> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alterhq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Share Conversations on the Web
> Publish Hub chats as public read-only links on alterhq.com, copy the URL, update when the thread changes, or remove sharing
**Conversation sharing** (beta111+) publishes a Hub chat as a **public read-only web page** so coworkers, friends, or collaborators can read the full discussion in a browser — no Alter install required.
This is separate from:
* **[Save Conversation as Markdown](/references/shortcuts#hub--quickhub-shared)** (**⌘⇧S**) — saves a **local** `.md` file on your Mac
* **[Share trace](/workflows/share-task-traces#share-trace)** — uploads a **task subagent** thread to Alter support for debugging
## When to use web sharing
| Goal | Use |
| ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Send a link teammates can open in any browser | **Share** from the Hub |
| Publish the latest messages after the thread changes | **Update** from the Share submenu |
| Keep a private offline copy on your Mac | **Save Conversation as Markdown** (**⌘⇧S**) |
## Requirements
* You must be **signed in** to Alter. If you are logged out, sharing fails with a sign-in error.
* The conversation must be a normal **Hub chat**. **Meeting discussions** started from **Live Notepad** or **Meeting Scribe** actions cannot be shared on the web.
* The discussion must be saved — unsaved temporary conversations do not show share controls.
## What gets published
Alter uploads a package that includes:
* **Conversation title** and **full message thread** (user, assistant, and external messages)
* **Context attached to messages** — files, images, text selections, app context, and other referenced material that is still available on your Mac
* **Attachment files** bundled when they fit size limits
Recipients see a **read-only web view** of that content. They cannot continue the chat or edit what you shared.
Sharing creates a **public link**. Anyone who has the URL may be able to view the discussion and its context. Review sensitive prompts, file paths, and attachments before you publish.
### Size limits
Alter enforces upload limits when building the package:
| Limit | Value |
| ----------------- | --------- |
| Single attachment | 50 MB |
| Total package | 200 MB |
| Attachment count | 100 files |
Oversized or missing attachments may appear as **unavailable** in the published view instead of blocking the whole share.
## Share a conversation
Open the conversation in the **Hub** (from the sidebar, a tab, or QuickHub → **Open in Hub**).
Use any entry point below and choose **Share**.
Read the confirmation — *This creates a public link containing the discussion and its associated context. Anyone with the link may be able to view this content.* — then click **Share**.
On success, Alter shows **Discussion Shared** and copies the public URL to your clipboard. Click **Open Link** to preview in your browser, or **Done** to close the sheet.
While the upload runs, the dialog shows **Sharing discussion…** and disables the primary button until the request completes.
## Where to find Share
### Hub sidebar
Right-click a conversation in the Hub history list:
* **Share** — create a new public link
* **Share** submenu (when already shared):
* **Copy link**
* **Update**
* **Remove**
### Conversation tab menu
Open the tab action menu (⋯ on the conversation tab) for the same **Share** item or submenu.
### Command palette
Open the Hub command palette (default **⌘K** in the Hub switcher) while a conversation tab is active. Search for:
| Command | Action |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Share Conversation** | Publish and copy a new link |
| **Copy Share Link** | Copy the existing public URL |
| **Update Shared Conversation** | Re-publish the latest messages and context |
| **Remove Shared Conversation** | Unpublish the link |
QuickHub exposes the same share commands through its switcher when the active tab is a saved conversation.
## Manage an existing share
After the first successful publish, Alter remembers the link for that conversation on your Mac.
### Copy link
Use **Copy link** from the sidebar or tab submenu, or **Copy Share Link** in the command palette. The URL is copied to the clipboard without re-uploading.
### Update
When the thread changes and you want viewers on the latest version, choose **Update** (submenu) or **Update Shared Conversation** (palette).
Update **re-publishes immediately** — Alter skips the confirmation dialog and uploads the current conversation state, then copies the link again.
### Remove
Choose **Remove** (submenu) or **Remove Shared Conversation** (palette). Confirm **Remove sharing?** — *The published discussion will be unpublished.*
After removal, the public URL should stop working. Alter clears the stored link for that conversation on your Mac.
## Public link format and hosting
* Links are served on **alterhq.com** (for example `https://alterhq.com/s/...`).
* Alter validates that returned URLs use the trusted Alter front-end host before copying them.
* The API may return an **expiration** timestamp for a share. Treat links as **revocable but not secret** — share only with people you trust to see the content.
Removing a share unpublishes the discussion; expiration behavior depends on Alter's server policy when an `expiresAt` value is set.
## Privacy and data handling
Conversation sharing is **opt-in** and **not** the same as Alter's local-first history:
| Topic | Behavior |
| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Default chat storage | Stays on your Mac — see [Local data and privacy](/references/local-data-and-privacy) |
| Web share | You explicitly upload the discussion package to Alter's servers |
| Who can view | Anyone with the public URL (no Alter account required) |
| Account required to publish | You must be signed in to Alter — publishing is tied to your account |
| Local link memory | Alter stores the last shared URL per conversation in app preferences so menus can offer Copy / Update / Remove |
Do not share conversations that contain passwords, financial data, confidential documents, or private meeting recordings unless you intend for that material to be visible on the web.
Cloud model providers used during the original chat are separate from sharing — sharing uploads what is in the conversation snapshot, not your full local database.
## Troubleshooting
**Share is missing from the menu**
* Meeting **Live Notepad** and **Meeting Scribe** chats cannot be shared on the web
* Save the conversation first — temporary unsaved chats have no share controls
* Wait if another share dialog or upload is already in progress
**Share fails with a login error**
* Sign in under **Settings → Profile** or the account menu, then retry
**Share fails because the package is too large**
* Remove large attachments from context, or export with **Save Conversation as Markdown** and share the file through your own channel
* Limits: 50 MB per file, 200 MB total, 100 attachments
**Copy link does nothing**
* Use **Update** to re-publish if the server no longer has the share
* Confirm you are copying from the same Mac where you originally shared (link memory is local)
**I need a support bundle, not a public link**
* Use [Share trace](/workflows/share-task-traces#share-trace) for task debugging uploads to Alter support
## Related docs
Markdown export vs web sharing
Debug uploads for Computer Use and Flow
What stays on your Mac by default
⌘⇧S and Hub shortcuts