Using private mode in Lucidspark allows collaborators to brainstorm and generate ideas without bias or influence from other collaborators. With private mode, you also have the option to keep sticky note authors hidden even after the private mode session has ended, further encouraging honesty and lessening the pressure of contributing ideas.

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Watch: Private mode in Lucidspark

Private mode basics

When private mode is enabled, sticky note authors and contents on newly added sticky notes are hidden from other collaborators until the session is ended. When setting up a new session, you can choose whether to keep authors hidden and whether to allow anyone to turn off the private mode session. These settings can’t be changed after the session begins. See below for details on how these settings impact the private mode session.

Keep authors hidden: When toggled on, sticky note authors are not displayed during or after the session. When toggled off, sticky note authors and collaborator colors are revealed after the session is ended.
Allow anyone to turn off: When toggled on, anyone participating in the private mode session has the ability to end the session for everyone. When toggled off, only the person who started the session and the document owner have this ability.

Start a private mode session

Start a session

Any Enterprise user in a Lucidspark board who has been granted “Edit” permissions can start a private mode session in that board by following these steps:

Click the Private mode icon from the toolbar at the top-right corner of the board.
Determine who can end the private mode session for all collaborators.
- By default, all collaborators have the ability to end the session. Toggle off “Allow anyone to turn off” to restrict this ability to yourself and the document’s owner. This setting can’t be changed once the session begins.
Determine whether you want to keep authors hidden.
- By default, sticky note authors stay hidden after the private mode session. Toggle off “Keep authors hidden” to reveal authors when the session ends. This setting can’t be changed once the session begins.
Click Start for all collaborators.

All users actively collaborating in the board are automatically added to the session unless they opt out. Before joining the session, users will see a popup indicating to them whether authors will be displayed or hidden after the session is ended.

End a session for everyone

To end a private mode session for all collaborators, follow these steps:

Click End for all at the top-center of the canvas.
- If you don’t see this option, this means you do not have permission to end the session for all collaborators.
Select End to confirm.
- If you chose to reveal sticky note authors at the end of the session, click End and reveal.

After the session ends, sticky note contents will be visible to all collaborators. Collaborator cursors are hidden for five seconds at the end of the session to maintain privacy.

Participate in a private mode session

Join a session

If you are actively collaborating in a Lucidspark board or open a board with an active private mode session, you will see a countdown message at the bottom of the screen. If you want to join the session, wait for the timer to run out and you will be automatically added. If you don’t want to participate, click Not now on the countdown.

Leave a session

Anyone in a private mode session can leave at any time by clicking Leave at the top-center of the canvas. Even if you started the session or are the owner of the Lucidspark board, clicking this option does not end the session—it only removes you from the session.

Note: If you leave a private mode session, any future sticky notes you add to the board are visible to other collaborators. Sticky notes you added during the session will stay hidden until the session is ended.

Rejoin a session

If you want to rejoin a private mode session you previously left, follow these steps:

Click the Private mode icon from the toolbar at the top-right corner of the board.
Select Join active session in the panel that appears.

FAQ

What is hidden when a private mode session is enabled?
The contents and authors of newly added sticky notes are kept hidden during a private mode session. Any sticky notes that were on the board before the session began will remain visible, even if they are edited during the session. Other shapes and features may still be connected to your collaborator cursor and color.

Who can start a private mode session?
Any Enterprise user in a Lucidspark board who has been granted “Edit” permissions can start a private mode session.

Who can join a private mode session?
All active collaborators in the board can participate.

If I opt out of a private mode session, will I be able to see sticky notes being created during the session?
No. If you opt out of a private mode session, other collaborators can see any sticky notes you add to the board, but you won’t be able to see any sticky notes created during the private mode session until the session has ended.

Why can I see the contents of sticky notes being added by other collaborators during a private mode session?
There are two instances where this may happen:

A collaborator opted out when the private mode session started.
The collaborator left the private mode session.

In these cases, their sticky note contents, collaborator cursor, and collaborator color are visible to other collaborators. Sticky notes that are part of an active private mode session are indicated by the private mode icon in the bottom corner of the sticky note.

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