Make a shared list view-only: a handout that stays current
Last updated August 15, 2026
Some lists aren’t collaborations — they’re announcements. The trip itinerary. The tournament schedule. The what-to-bring list you’ve refined over years. You want everyone reading the same, current version, and you want nobody “helpfully” editing it. That’s a view-only list.
See anonylist pro Own the list, set it to view-only in one tap. Readers never need an account.
Why not a PDF or a pinned message?
Because they’re snapshots. The moment plans change, every copy in the group chat is wrong, and you’re re-sending. A view-only anonylist page is the same link forever: you edit, everyone’s phone updates live, and there’s exactly one version in the world.
One tap: the “view only” preset
On a list you own, open Manage list and hit the view only preset — every visitor switch turns off at once. Visitors see the list beautifully, watch it update in real time, and can’t change a thing. You and any admins you appoint keep editing as normal.
Half-open variants
View-only has useful neighbors: leave check off on and it becomes a task sheet people can tick without being able to rewrite; leave claim a sign-up on and your fixed list of jobs becomes a volunteer sheet nobody can restructure. Same list, different switches.
Honest limits
View-only controls changing, not seeing — anyone who has the link can read the page. Keep the address unguessable (or add a password gate for new visitors) and don’t publish anything you’d be harmed by strangers reading.
Questions
- Do readers need an account or app?
- No. They open the link in any browser and see the live list. Nothing to install, nothing to join.
- Can I still edit while it’s view-only?
- Yes — view-only binds visitors. You and your admins edit normally, and every open phone shows the change instantly.
- Can I switch it back?
- Any time. The switches apply live; flip everything back on and it behaves like a classic anonylist list again.
- Is view-only the same as private?
- No. Anyone with the link can read the list. View-only stops changes, not eyes — don’t put secrets in it.