# Convert a private message to public topic or vice versa
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635
**Category:** Feature
**Tags:** feedback
**Created:** [5월 3, 2016, 8:09오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635 "2016-05-03T20:09:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@techAPJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/techAPJ)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:09오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/1 "2016-05-03T20:09:40Z")
I just [pushed](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/acfb5409522d2cdc71d22145c8d627db3e349c33) a commit that adds a button (visible to staff) to admin wrench to make a topic public or private message.
### Convert public topic to private message:
Small action post indicating that public topic is converted to private message:
### Convert private message to public topic:
Small action post indicating that private message is converted to public topic:
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### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:11오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/2 "2016-05-03T20:11:42Z")
@techAPJ, is the later option available to moderators? Fully understand why the first is admin only.
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### Author:  [@cpradio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/cpradio)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:15오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/3 "2016-05-03T20:15:55Z")
Yeah, we’ve had a few scenarios on our instance where it would have been nice to be able to push a button to make a topic private. I have less desire/need to make any public, but from a moderator perspective, making some private could be beneficial (rare occurance though for us).
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### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:17오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/4 "2016-05-03T20:17:03Z")
If moderators get the ability to make a message private, who are the recipients of the PM? If the moderator (specific user or group) isn’t part of the PM, they can’t view it…
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### Author:  [@cpradio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/cpradio)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:22오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/5 "2016-05-03T20:22:24Z")
> [@jomaxro](#):
>
> If moderators get the ability to make a message private, who are the recipients of the PM?
I would assume those that are in the discussion of the topic.
> [@jomaxro](#):
>
> If the moderator (specific user or group) isn’t part of the PM, they can’t view it…
Which is sort of the point. We as mods feel the topic shouldn’t be public, I don’t mind that I would lose viewability to it. Plus if need be the users of the discussion could flag it to report any problems.
Again though, this is such a rarity for us, that I don’t feel overly strong about needing the ability (was just stating we’ve had a few scenarios where it would have been nice).
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### Author:  [@tobiaseigen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tobiaseigen)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:40오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/6 "2016-05-03T20:40:35Z")
I ❤ 💟 ❣ 😍 😻 this in a big, big, big way. Will make a big difference in my community.
Many, many thanks. 🍻
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### Author:  [@techAPJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/techAPJ)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:43오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/7 "2016-05-03T20:43:35Z")
> [@jomaxro](#):
>
> is the later option available to moderators?
Not yet, currently both options are Admin only.
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### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 8:52오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/8 "2016-05-03T20:52:10Z")
> [@techAPJ](#):
>
> Not yet
Does that imply this might become available to moderators later? If so, what would be the cause of the feature becoming available?
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### Author:  [@techAPJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/techAPJ)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 9:01오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/9 "2016-05-03T21:01:00Z")
By “Not yet” I mean this feature is still in feedback mode so if you provide valid use case and @codinghorror agrees, then I can amend the code to make this feature available to Moderators.
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### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 9:03오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/10 "2016-05-03T21:03:16Z")
Well, @cpradio has a good use case above.
My use case would be the following:
A few months ago a user posted a large number of support topics, all very valid. I helped the user in most of the cases. Eventually, the user PM’d me asking more questions. I helped the user via PM, and finally they were all set. In that case, I would’ve like to covert the PM to regular topic so others could see the discussion and troubleshooting we did.
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 9:18오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/11 "2016-05-03T21:18:29Z")
PM to regular is a lot safer direction since it does not imply the mod loses access to the topic…
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [5월 3, 2016, 10:17오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/13 "2016-05-03T22:17:01Z")
User option was never even being discussed, so I am not sure what you are talking about?
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### Author:  [@watchmanmonitor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/watchmanmonitor)
#### Post date: [5월 4, 2016, 5:40오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/14 "2016-05-04T05:40:02Z")
any chance we could get this on posts which are pending approval?
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [5월 4, 2016, 5:40오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/15 "2016-05-04T05:40:51Z")
Unlikely as those do not exist in the same tables I don’t think.
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### Author:  [@techAPJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/techAPJ)
#### Post date: [5월 4, 2016, 5:29오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/16 "2016-05-04T17:29:19Z")
Okay, this feature (both options) is now available for moderators too. Here are some caveats:
- If a moderator can see / create a post in the topic/message _only then_ they will have the ability to use this feature.
- If a moderator converts a public topic to private message, then that moderator will be added as participant in that message.
cc @jomaxro @cpradio
* * *
[https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/b25d950d99d6c627790a78a26b6744bc5de4d746](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/b25d950d99d6c627790a78a26b6744bc5de4d746)
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [10월 21, 2016, 5:33오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/convert-a-private-message-to-public-topic-or-vice-versa/43635/17 "2016-10-21T05:33:07Z")