Hi,
As admin is it possible to create a new topic that hides it until I decide to publish it?
Thank you
Noam
AI-generated summary
In this support discussion titled ‘Hide topic/post,’ users explore methods to draft or hide topics before publishing them on Discourse. NoamH asks if admins can create hidden topics for later publication. Jagster, piffy, and Lilly recommend using a hidden or private category to stage topics, then moving them to a public category when ready. NoamH confirms this method works and asks if URLs change after moving — Lilly and JammyDodger clarify that URLs remain the same since they don’t include category names. Lhc_fl suggests using ‘Toggle Whisper,’ but JammyDodger corrects that whispering only applies to posts, not topics, and recommends ‘Toggle Unlisted’ — though it’s not fully hidden and may notify watchers. The consensus favors using private categories or the built-in Shared Drafts feature for drafting, with Jagster noting Shared Drafts is a core feature, not a plugin, and JammyDodger confirms this. Overall, the simplest and most reliable method is drafting in a hidden category and moving it later — no plugins required.
Out-of-the-box like WordPress offers: no.
But you can use your own category, for example, publish it there and after that use (via wrench) topic timer that moves/publish that topic on other category.
I use that method all the time because of a bit awkward draft system on Discourse.
I typically do this by using a hidden category. Then when it’s time to post it, move the topic to a public category
I also sometimes draft a complex post in a message to one of my alt accounts
i do this almost daily. i have a specific hidden admin category where i stage topics before moving them to un-hidden categories.
the URL will change but any links to the topic should update themselves.
The topic URL shouldn’t change when moving between categories?
You can also PM yourself, if you fall out with your test user and need a back up plan. 
Because links don’t include category. Like this one:
https://meta.discourse.org/t/hide-topic-post/261871
oh i see what you mean now of course. 
I’m afraid you can only make posts a whisper, and not topics. You also can’t toggle an existing whisper post to be visible, or vice versa (unless you install a theme component).
Looking at the screenshot, I think you may mean Toggle Unlisted - which would remove it from the topic lists for most users (TL4 can still see them) but would be viewable by anyone visiting the topic directly. It would also send out a notification to anyone Watching that category when the topic was created, so may not be as hidden as you may expect.
Creating a topic in a non-public category and then recategorising it when you want to make it public would be the simplest option.
You could also make use of the Shared Drafts feature (shared drafts category) to create a draft version and then publish it to the correct category when ready.
For me shared drafts are a bit, not confusing, but unfamiliar concept. Because as I see it shared drafts is basically just polished solution of what here is suggested. And if an admin wants use… timed/delayed publishing is working name, isn it, using simple category with proper security setting is way streamlined solution than using a plugin just for cool popup serving same thing what topic timer offers.
Or am I missing some important parts now?
Edit
Wait a second… was shared drafts plugin at all, or was it inbuild option? Can’t remember 
Discourse Shared Edits is the plugin. Shared drafts is a core feature. 
Of course… I forgot totally out there is two similar, but different, solutions.