# Share a recording with a public link

> Turn on a public link for one recording so anyone can read the notes and transcript and listen to the audio — and turn it off again.

Updated: 2026-08-16 · Canonical: https://usecanto.com/help/sharing/share-a-recording-link/

Every recording can have a public link. It's off by default; only the recording's owner can turn it on. As the dialog says: "Anyone with the link can read the notes and transcript and listen to the audio. They need a Canto account to use AI."

## How do I turn on the link?

1. Open the recording and open its **⋯** menu.
2. Choose **Public link**.
3. Turn on **Share via link**.
4. Tap **Copy link** — you'll see **Link copied** — and paste it anywhere.

This works on iOS, Android, and the web. The link itself always opens in a web browser, so recipients don't need the app installed.

## What do people with the link see?

A read-only web page with the recording's notes, the transcript, and an audio player, marked "Shared by … with Canto", with your account name filled in. Viewers don't need a Canto account to read or listen.

They can't edit anything, and they can't use AI chat on the page — that requires signing in. The page also isn't indexed by search engines, and the link itself is a long random token that can't be guessed. Anyone who has it can open it, though, so treat the link like the content itself.

## What happens when a viewer signs in?

If someone opens the link while signed in to Canto (or signs up from the page), the recording is claimed into their account: they see **Added to Shared with me**, and it appears under **Shared with me** in their library. From there they can read, listen, and use AI chat, search, and templates on it.

Claimers never get edit access — the recording stays exactly as you wrote it. See [Who can see and edit what?](https://usecanto.com/help/sharing/permissions-reference/)

## How do I revoke the link?

Open **Public link** again and turn off **Share via link**. Note the warning: "Turning this off also removes access for people who joined through the link." Revoking cuts off both anonymous viewers and everyone who claimed the recording into **Shared with me** — immediately.

Turning the link back on later reactivates the same URL, but people who were removed don't get their claimed copy back automatically; they need to open the link again.

## Troubleshooting

### The page says "This link isn't active"

That's what a dead link looks like: "The link may have been turned off, or the recording deleted. Ask whoever sent it for a new one." The page is identical whether the link was revoked or never existed, so there's nothing to diagnose on the viewer's side.

### The page shows "Notes unavailable"

If the owner's account is over its free-plan limits, the recording may be locked and the public page shows only the title with "This recording's notes and transcript aren't available right now." See [Why is my recording locked or not transcribed?](https://usecanto.com/help/transcription/locked-recordings/)

### Can viewers report a shared recording?

Yes. The shared view includes **Report content**, which sends the recording to Canto for review.

Related articles:

- [Share a Space by email invite](https://usecanto.com/help/sharing/share-a-space/)
- [Who can see and edit what?](https://usecanto.com/help/sharing/permissions-reference/)
- [Revoke links and remove members](https://usecanto.com/help/sharing/stop-sharing/)