---
title: "Private access"
slug: "private-access"
description: "Access a secure private knowledge base with restricted content for authorized users only. Login required for IT support, HR policies, and more."
updated: 2026-10-22T06:11:39Z
published: 2026-10-22T06:11:39Z
canonical: "docs.document360.com/private-access"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.document360.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Private access

A **Private** knowledge base is restricted to authorised users only. Content is accessible only to readers or users with an account, and a login is required to view any articles.

---

## Common use cases

- Internal IT support knowledge base
- HR policies and procedures
- Company-wide documentation
- Internal API documentation
- Proprietary software manuals

---

## Behaviour

- All content is hidden from public view. Readers must sign in with their credentials to view any articles.
- Login is required for all readers. No part of the knowledge base is publicly accessible, except articles you share through a share link.
- Reader access controls, reader groups, and block inheritance settings apply and allow you to further restrict which readers can see which content.
- JWT authentication is supported in Private mode.
- Login sessions expire after more than 15 minutes of inactivity as a security measure. Refreshing the page re-establishes the session.

> [!NOTE]
> **NOTE** If you create a share link for an article, anyone with the link can preview that article in read-only mode without logging in. For more information, see [Share articles via private link](/help/docs/share-articles-via-private-link).

---

## How to set your project to Private access

1. Navigate to **Settings** () > **Users and security** in the left navigation bar in the knowledge base portal.
2. In the left navigation pane, navigate to **Reader access**.
3. Select **Private**.
4. In the **Update reader access** confirmation dialog, enter your project's subdomain.
5. Click **Yes** to confirm.

> [!NOTE]
> **NOTE** When switching from Mixed to Private, you might want to reconsider the previously assigned access permissions.

---

## FAQ

  

**Why do I see a session expired error when viewing content on a private knowledge base site?**

    
    
      

If your knowledge base site is set to Private, your login session may expire after more than 15 minutes of inactivity. This is a standard security measure to prevent unauthorized access to private content. A simple workaround is to refresh the page, which re-establishes your session and restores access.

## Related

- [Reader access](/site-access.md)
- [Reader analytics](/reader-analytics.md)
- [Log in using SSO - Knowledge base site](/login-using-sso-knowledge-base-site.md)