Quick answer: Private, shared and public are access states for a custom character. Private is for personal use, shared allows access through a link, and public can make the character discoverable after approval. Choose the least public setting that still serves your purpose.
Character visibility answers one narrow question: who can access the custom character? It does not tell you where service data is stored, who owns a separate user’s conversation, or which memories are available inside your own chats. Keeping those systems separate makes the access decision easier and reduces accidental oversharing.
Compare the three visibility states
| Setting | Who can access it | Best use | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Only the creator | Testing, personal storylines and unfinished concepts | “Private” is an access label, not a claim that all service data stays on one device |
| Shared | People with the share link | A limited audience or collaborative use | The current guide says sharing cannot be turned off after another user starts a conversation |
| Public | Users who discover the character after approval | A polished fictional character designed for broad use | Public distribution increases the need for clear descriptions, original media and ongoing review |
The table is a decision aid, not a substitute for the live settings screen. Product controls can change, so verify the current option before distributing a link or requesting public status.
AI Video Gallery
A preview of selected portrait videos and AI character images.
Private is the default for development and personal use
The official custom-character guide describes private characters as available only to their creator. This is the appropriate starting state while personality, background, images and boundaries are still being tested. It is also the stronger choice for a character built around a personal storyline that was never intended for other users.
Private access does not mean that character information is stored only on your device. Secrets AI is an online service, and its privacy policy governs collection and handling of service data. Avoid embedding sensitive details that are unnecessary for the character, even when the profile is not distributed.
Shared is for link access, not general discovery
A shared character can be opened by people who receive the link. The character is not automatically the same as a public listing. The important current limitation is that sharing may become non-reversible after another user begins a conversation. This makes the first distribution of the link a publishing decision rather than a temporary preview.
Use shared access when the character was designed for a known audience and can still make sense without private context. The detailed consequences, deletion limits and pre-sharing review process are covered in the guide to what happens after you share a custom character.
Public is a discovery state that requires approval
The current official guide says creators request public status from character settings and wait for review. Public characters may then appear in character browsing. Approval controls access to discovery, but it should not be treated as a complete editorial check of originality, clarity or media rights.
A public character needs a concise description that tells an unfamiliar user the role, temperament and expected interaction style. It should remain understandable without the creator explaining hidden assumptions. Claims such as “always remembers everything” or “responds perfectly in every scene” should be avoided because generated behavior cannot be guaranteed.
Visibility does not control memory scope
Visibility and memory solve different problems. Visibility determines access to the character. Memory scope determines which conversations for that companion can use particular saved memories. The Multiple Chats system currently supports private chat memory and Memory Groups shared across selected chats with the same companion.
Changing a character from private to shared does not merge your message history with another user’s conversation. However, information embedded directly in the character profile, background or visible media can still influence what others experience. Review the definition itself rather than assuming private chats protect details placed inside the character design.
Visibility also differs from Persona settings
A Persona represents the user inside a conversation; a custom character is the AI companion. Persona selection changes user-side context for new messages and does not determine whether the character is private, shared or public. For the full distinction, see Companion vs Persona in Secrets AI.
Choose access by stage, not ambition
- Development stage: keep the character private while the greeting, ordinary conversation, disagreement and backstory behavior are still being tested.
- Limited distribution stage: use shared access only when the concept was prepared for recipients and you accept the current reversal limitation.
- Discovery stage: request public status only after the profile, images, originality and broad-user experience have received a separate review.
Moving toward wider access should follow evidence that the character works for its intended audience. Public is not the “finished” version of every custom character. A personal character can remain private permanently and still fulfill its purpose.
A simple access decision
Ask three questions: Does anyone else need access? Would the character still make sense without your private explanation? Are you comfortable if the link reaches someone beyond the first recipient? If the first answer is no, stay private. If the first is yes but the second or third is no, create a separate share-ready version instead of distributing the personal one.
Before designing a character for distribution, review the responsibilities that come with custom creation and use a consistency test for the personality.
Keep the character private until its access purpose, visible information and current platform controls are clear.
Review custom character options
This button may contain an affiliate link. SecretOpedia may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
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.
