Sometimes you want to show a Claude conversation to just one or two people, not the whole internet. This guide covers how to share a chat with specific people, how that differs from the existing public link sharing feature, and how to decide which one fits your situation. It's a quick feature you can set up in a few minutes once you know where to look.
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Fable 5 and 5.1 subscription (updated November 1, 2026): Claude Fable 5.1, released September 1, 2026, is the current Fable model and Fable 5 is now legacy. Plan terms are the same for both — Max, Ultra, and Team Premium plans include Fable at up to 50% of the weekly usage limit; Pro and Team Standard use usage credits ($10/M input, $50/M output tokens). The one-time $100 credit applied only to the Fable 5 transition and is not offered for 5.1. Some coding and debugging requests may be answered by an Opus model due to a security classifier (both models). See the Fable 5.1 guide and the Fable 5 availability guide for details.
What you need before you start
To share a chat with specific people, you first need to be logged into your Claude account, and the conversation you want to share must already exist.
- A logged-in Claude account — you need to be signed in on the web (claude.ai) or the app to use sharing.
- The chat you want to share — open the existing conversation you plan to share beforehand.
- Recipient details ready — have the information the screen asks for (such as an email address) ready to enter. Follow the exact on-screen instructions for the input method.
Quick terms explained
- Public link — a sharing method where anyone who has the link can open the conversation.
- Share with specific people — a sharing method that restricts access to only the people you name, instead of exposing a link to anyone.
- Private (not shared) — the conversation stays visible only in your own account, shared with no one.
How do you share a chat with specific people?
In short, open the chat, choose the option to share with named people from the share menu, and enter the recipient.
- Open the conversation you want to share.
- Look for the Share icon or the conversation options menu on the chat screen. The exact icon shape and location can vary by web or app version, so go by the label shown on your own screen.
- When the sharing options appear, choose the option to share with named people rather than creating a public link. Follow the exact wording shown on your screen.
- Enter the person you want to share with, using whatever information the screen requests, such as an email address.
- Confirm the share.
You'll know it worked when the recipient's name or email appears in the share list, or a confirmation message tells you the share is complete.
Caution — anyone you share the chat with can see the entire conversation. Double-check that it doesn't contain personal information or sensitive company details before sharing.
How is this different from a public link?
The core difference is who can view the chat. Sharing with specific people limits access to the people you name, while a public link can be opened by anyone who has the URL.
| Aspect | Share with specific people | Public link | Not shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can view | Only named people | Anyone with the link | Only you |
| Setup | Add recipients one by one | Generate and send a link | N/A |
| Leak risk | Relatively low | Hard to control once sent | None |
Which option should you choose?
In short, the choice comes down to how narrow you want the audience to be.
- Sharing with a colleague or a small group — choose sharing with specific people; anyone not named can't view it.
- Sharing quickly with a broad, unspecified audience — a public link is simpler, though once it spreads you can no longer control who sees it.
- Keeping it to yourself — not sharing at all is the safest option.
Common issues and fixes
A recipient says they can't open the shared chat — double-check that the email address or account you entered is correct. Some cases may require the recipient to be logged into a Claude account, or to belong to the same organization (Team or Enterprise), so check any message shown on screen as well.
You want to cancel a share — Claude's Help Center also documents how to unshare a conversation you've previously shared. You can typically remove someone from the share list whenever needed; check the sharing management menu on your screen for the exact steps.
Next steps
Once you're comfortable sharing chats, you might also look into incognito chat — a mode that doesn't save conversation history — for conversations you don't want to leave a record of at all. Adjusting how widely you share lets you show a Claude conversation to exactly the people you want, and no one else.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Does the person I share with need a Claude account?
In short, follow whatever the screen requires, since the exact requirement isn't fixed. Because recipients are added by email or similar identifiers, being logged in or having an account may be a condition, so check the on-screen guidance before sharing.
Q. Can I turn a shared chat back to private later?
Yes. Claude's Help Center documents both sharing and unsharing a conversation, so you can remove someone from the share list or stop sharing altogether when needed. Check the sharing management menu on your screen for the exact steps.
Q. Which should I use for work conversations — sharing with specific people or a public link?
In short, sharing with specific people is the safer choice when you want to narrow who can view it. A public link is convenient, but if it leaks outside your intended audience, unintended people can see it too — so for anything sensitive, sharing with named people is the better option.
Related articles
- How to Share a Claude Chat with a Public Link (and Revoke It)
- Claude Chat Search and Incognito Mode — Resume Past Conversations, Exclude Chats, and Turn It Off
- Claude Chat Projects vs. Cowork Projects — What Carries Over (Tested)
- Claude Chat vs. Cowork — Which One for This Task? A Simple Decision Guide
- How to Build and Publish a Web Game with Claude: A Beginner's Guide