---
title: "Map access settings"
description: "Look up every map access setting on the Configuration > Access page: Current access summary, Share with team, and Publish to web, and what each switch does."
---

Map access settings control whether a map is limited to signed-in users, shared with specific groups, or published for people outside your workspace. Use this reference to check each setting before you share a map.

## Where these settings are

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Page | `Configuration` (in the sidebar, under the map's name) |
| Section | `Access` |
| Main areas | `Current access summary`, `Share with team`, `Publish to web` |
| Required permission | You need permission to share the map. Share access follows edit access. |

Only people who can share the map can open `Configuration`. Others do not see it in the sidebar. See [Access settings are disabled](/docs/map-access/troubleshoot-access-settings-disabled).

## Current access summary

| Summary area | What it shows |
| --- | --- |
| `Team access` | Which groups can view or edit the map. |
| `Web access` | Whether web access is enabled, which publishing mode is active, and whether the map is discoverable. |
| `Discoverability` | Whether a public map is shown in the public portal or indexable by search engines. |

When `Public` publishing is active, team view access shows as `All groups (inherited from web publishing)`.

## Share with team

| Setting | Type | Effect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `View` | Switch per group | Members of that group can view the map after signing in. |
| `Edit` | Switch per group | Members of that group can edit the map if their account role also allows editing. `Edit` also counts as view access. |
| `Manage Groups` | Button | Opens team group management. |
| `Create a Group` | Button | Appears when there are no groups and you can manage access. |

Group access applies to signed-in users. It does not create a public link.

## Publish to web

| Setting | Type | Default in settings | Effect |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `Allow public access` | Switch | Off for private maps | Enables web access controls. When off, only signed-in users with permission can access the map. |
| `Publishing mode` | Option group | `Public` | Controls how people outside the workspace access the map. |
| `Public link` | Read-only URL | — | Link used by `Public` and `Password` modes. |
| `Private link` | Read-only URL | Generated when `Link-only` is selected | Link used by `Link-only` mode. |
| `Password` | Text field | Generated when `Password` is selected if no password exists | Password required for `Password` mode. Manual passwords must be at least 6 characters. |

Turning `Allow public access` off also disables `Show in public portal` and `Allow search engine indexing`.

## Publishing modes

| Mode | Who can view | Listed in public portal | Search engine indexing | Link used |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `Public` | Anyone with the public link. Signed-in users can also view when they have permission. | Controlled by `Show in public portal`. | Controlled by `Allow search engine indexing`. | `Public link` |
| `Link-only` | Anyone with the private link. | No. | No. | `Private link` |
| `Password` | Anyone with the public link and password. | No. | No. | `Public link` plus `Password` |

`Link-only` and `Password` turn off portal visibility and search engine indexing when selected.

## Public portal visibility

| Setting | Available when | Effect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `Show in public portal` | `Allow public access` is on and `Publishing mode` is `Public` | Lists the map in the public map directory. |
| `Allow search engine indexing` | `Allow public access` is on and `Publishing mode` is `Public` | Lets search engines such as Google index the map. |

Only maps in `Public` mode with `Show in public portal` enabled appear in the public map listing.

## Private link behavior

| Action | Effect |
| --- | --- |
| Copy private link | Copies the current `Private link` to the clipboard. |
| `Regenerate link` | Opens the `Regenerate Private Link` confirmation dialog. |
| `Regenerate Link` | Creates a new private link and invalidates the current one. Anyone using the old link can no longer access the map. |

<img src="/_assets/map-access/map-access-settings--regenerate.png" alt="The Regenerate Private Link dialog over Publish to web, with Cancel and Regenerate Link buttons" width="1600" height="960" />

## Password behavior

| Setting or state | Effect |
| --- | --- |
| `Password` mode selected | Viewers need the public link and password. |
| Password field is empty or too short | Settings show `Password must be at least 6 characters` when a short manual password is entered. |
| Viewer enters the wrong password | MangoMap returns `Invalid map password`. |
| Viewer enters the correct password | The map opens and the password is stored for that browser session. |

## Related

- [How to configure map access](/docs/map-access/configure-map-access)
- [How map access works in MangoMap](/docs/map-access/concepts-map-access)
- [Choose how to share a map](/docs/map-access/choose-how-to-share-a-map)
- [Legacy map access modes and current settings](/docs/map-access/concepts-legacy-map-access-modes)
- [How to publish a map to the web](/docs/map-access/publish-map-to-web)
- [Account roles reference](/docs/account-roles/account-roles-reference) - the canonical "who can do what" matrix for creating, editing, sharing, and deleting maps.

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