---
title: "Changing the privacy level of a group"
description: "Group managers can switch a group between open, private, and secret at any time from Information & privacy in the group's settings"
category: communication
section: groups-and-rooms
tags: [permissions]
type: Tutorial
lastUpdated: 2026-08-06
locale: en
canonical: https://support.talkspirit.com/en/communication/changing-the-privacy-level-of-a-group
---

# Changing the privacy level of a group


## Changing the privacy level of a group
Group managers can change a group's privacy level at any time. A group has one of three privacy levels: **open** (accessible to all members of the organisation), **private** (accessible to its members only), or **secret** (private and invisible to everyone except its members).

## Change the privacy level

1. Open the group and click the cog icon (**Settings**) in the panel on the right of the group page.
2. Select **Information & privacy**.
3. Under **Privacy**, select the new level.
4. Click **Save**.

![A group's Settings panel open on the right of the group page, listing Information and privacy, Manage permissions, Manage enabled apps, Statistics, Leave this group, Archive this group, and Delete this group](/images/communication/changing-the-privacy-level-of-a-group/01-group-settings-information-and-privacy.png)

![The Edit information dialog for a group, with the Privacy section offering three levels: an open group accessible to all members (selected), a private group accessible to its members only, and a secret group that is invisible to everyone except its members](/images/communication/changing-the-privacy-level-of-a-group/02-edit-information-privacy-levels.png)

If a privacy level appears greyed out, your organisation limits who can create groups with that level, and the same limits apply when changing one. Groups administrators can always select all three levels.

## What are the consequences of changing the privacy level?

**Changing from open to private or secret:**

- The group and its content are only accessible to its members. Existing members keep their access.
- New users join a private group by invitation, or by sending an access request that a group manager approves.
- A secret group no longer appears in the groups directory for non-members, and access requests are disabled: you must invite users.

**Changing from private or secret to open:**

- The group and its content become accessible to all members of your organisation.
- Members receive a notification that the group is now open, unless they have disabled it in their notification settings.
- Users must still join the group before they can post in it.

## Who can change a group's privacy level?

The **Information & privacy** entry appears only for the group's managers, both in the group's settings and in the **Manage groups** dashboard. Organisation administrators and groups administrators hold the same right on every group; on an open group they do not manage yet, they first select **Become group manager** in the group's row menu in Manage groups.

## What's Next?

- [Understanding Groups](/en/communication/groups)
- [Joining or requesting access to a group](/en/communication/joining-or-asking-for-access-to-a-group)
- [Inviting members to join a group](/en/communication/inviting-members-to-join-a-group)
- [The Groups Administrator](/en/communication/the-groups-administrator)