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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTo let someone without a WordPress account review an unpublished post, install and activate the WordPress.org Public Post Preview plugin. Save the post as a draft, enable its public-preview option, then send the generated URL. The plugin’s documented default link lifetime is 48 hours.
Public preview versus WordPress’s normal Preview button
WordPress’s built-in preview is intended for a logged-in user who has permission to preview the post. Its request uses a nonce and capability checks. Copying that ordinary Preview URL does not, by itself, give an anonymous reviewer access.
An anonymous reviewer needs a mechanism that deliberately grants access through a shareable URL. Public Post Preview adds that mechanism to the editor.
| Method | Who can normally open it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress core Preview | Logged-in users with preview permission | Shows an unpublished post through WordPress’s authenticated preview flow |
| Public Post Preview | Anyone holding a valid generated link | Creates an expiring URL for reviewing a saved unpublished post without a site account |
Set up a public preview link
- Install the plugin. In the WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New, search for Public Post Preview, select the WordPress.org plugin, choose Install Now, and then Activate. Its directory listing also documents manual installation by uploading the plugin to
/wp-content/plugins/and activating it. - Save the post as a draft. Open the post and save it. The plugin says its checkbox becomes available for non-published posts after the post has been saved as a draft.
- Turn on the public preview. In the block editor, open the document settings and find the Public Post Preview option. In the classic editor, look in the Publish meta box. Enable the checkbox.
- Copy the generated URL. The editor displays a link after public preview is enabled. Copy it and send it to the intended reviewer. The recipient does not need a WordPress account.
- Disable sharing when finished. Return to the post and uncheck the public-preview option. That disables the generated public preview. If a link has expired, enable the option again and share the current URL.
How long the link works
The Public Post Preview listing states that its default share-link lifetime is 48 hours. The URL uses an expiring nonce, so a reviewer may receive an expiration or invalid-link response after that period.
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You can change the lifetime under Settings > Reading > Public Post Preview. Developers can also use the plugin’s ppp_nonce_life filter; the documentation shows a five-day example using 5 * DAY_IN_SECONDS. Extending the lifetime increases the period during which a leaked link may expose the draft, so use the shortest practical review window.
Handle the URL like a credential
A public preview link is effectively a bearer link: anyone who obtains a still-valid URL may be able to open the draft. Send it only to the intended reviewers, avoid posting it in public channels, and turn the option off as soon as review ends.
Do not assume the link controls every copy or representation of the content. The official plugin and WordPress references do not establish how every page cache, SEO plugin, custom REST endpoint, theme feature, or third-party integration treats unpublished content. For sensitive drafts, check those integrations and test the exact reviewer journey in a non-production or low-risk post first.
What WordPress core checks—and what it does not
WordPress’s private _show_post_preview() core reference describes a nonce tied to the post ID and a 403 response for an invalid nonce. The reference is marked for WordPress core rather than plugin or theme developers.
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The get_preview_post_link() reference explains how code can retrieve a preview URL and append query arguments. Calling that function alone does not grant anonymous access. Anonymous sharing requires a public-preview mechanism such as the plugin described above.
REST API cookie authentication is the normal logged-in dashboard pattern, and REST nonces help protect against cross-site request forgery. That authenticated workflow is different from intentionally publishing a draft to an anonymous reviewer through a bearer URL.
Compatibility to check before installing
The WordPress.org listing accessed in 2026 reports Public Post Preview version 3.1.2, updated June 16, 2026, with 100,000+ active installations. It lists WordPress 6.6 or newer, PHP 8.0 or newer, and testing through WordPress 7.0.4. These details can change, so check the current listing and your site’s PHP version at installation time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Alternative: Secure Draft Preview Links
The WordPress.org listing for Secure Draft Preview Links describes another plugin that creates unguessable links for readers without accounts. That is the developer’s own security description, not an independent audit. Before choosing it, review its current changelog, WordPress and PHP compatibility, expiration controls, revocation behavior, supported editors and post types, and maintenance activity. No comparative security result is established here.
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Troubleshooting
The checkbox is missing
- Confirm the post is saved as a draft rather than merely open with unsaved changes.
- Verify that Public Post Preview is activated under Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Check the correct editor location: document settings in the block editor or the Publish meta box in the classic editor.
- Confirm the current plugin listing’s compatibility requirements.
The reviewer receives an expired or invalid link
- Generate and send the current link again; the default lifetime is 48 hours.
- Make sure the public-preview option is still enabled.
- Check whether a cache or security layer is serving an old response or blocking the preview request.
The reviewer still cannot see the draft
- Open the link in a private browser window to reproduce an anonymous visit.
- Check site caching, security plugins, SEO integrations, custom REST routes, and theme features that might alter unpublished content.
- Test with a non-sensitive draft before sending confidential material.
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