Whether you’re brainstorming new ideas together or leading a retrospective, private mode can reduce issues like group bias, help users be authentic in the feedback process, and give participants privacy when formulating their thoughts.
How private mode works
As soon as private mode starts, all new sticky notes and any edits to existing sticky notes are hidden. Anyone, whether a facilitator or a user, can start and end private mode at any time. Once private mode has ended, all stickies are revealed.
⚠️ Private mode is not anonymous. Users will still be able to see each other’s cursors move around the board. They will also see the author label if this feature is turned on.
How to start private mode
Anyone can start private mode at any time.
- Go to the collaboration toolbar in the top-right corner of the board
- Click the More apps icon
- Select Private Mode
- A Private Mode dialog box will open
- Click Start private mode for all
Starting private mode
What does private mode look like for users?
When private mode starts, users will see a Private Mode dialog box in the top-right of the board. They can also see who started private mode.
Private mode has started
While private mode is on, users can only see their own sticky notes. All other sticky note text is hidden.
Hidden sticky note text
The closed eye icon in the top left of a sticky note indicates that the content is private and visible to the author only.The eye icon on a Private sticky note
How to end private mode
Anyone can end private mode at any time. Users will receive a notification at the bottom of their screen when private mode has ended, and all content will be visible to users.
- Click the More apps icon
- Select Private Mode
- A Private Mode dialog box will open
- Click End for all
Ending private mode