---
title: Internal and Public Versions
description: Internal and public document versions let users collaborate while keeping some changes private. These internal changes remain hidden until users choose to share them with invited external parties.
---
[Skip to content](https://help.concord.app/hc/en-us/articles/360051191832-internal-and-public-versions#main-content)
English
Show submenu for translations
Open main navigation
Close main navigation
- English
Show submenu for translations
- Contact us
Contact us
How can we help you?
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
1. [Concord Support Center](https://help.concord.app/?hsLang=en)
2. [Collaboration](https://help.concord.app/collaboration?hsLang=en)
3. [Working in Concord](https://help.concord.app/collaboration?hsLang=en#working-in-concord)
# Internal and Public Versions
## Internal and public document versions let users collaborate while keeping some changes private. These internal changes remain hidden until users choose to share them with invited external parties.
This allows internal colleagues to keep vital information private during the negotiation stage.
### Internal versions
- Internal versions are accessible only to internal users invited to the document. This includes only those who are registered as users in the account.
- Only internal users with **Editor** rights can create and Publish internal versions. Participants with Limited Editor and Viewer rights cannot create internal versions.
- All documents are internal by default until they are **shared** with an external guest or third party. *Learn how to share a document [here](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/205639595?hsLang=en).*
- The option to create an internal version is not available for Templates, Drafts, and Signed documents as these are always internal-only documents.
- External guests cannot access past internal versions, internal comments, or internal messages in the Discussion panel.
- ***External guests, even those with editing rights, cannot create internal versions of the document.***
### Creating an internal version
1. Internal users with editing rights can select **Create internal version** from the Revisions menu on documents in Review stage that have been shared with external guests.
2. A new internal-only version of the document will be created.
3. Internal participants will see a "Working internally on this document" banner on documents whose latest version is an internal version.
### Third-party experience on internal versions
If third parties open a document that is currently an internal version, they can only **view** the **last public version** to which they had access.
The document will be in 'read-only' mode, which means third-parties:
- Cannot [edit](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/203736779-Editing-a-document-?hsLang=en) the document
- Cannot add or reply to [comments](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/218238243-Commenting-on-a-document?hsLang=en)
- Cannot fill [fields](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/203813199-Filling-out-fields-in-a-document?hsLang=en)
- Cannot accept or reject unresolved[tracked changes](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=trak&commit=Search&hsLang=en)
- Will not receive [notifications](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022259292-Managing-Notifications?hsLang=en) regarding 'new' internal versions
However, third parties will be able to:
- View public comments, *including those added to the unpublished internal version of the document*
- View unresolved track changes added to the document prior to or in the last public version
- Post messages to the [Discussion Panel](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/205958985-Discussion-Panel?hsLang=en)
### Public Versions
- Public versions are visible to all parties invited to the document.
- Documents automatically move to **public** visibility when they are shared with external guests. *Learn how to share a document [here](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/205639595?hsLang=en).*
- All subsequent versions of a public document are also public, unless an internal Editor creates an internal version.
- All parties invited to the document will receive a [notification](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022259292-Managing-Notifications?hsLang=en) when a new version of a public document is saved.
### Publishing an internal version
- Only internal users with editing rights on the document can Publish the internal version.
- Publishing an internal version will allow third parties invited to the document to access the latest version.
- ***This action CANNOT be undone.***
1. Internal users with editing rights can select **Publish as public version** from the Revisions menu, or
2. Click on the **Publish** button in the internal version banner.
### Comparing and restoring versions
- Both internal and public versions can be compared and restored from the **Revisions** menu. [Click here](https://support.concordnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020689112?hsLang=en) to learn more.
- [FAQs](https://help.concord.app/faqs?hsLang=en)
- [Document View](https://help.concord.app/document-view?hsLang=en)
- [Reports](https://help.concord.app/reports?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Reports & Analytics](https://help.concord.app/reports?hsLang=en#reports-analytics)
- [Integrations](https://help.concord.app/integrations?hsLang=en)
- [Data & Analytics](https://help.concord.app/data-analytics?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Reports & Analytics](https://help.concord.app/data-analytics?hsLang=en#reports-analytics)
- [Adding Users & User Roles](https://help.concord.app/adding-users-user-roles?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Administration](https://help.concord.app/adding-users-user-roles?hsLang=en#administration)
- [Product Updates & Enhancements](https://help.concord.app/product-updates-enhancements?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [New Features](https://help.concord.app/product-updates-enhancements?hsLang=en#new-features)
- [Collaboration](https://help.concord.app/collaboration?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Working in Concord](https://help.concord.app/collaboration?hsLang=en#working-in-concord)
- [Users and Sharing](https://help.concord.app/users-and-sharing?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Working in Concord](https://help.concord.app/users-and-sharing?hsLang=en#working-in-concord)
- [Billing and Subscriptions](https://help.concord.app/billing-and-subscriptions?hsLang=en)
- [Managing Your Preferences](https://help.concord.app/managing-your-preferences?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Setting Up Your Account](https://help.concord.app/managing-your-preferences?hsLang=en#setting-up-your-account)
- [Single Sign-On & Login Integrations](https://help.concord.app/single-sign-on-login-integrations?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Integrations & API](https://help.concord.app/single-sign-on-login-integrations?hsLang=en#integrations-api)
- [Documents & Contracts](https://help.concord.app/documents-contracts?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Working in Concord](https://help.concord.app/documents-contracts?hsLang=en#working-in-concord)
- [Templates](https://help.concord.app/templates?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Working in Concord](https://help.concord.app/templates?hsLang=en#working-in-concord)
- [Approval Workflows](https://help.concord.app/approval-workflows?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Working in Concord](https://help.concord.app/approval-workflows?hsLang=en#working-in-concord)
- [Account Settings](https://help.concord.app/account-settings?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Administration](https://help.concord.app/account-settings?hsLang=en#administration)
- [Concord API](https://help.concord.app/concord-api?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Integrations & API](https://help.concord.app/concord-api?hsLang=en#integrations-api)
- [Salesforce Integration](https://help.concord.app/salesforce-integration?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Integrations & API](https://help.concord.app/salesforce-integration?hsLang=en#integrations-api)
- [Collaboration Functionality](https://help.concord.app/collaboration-functionality?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Administration](https://help.concord.app/collaboration-functionality?hsLang=en#administration)
- [Managing Your Documents](https://help.concord.app/managing-your-documents?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Setting Up Your Account](https://help.concord.app/managing-your-documents?hsLang=en#setting-up-your-account)
- [Automation Workflows](https://help.concord.app/automation-workflows?hsLang=en)
- [Intake Forms](https://help.concord.app/intake-forms?hsLang=en)
- [Deadlines management](https://help.concord.app/deadlines-management?hsLang=en)
- [AI](https://help.concord.app/ai?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [MCP](https://help.concord.app/ai?hsLang=en#mcp)
- [Agents](https://help.concord.app/agents?hsLang=en)
- [E-Signature](https://help.concord.app/e-signature?hsLang=en)
[](http://concordnow.com)
[mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)
Copyright © 2026, Concord