> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tess.im/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Who Can See a Document

> Personal, team, workspace, and squad visibility for files on the mesh

## Overview

Every document has a **visibility level** that controls who can open it on the mesh and in drawers. You change visibility when you need to keep a file private, share with a squad, or expose it to a team or the whole workspace.

## Visibility levels

| Level               | Who can view                      | Who can edit                   |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Personal**        | Only you (the owner)              | Only you                       |
| **Open space**      | Only you (same as personal today) | Only you                       |
| **Team**            | Members of your team              | Team managers                  |
| **Workspace**       | Anyone in the workspace           | Workspace admins               |
| **Squad / project** | Members of that Squad             | Squad members with edit access |

<Tip>
  Workspace owners and people with company-wide document access can read across levels for oversight — those reads are audited.
</Tip>

## Moving between levels

* **You** can move your own documents among **Personal**, **Open space**, and **Team** when your role allows
* Moving to **Workspace** or attaching to a **Squad** may need approval from an admin or squad owner
* Workspace admins can adjust visibility directly when policy allows

## Squads and shared files

When a file belongs to a **Squad**, every squad member sees it on the mesh and in the Squad panel. The squad’s **working document** is created at squad scope automatically.

Detaching a file from a squad returns it to **personal** visibility for the original owner unless you choose another level.

## Direct sharing with specific people

Sometimes one or two colleagues need access without changing the whole visibility level. You can grant **view** or **edit** access to named users on a document. See [Sharing documents](/en/cowork/artifacts/artifact-sharing).

<Warning>
  Documents are not shared via public links or expiring passwords. Access is always through your Tess workspace membership, squad membership, or an explicit grant.
</Warning>

## Next steps

* [Sharing documents](/en/cowork/artifacts/artifact-sharing)
* [Open and manage documents](/en/cowork/artifacts/artifact-management)

## Other languages

* [Português (BR)](/pt/cowork/artifacts/hierarquia-escopo)
* [Español](/es/cowork/artifacts/jerarquia-alcance)