Private content is a very simple node access module that gives each node a 'private' checkbox. If it's set, the node can only be seen by the node author, or users with the 'access private content' permission. The module is particularly recommended for simpler sites, for example to create a members-only area.
Features
- One-click privacy – Simple checkbox in the node form to mark content as private
- Per-content type defaults – Set default privacy settings for each content type
- Two clear permissions – "Access private content" and "Edit private content"
- Author always has access – Node creators can always view their own private content
- Views integration – Filter and display private content in Views
- Actions integration – Bulk update privacy settings via Views Bulk Operations
- No external dependencies – Only requires Drupal core
Comparison with related modules
| Module | Approach | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Private Content | Per-node checkbox with two global permissions | Simple members-only content |
| Node View Permissions | Per-content-type "view own/any" permissions | Restricting entire content types |
| Nodeaccess | Per-node grants tab with user/role selection | Fine-grained per-node, per-user control |
| Rabbit Hole | Controls page behavior (403, 404, redirect) | Controlling how entities are displayed at their URLs (not content privacy). |
See also #3519243: Difference between Rabbit Hole and Private content?
Requirements
- Drupal 10 or 11
Documentation
Full documentation is available in the README file, covering:
- How private content access control works
- Permission configuration
- Important notes about node grants
Sponsors
Project information
Maintenance fixes only
Considered feature-complete by its maintainers.- Project categories: Access control
1,304 sites report using this module
- Created by adamps on , updated
Stable releases for this project are covered by the security advisory policy.
Look for the shield icon below.
Releases
8.x-2.2
released 24 May 2025
Works with Drupal: ^10 || ^11
Install:
Development version: 8.x-2.x-dev updated 27 Mar 2026 at 11:38 UTC


