# Share a cloud chat and its previews

> Give organization members access to a cloud chat, and share or forward the web servers it runs.

Canonical URL: https://docs.zuse.sh/how-to/cloud-share-chat



## Goal [#goal]

Let teammates follow or continue a cloud chat, and open the app it is running from a browser or your own `localhost`.

## Applicability [#applicability]

Use this guide in the **desktop app** or a hosted browser session, for a running cloud chat. Chat sharing applies to chats in an **organization** workspace; personal cloud chats have no **Share** button. Public preview URLs are available on boxd cloud chats. Forwarding to `localhost` requires the desktop app.

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

* [Start a cloud chat](/how-to/cloud-start-chat.md) in the organization workspace you want to share it with.
* To change a chat's access, you need permission to manage sharing for it. Organization admins always can.
* For previews, start the web server in the cloud chat first, for example by asking the agent to run the development server.

## Steps [#steps]

### Share the chat with your organization [#share-the-chat-with-your-organization]

1. Open the cloud chat and choose **Share** in the top bar. The **Workspace access** popover opens.
2. Under **Who has access**, choose **Private** or **Everyone in *organization***, and set the organization permission:
   * **View** lets members read the chat.
   * **Edit** also lets them make changes and interact with the agent.
3. To give one member different access, change their row from **Default: *permission*** to **View** or **Edit**.
4. Choose **Save**.
5. Choose **Copy link** and send it to the people who now have access. The link does not grant access by itself.

Admins set the starting access for new chats in organization **Settings → General → New cloud chats**. Changing it does not affect existing chats.

### Share or forward a preview [#share-or-forward-a-preview]

1. In the cloud chat's top bar, open **Ports and previews**.
2. On a boxd chat, turn on **Auto-create preview URLs** to publish detected web servers, then choose **Copy preview URL** for the server you want.
3. In the desktop app, turn on **Forward to localhost** to reach the servers from your own computer's `localhost` instead.
4. If a server is missing, enter its **Port number** and choose **Add port**, then enable URLs or forwarding.

Preview links are public: anyone with the link can reach the server. Turning **Auto-create preview URLs** off revokes issued links.

## Verify [#verify]

* A teammate who opens the copied link sees the chat with the access you chose.
* The preview URL loads the running app in a browser that is not signed in to Zuse.
* With forwarding on, the app loads from `localhost` on your computer.

## Troubleshooting and recovery [#troubleshooting-and-recovery]

* **There is no Share button:** the chat is personal or local, or you are signed out. Only organization cloud chats can be shared.
* **The access controls are disabled:** you cannot manage sharing for this chat. Ask an organization admin.
* **A teammate cannot open the link:** confirm you chose **Save** after changing access. Copying the link does not save pending changes.
* **Could not load or save sharing settings:** choose **Retry**.
* **Auto-create preview URLs cannot be turned on:** the chat is not on boxd. Use **Forward to localhost** in the desktop app instead.
* **No web servers detected:** start the server in the cloud chat, or add its port manually.
* **URL creation failed · retrying** or **Forwarding failed · retrying:** keep the chat open while Zuse retries. Confirm the server is still running.
* **A link must stop working:** turn off **Auto-create preview URLs**. If revocation is still pending, switch it off again to retry.