What is a private chat link, and how do you share one safely?
A private chat link is a unique web address that opens a conversation only invited people can join. With Talklio, the link contains a random space ID and a secret encryption key, and each person also needs their own password. Share the link and the passwords separately, and the link stops working when the space closes after 30 days.
Invite links are everywhere: video calls, shared documents, group chats. A private chat link takes the same idea and applies it to a conversation. Instead of swapping phone numbers or usernames, you send someone a link and they're in, but only if they also have the right password.
What is a private chat link?
A private chat link is a web address that leads to a specific, invite-only conversation. Anyone without the link can't find it, because it isn't listed or searchable anywhere. In well-designed apps, the link alone isn't enough to get in. You also need a password or approval.
A Talklio link looks like this:
https://talklio.app/s/Ab3dE5gH7jK9#k=…
It has two parts:
/s/Ab3dE5gH7jK9is a random ID for the space. It's long enough that nobody could guess it.#k=…is a 256-bit encryption key. The part after#is called a fragment, and browsers never send it to servers. Your device uses it to encrypt and decrypt messages, which is why Talklio itself can't read them. More on that on our security page.
On top of the link, each person has their own password. So even if a link ends up in the wrong hands, it doesn't let someone read or join a conversation.
How to create a private chat link
With Talklio it takes about a minute:
- Go to talklio.app/new.
- Enter your name and a password for yourself.
- Add up to five people. Give each one a name and a password (tap the dice for an easy one).
- Confirm you're 18 or over and tap Create my space.
- Copy the link and send each person their invite.
There's no account to make. The link and your password are all you need to get back in.
How to share it safely
The link is one key, and each password is another. Keep them apart:
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Send the link and the password through different channels | Paste the link and password in the same message |
| Say the password out loud if you're together | Post the link anywhere public |
Use an easy-to-say password like peach-28-falcon |
Use your birthday or 1234 |
| Tell people the link closes after 30 days | Assume an old link still works |
If you think a link has leaked, the owner can open People and set new passwords. Anyone using an old one is logged out right away.
What happens when the link expires
Talklio links stop working 30 days after the space was made. The whole space, every person, every password and any remaining messages are deleted at that point. Messages themselves go even sooner, 24 hours after each one is sent.
Some people find this freeing. You don't need to clear out old chats or awkwardly remove people afterwards. The conversation simply ends. If you want to carry on, the owner makes a new space and sends a fresh link.
Private chat link vs group chat invite
They're easy to confuse, but they behave differently:
- A group chat invite puts everyone in one shared conversation. Everyone sees everything.
- A Talklio link gives each person a separate, private chat with the owner. Guests can't see each other's messages, only each other's names on the login screen.
That makes Talklio links a good fit when you want to stay in touch with a few people individually, for example while taking a break from social media, without starting yet another group.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone with the link read my messages?
No. They'd also need a valid password for one of the names in the space, and each person can only see their own chat with the owner.
How long does a Talklio link last?
Thirty days from when the space was created. After that, the link stops working and everything in the space is deleted.
Can I make a new link for the same space?
Not a new link, but the owner can reset any person's password at any time, which blocks access with the old one. To start completely fresh, make a new space.
Is a private chat link the same as an encrypted chat?
Not always. Many invite links just control who can join. Talklio links also carry the encryption key, so the messages themselves are end-to-end encrypted.