# Sharing and discovery

Public access and discoverability are separate decisions. A space can be public so a link works for anyone while staying out of Explore.

| Setting or relationship | Who can read? | Does it grant editing? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Private space | Authorized members and other explicitly permitted users | Depends on their role |
| Direct file or folder access | People granted access, including allowed inherited access | Depends on the grant |
| Public/link-accessible content | Anyone who obtains the link, including automated readers | No |
| Eligible for Explore | Public content may be presented for discovery | No |
| Follow or save | Organizes what a user sees or returns to | No new permissions |

**Link-only is not private.** A recipient can forward a public link, and public readers can copy or download content. Keeping a space out of Explore is not an access restriction or a guarantee against indexing elsewhere.

## Sharing with collaborators

Whole-space membership applies across that space. Roles distinguish owners, administrators, editors, and viewers. A folder's settings do not create a private exception that removes an existing space member's inherited access. Put material with a different audience in a separate space when necessary.

Before moving content into a shared destination, check who can access that destination. Moving across spaces can change which access applies. Read the product's confirmation rather than assuming old sharing remains unchanged.

## Sharing with an assistant

An assistant acts through a user-owned connection. The user must have access, and the connection must also allow the resource and action. A public link alone cannot authorize editing. [Assistant permissions](https://stuff.ac/file/182ad79e-64a6-4979-912a-542456e2b58b).

## Making something private again

Remove the relevant public sharing and review other direct or inherited access. Removing Explore eligibility alone does not make a public link private. Removing one collaborator or one agent grant does not automatically remove other independent grants.

Existing copies, downloads, screenshots, and provider conversation history remain outside Stuff's control.

[Sharing and permissions reference](https://stuff.ac/file/ed4e7c2c-4727-4045-b115-301a06e61840) · [Privacy and security](https://stuff.ac/file/52adca63-6bc8-407e-8957-73cf3cc052fc)