image.
Inviting people — this is how editing is granted
Separate from public links, and the only way anyone gets edit access.
- By email — name a person and a role of editor or viewer.
- By invite link — a URL carrying a role. Whoever opens it confirms and gets that access. Use when you do not have addresses.
Editors are free on every plan. See Collaborating.
Quick copy
The board header has a one-click copy view-only link for the common case. Boards you are viewing without edit rights show a clear VIEW ONLY badge, so there is never ambiguity about whether your changes will stick.
Link previews
A shared link unfurls properly in Slack, Messages and email — the board's own name and a thumbnail of its actual contents, not a generic logo.
Publishing instead
To make a board genuinely public and discoverable — listed in the directory and indexable — see Explore. That is a separate, reviewed step, not something a share link does by accident.
Sharing a file instead of a link
If the recipient needs a file rather than a live view, see Exporting a board. A link is usually better: it does not go stale.
Frequently asked questions
Does someone need an account to open a shared link?
No. A public link opens the board read-only for anyone, with no sign-in.
Can a public link be edited by whoever has it?
Never. Public links are always view-only. Edit access is granted only by inviting a specific person or using a role-bearing invite link.
Will a shared board show up in Google?
Only if you allow indexing, or publish it to Explore. By default shared boards carry a noindex instruction.
Machine-readable: /docs/collaborate/sharing.md · /llms.txt