# Private Project

> Part of the NocoDB documentation (Product docs > Projects). Index of all pages: https://nocodb.com/llms.txt. Any docs page is available as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL.

URL: https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/private-project
Last updated: 2026-10-09

Set up a Private Project in NocoDB and control who can access it, separate from workspace roles.

A **Private Project** in NocoDB lets project owners fully control access to the project, separate from workspace roles. Use a private project for work that must stay confidential, or that only some members of a workspace can see and use.

## How Private Project Works

When you set a project to **private**:

* **Workspace role inheritance is disabled.** Users with a workspace role such as Owner, Editor or Viewer do **not** get access automatically.
* By default, only the **project creator (Owner)** can access the project.
* To give access to other members, you must **explicitly** give them a project role (Owner, Creator, Editor, Commenter or Viewer).

<Callout type="info">
  Members without explicit access will not see the project listed in their workspace
</Callout>

## Creating a Private Project

1. On the workspace **Projects** page, click **New Project** → **From Scratch**.
2. Type a name for the project.
3. For **Project Type**, select **Private**.
4. Click **Create Project**.

<img alt="Create project" src={__img0} placeholder="blur" />
<img alt="Create project" src={__img1} placeholder="blur" />

<Callout type="info">
  Only the project creator will have access by default. Other workspace members, including Workspace Owners, will not see the project unless explicitly added.
</Callout>

<Callout type="info">
  Private projects cannot be shared publicly. All view-sharing (except Form views) is restricted.
</Callout>

## Converting an Existing Project to Private

1. Open the project.
2. Go to **Project Settings** → **Admin** → **Project Type**.
3. Select **Private**.

<img alt="The Project Type pane under Project Settings → Admin" src={__img2} placeholder="blur" />

<Callout type="info">
  Explicitly configured project-level roles will be retained. Inherited workspace access for other users will be removed.
</Callout>

<Callout type="info">
  If the project or view is currently shared publicly, sharing will be disabled when switching to private.
</Callout>

## Disabling Private Access

1. Open the project.
2. Go to **Project Settings** → **Admin** → **Project Type**.
3. Select **Default**.

<Callout type="info">
  Workspace-level role inheritance will be re-enabled. Members with workspace roles will regain corresponding access. Explicit project roles remain unchanged.
</Callout>

## Managing Access in a Private Project

You manage user access in a private project the same way as in other projects. Invite workspace members and give each of them a project role. Changes to workspace roles do not change access to a private project. This stays true until you set the project type back to **Default**.

For the steps, refer to the [Project Collaboration Guide](/docs/product/projects/project-collaboration).

<Callout type="info">
  On a private project, only the project 

  **Owner**

   can create an 

  [invite link](/docs/product/collaboration/invite-links)

  . Links created by anyone else stop working while the project is private.
</Callout>

## Availability

* The Private Project feature is available only on the **Business** plan and above

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## Related pages

- [Create Project](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/create-project.md): Create a NocoDB project from scratch, from a template or with AI.
- [Folders](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/folders.md): Organize tables, documents, and dashboards into collapsible folders in the NocoDB project sidebar.
- [Import Airtable to NocoDB](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/import-project-from-airtable.md): Import a complete Airtable base into NocoDB in a few minutes.
- [Project Collaboration](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/project-collaboration.md): Invite members and teams to a NocoDB project, manage their project roles, and remove their access.
- [Share Project](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/share-project.md): Share a NocoDB project with a public read-only link, set a custom URL, and embed the project in an iframe.
- [Project Snapshots](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/snapshots.md): Create, restore and delete point-in-time snapshots of a NocoDB project.
- [Project Trash ☁](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/project-trash.md): Use NocoDB Project Trash to view, restore, and permanently delete deleted records, tables, views, fields, dashboards, widgets, workflows, scripts, and extensions.
- [Trash Settings ☁](https://nocodb.com/docs/product/projects/trash-settings.md): Set the trash retention period for each table in a NocoDB project, or turn off trash for a table.