Making Tumblr Private: Password Protection, Hiding Posts, & More

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If you don’t want your Tumblr posts to be visible to the whole world, there are a few different options you can try. The easiest method is to make a password-protected secondary blog . However, you can also make individual posts private , hide your blog from search engines , or even prevent other Tumblr users from seeing when you’re active. In this article, we’ll talk you through the best ways to protect your privacy on Tumblr.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Password-Protecting a Secondary Blog

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  1. Go to https://tumblr.com in a web browser. You’ll need to do this in a browser rather than using the Tumblr app. If you’re using a mobile device, like a phone or tablet, this may work better if you switch to the desktop version of the site.
    • Log in if you haven’t already done so.
    • Unfortunately, there’s currently no way to password protect your primary blog. [1]
  2. You’ll see this in the upper right corner of your web browser on the Tumblr dashboard. Clicking it will open a dropdown menu. [2]
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  3. Look for Settings near the top of the menu and click on it to open a new page with your account settings.
  4. On the right-hand side of the page, look for a list of all the blogs associated with your Tumblr account. Click the one you’d like to make private. [3]
  5. Scroll down to the bottom of the settings page and find the Password section. Click the toggle switchnext to Password protect this blog . [4]
  6. When you hit the toggle switch, a text box will open under the Password protect this blog option. Type in any password you like. Only people who know this password will be able to see blog posts from your secondary blog. [5]
  7. As soon as you hit ↵ Enter , the password will be saved. You won’t see any kind of confirmation message. However, if you navigate to the secondary blog, you should be prompted to enter the password. [6]
    • When someone visits your blog, they’ll need to enter the password before they can see any content.
    • If you forget the password, you can set a new one by going back into Settings and repeating the steps you used to create your original password.
    • To turn the password off, go into the Settings menu for your secondary blog and turn thetoggle switch back off next to Password protect this blog .
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Making Individual Posts Private

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  1. This is the icon that looks like a pencil at the top right corner of your dashboard on the Tumblr website or at the bottom middle of the Tumblr app.
  2. If you’re using the post editor on the Tumblr website, you’ll see a down arrow on the right side of the Post button. Click that to open a menu of posting options. On the Tumblr app, click the ••• button to the right of the Post button in the top right corner of the screen. [7]
  3. In the menu that opens, choose Post privately . If you’re using the app, a blue checkmark will appear next to the option once you’ve selected it. On the browser version of Tumblr, the menu will close and the Post button will turn into a Post privately button. [8]
  4. To confirm your private post, click the Post privately button if you’re using the web version of Tumblr. In the app, tap Done , then tap Post in the top right corner of the screen. Your post will be added to your blog, but only you will be able to see it. [9]
    • If you’re posting to a group-owned blog or a secondary blog that has other admins, they will be able to see your private posts, too.
    • Anyone who has the URL of the post will also be able to see it. To share a private post’s URL, click or tap the ••• button in the upper right corner of the post and select Copy Link .
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Hiding Your Blog from the Web and Search Engines

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  1. Visit https://tumblr.com or open the Tumblr app. If you want to make your primary blog less visible on the web or in search results, you can do so from the app or the browser version of Tumblr. Open Tumblr and log in if you haven’t already. [10]
    • These privacy options won’t completely hide your blog. However, you can use them to set your blog so it’s only viewable to logged-in Tumblr users.
  2. In the upper right corner of the browser dashboard or the bottom right corner of the app screen, click or tap this icon to open your Account menu. [11]
    • In the app, tapping this button will open your blog. On the web, it will cause a dropdown menu to appear.
  3. If you’re on the web, select Settings from the dropdown menu. In the app, click the Settings icon in the top right corner of the screen. [12]
  4. If you’re on the website, you’ll be able to select your main blog or one of your secondary blogs from the menu on the right-hand side of the screen. [13]
    • On the app, you may only be able to make changes to the visibility of your main blog.
  5. In the web version of Tumblr, scroll down on the settings page until you see the Visibility header. If you’re using the app, scroll down in the drop-down Settings menu and tap Visibility to open a new menu screen. [14]
  6. In the Visibility menu, find Hide (your blog name) and tap theicon. This will prevent anyone who is not logged in from seeing your blog, but logged-on Tumblr users will still be able to see your posts on their dashboards. [15]
    • You won’t see any kind of confirmation message when you toggle this option on. However, the toggle switch buttonwill turn from grey to blue.
  7. Just under the Hide button, you’ll find a secondtoggle switch that will hide your blog from search engines. Turn it on if you don’t want your posts to show up in searches. [16]
    • This option will hide your posts from Tumblr’s internal search engine as well as internet-wide search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
    • Posts that you made before selecting this option may still show up in searches for a while.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Turning Off Your Activity Status

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  1. Switching off your activity status will make it harder for other Tumblr users to know when you are online. If you’re in the app, tap the Account icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. If you’re using the web version of Tumblr, click this icon in the top right corner of the browser window. [17]
  2. In the app, tap the Settings icon in the top right corner of the screen to open the settings menu. If you’re on the web, click Settings in the dropdown menu that opens when you click the Account icon. [18]
    • If you’re using the app, select General Settings from the dropdown Settings menu. On the web, clicking Settings will take you directly to the General Settings page.
  3. In the web version of Tumblr, locate Privacy on the right-hand side of the screen and click on it. If you’re using the app, scroll down in the General Settings menu, then tap Privacy to open a new menu screen. [19]
  4. You’ll see a toggle buttonat the top of the Privacy screen next to the option Let others see that you’re active . Tap or click the button to hide your activity status from other Tumblr users. [20]
    • If the button is blue, your activity status is visible. If it’s grey, then your status is already hidden.
    • In the app, the Privacy menu screen also allows you to select whether or not other users can find you by searching for your email address. If you’re using the web version of Tumblr, look for this option at the top of the general Account menu under Settings .
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What embarrassing content, unique confessions or secrets would give the uploader away? How does a diary entry or secrets chat blog reveal private info?
    Community Answer
    A confession or secret would be unique if the combination of details is specific enough that anyone who knows the blog's owner will find out it's them. Even if no personal information is revealed, the owner may still get in trouble over it, especially if the secret involves people the owner knows or illegal activity. An online diary or secret chat would reveal private info since it talks about real-life events the owner and their peers are involved in, and they may reveal where they live or other specific details about themselves and their acquaintances which could get them doxxed or in trouble or embarrassed if they see it.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 19
  • Question
    If they cite personal stories, secrets, confessions, or embarrassing pictures, can they just blur/censor the private information?
    Community Answer
    The pictures and stories are too unique even if certain information is censored or removed. The combination of certain details is recognizable to whoever is in the story or picture. Especially for pictures, the backgrounds as well as clothes and a combination of other things can be extremely identifying, not to strangers, but to the uploader's family and acquaintances if they accidentally see it. Also, the story on its own might not be identifying, but combined with other stories, their friends will find out it's them, even if no personal information is there at all, and it's easier to vent all those stories in one private blog.
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  • Question
    What’s the difference between what’s posted in private blogs and anonymous public blogs?
    Community Answer
    Whether it reveals private information or not. In a public anon blog: Controversial opinions on celebrities, political topics, NSFW fanfiction, embarrassing thoughts that are general and don't reveal anything personal. In a private blog: Embarrassing content which give the uploader away, unique secrets or confessions about non-notable people (including the blog's owner), or secret conversations only the owner and a few close friends are open to (which may even be mean-spirited or illegal in the worst cases).
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      References

      1. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/primary-vs-secondary-blogs/
      2. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/password-protected-blogs/
      3. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/password-protected-blogs/
      4. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/password-protected-blogs/
      5. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/password-protected-blogs/
      6. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/password-protected-blogs/
      7. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/private-posts/
      8. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/private-posts/
      9. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/private-posts/
      1. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/
      2. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/
      3. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/
      4. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/
      5. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/
      6. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/appearing-in-search-results/
      7. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/appearing-in-search-results/
      8. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/#hide-activity-status
      9. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/#hide-activity-status
      10. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/#hide-activity-status
      11. ↑ https://help.tumblr.com/privacy-options/#hide-activity-status

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Go to https://tumblr.com and login if needed.
      2. Click the account icon.
      3. Click Settings .
      4. Click your secondary blog from the menu on the right.
      5. Click the switch on next to Password protect this blog .

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