Quick answer: Sharing creates a link that other users can use to start their own conversations with the character. The current official guide says sharing cannot be turned off after another user begins a conversation, and deletion may also be restricted after a character has been shared or made public.
This article focuses on the consequences and preparation workflow after you decide to use link sharing. For a comparison of all access states, begin with Private, Shared and Public Custom Characters Explained.
What changes when sharing is enabled
The character becomes accessible through its share link. A recipient can use that link to begin a separate conversation with the character definition. The character does not automatically become a public discovery listing, because public status currently requires a separate request and approval process.
The first meaningful change is distribution risk. A link sent to one person can be copied, bookmarked or forwarded. Treat the character profile, visible media and embedded background as information that may reach an audience beyond the first recipient.
AI Video Gallery
A preview of selected portrait videos and AI character images.
What sharing does not give recipients
Sharing is access to the character, not an invitation into the creator’s personal message history. The official documentation describes other users starting their own conversations. However, private facts placed inside the character’s name, profile, personality instructions, images or background may still be reproduced through the shared experience.
Review the character definition itself rather than relying on the privacy of your own chat. Remove real addresses, workplaces, private events, identifying combinations and any information copied from a person who did not consent to distribution.
The current point of no easy return
The official custom-character guide states that after another user starts a conversation with a shared character, the creator cannot turn sharing off. Its FAQ also says deletion is available only while the character has not been made public or shared with others. These are time-sensitive product controls, so verify the live settings before acting.
Because the consequence depends on another user beginning a conversation, do not send a “test” link until the version is genuinely ready for distribution. A private screenshot or copied description is safer for early feedback when you are not prepared to lose reversal options.
Run an originality and privacy audit before sending the link
- Fictional identity: confirm the character is not based on a celebrity, influencer, public figure or private individual. The official guide prohibits characters based on real people.
- Personal information: remove names, locations and events that reveal the creator or another person.
- Media rights: keep records for images and assets used in the profile, especially when the character may later become public.
- Audience clarity: write a description that explains the role and interaction style without private context.
- Current controls: confirm sharing, editing and deletion behavior in the live account before distribution.
Test behavior outside the ideal opening
A recipient may ignore the intended greeting and begin with an unexpected topic. Test ordinary conversation, disagreement, a boundary correction and a scene related to the backstory. The character should remain understandable without the creator supplying hidden instructions.
Use the companion consistency framework before sharing. The objective is not identical replies. It is recognizable values, initiative and boundaries across different situations.
Create a separate share-ready version when the original is personal
A character designed around private history is often a poor candidate for direct sharing. Instead of stripping context from the personal version at the last moment, create a separate fictional character with its own background, public-facing introduction and neutral details.
This separation protects the original relationship concept and makes later changes easier to track. It also reduces the chance that edits intended for a public audience weaken the private character’s continuity.
Keep a record of the distributed version
Save the character name, description, visible image, sharing date and a short note about the behavior you tested. If the profile is edited later, keep a dated change record. This provides a practical reference when a recipient reports an issue or when platform controls change.
A record does not guarantee removal from every recipient’s use, but it helps identify what information was available at a particular time and supports a responsible correction process.
After sharing, review rather than assume
Check the live character settings and any feedback you receive. If a description is misleading, an image raises a rights concern or private information was included, restrict or correct what the platform currently allows and contact support when necessary. Do not present public approval as proof that every legal or editorial concern has been resolved.
A final decision test
Before sending the link, ask whether you would still distribute this version if it reached an unfamiliar user, if sharing could not be disabled, and if the character were interpreted outside your intended storyline. A “no” to any question is a reason to keep the original private and prepare a separate version.
Share only a fictional, tested version that contains no private context and can stand on its own for another user.
Review custom character options
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Sources reviewed
This article was checked against the following sources on July 13, 2026. Product behavior and availability can change, so verify important details on the official service.
