---
stage: Manage
group: Workspace
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
type: reference
---

# Project and group visibility **(FREE)**

GitLab allows users with the Owner role to set a project's or group's visibility as:

- **Public**
- **Internal**
- **Private**

These visibility levels affect who can see the project in the public access directory (`/public`
for your GitLab instance). For example, <https://gitlab.com/public>.
You can control the visibility of individual features with
[project feature settings](permissions.md#project-features).

## Public projects and groups

Public projects can be cloned **without any** authentication over HTTPS.

They are listed in the public access directory (`/public`) for all users.

Public groups can have public, internal, or private subgroups.

**Any signed-in user** has the Guest role on the repository.

NOTE:
By default, `/public` is visible to unauthenticated users. However, if the
[**Public** visibility level](admin_area/settings/visibility_and_access_controls.md#restrict-visibility-levels)
is restricted, `/public` is visible only to signed-in users.

## Internal projects and groups

Internal projects can be cloned by any signed-in user except
[external users](permissions.md#external-users).

They are also listed in the public access directory (`/public`), but only for signed-in users.

Internal groups can have internal or private subgroups.

Any signed-in users except [external users](permissions.md#external-users) have the
Guest role on the repository.

NOTE:
From July 2019, the `Internal` visibility setting is disabled for new projects, groups,
and snippets on GitLab.com. Existing projects, groups, and snippets using the `Internal`
visibility setting keep this setting. You can read more about the change in the
[relevant issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/12388).

## Private projects and groups

Private projects can only be cloned and viewed by project members (except for guests).

They appear in the public access directory (`/public`) for project members only.

Private groups can only have private subgroups.

## Change project visibility

Prerequisite:

- You must have the Owner role for a project.

1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Visibility, project features, permissions**.
1. Change **Project visibility** to either **Private**, **Internal**, or **Public**.
1. Select **Save changes**.

## Change group visibility

Prerequisite:

- You must have the Owner role for a group.
- Subgroups and projects must already have visibility settings that are at least as
  restrictive as the new setting of the parent group.

1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Groups** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Naming, visibility**.
1. Under **Visibility level** select either **Private**, **Internal**, or **Public**.
1. Select **Save changes**.

## Restrict use of public or internal projects **(FREE SELF)**

You can restrict the use of visibility levels for users when they create a project or a snippet.
This is useful to prevent users from publicly exposing their repositories by accident. The
restricted visibility settings do not apply to administrators.

For details, see [Restricted visibility levels](admin_area/settings/visibility_and_access_controls.md#restrict-visibility-levels).

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