# How to Password-Protect a Revdoku Website > Turn a bucket of files into a shareable website that is open, password-protected, or gated behind a password plus visitor email. Reach for Revdoku when a bucket of files needs to become a shareable website without making every file public. A published site can be open to everyone, protected behind a shared password, or protected behind a password plus visitor email collection. This walkthrough uses the `Leads` bucket for the password-protected file site and the `Semi News Today` bucket for the live password-plus-email example. ## 1. Open the bucket you want to publish Start from a bucket that already contains the files, report, or generated website you want to share. In this example, the bucket includes CSV files and research documents. ![Leads bucket overview with CSV files and documents](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/01-leads-bucket-overview.png) ## 2. Open the publishing controls On a live bucket, use **Website and publishing settings** to open the site menu. Revdoku keeps the live URL, view count, access controls, and website settings close to the bucket contents. ## 3. Public access Choose **Public** when the site should be available to anyone with the link. Keep tracking enabled when you still want traffic and download analytics. ![Public publishing mode in the live website dialog](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/02-publish-modal-public.png) ## 4. Password access Choose **Password** when the website should be shared only with people who have the password. The live website dialog shows the public URL, first-published time, view count, file count, password controls, and republish status. ![Password publishing mode](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/03-publish-modal-password.png) ## 5. Password plus email access Choose **Password + ask to leave email** when you want authorized visitors to identify themselves. This mode asks for the shared password, email address, and an optional comment before showing the site. Use it for client portals, investor updates, internal reports, gated demos, or any file bundle where follow-up matters. ![Password plus email publishing mode](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/04-publish-modal-password-email.png) ## 6. Review protected websites in the bucket list The bucket list shows each published site's access badge, live URL, file count, and current view count. Use the **Protected** filter when you want to audit password-gated sites. ![Bucket list filtered to protected websites](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/05-protected-buckets-list.png) ## 7. Open website and publishing settings On a live bucket, Revdoku shows the current live state directly in the bucket header. Open **Website and publishing settings** when you want to change access, copy the public URL, customize the website, or review analytics. ![Live settings entry in the bucket header](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/09-bucket-live-settings-entry.png) The settings menu separates access controls from website configuration: **Publish & access...** controls public/password/email access and republishing, while **Website settings...** controls the public URL, custom domain, tracking, activity delivery, password gate display, and generated index page. ![Website and publishing settings menu](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/10-website-publishing-menu.png) ## 8. Review live publish and access settings The live website dialog summarizes the website URL, current access mode, first publish time, views, file count, password controls, and latest publish status. ![Live publish settings overview](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/11-live-publish-settings-overview.png) ## 9. Update a live site's access settings For an already-published website, open **Publish & access...**, choose the access mode, and update the password when needed. ![Live website access settings set to password](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/06-live-access-settings-password.png) Visitor activity tracking and account delivery live in **Website settings** on the **Website URL** tab. Use this area to review or enable access, view, and download activity for follow-up. ![Visitor activity settings](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/07-live-access-settings-password-notifications.png) ## 10. Republish the protected site Click **Republish** to apply access changes. Once publishing finishes, the dialog confirms the live access mode and provides a direct **View site** link. ![Published password-protected site confirmation](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/08-live-password-published.png) ## 11. Review website settings The **Website URL** tab is the home base for general website settings. It shows the public URL, copy/open actions, view tracking, password gate page options, and visitor activity tracking. ![Website URL settings tab](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/12-website-settings-panel.png) ## 12. Hide title and description on the password page For password-protected websites, the **Website URL** tab includes password gate page options. Turn off **Show title before password entered** and **Show description before password entered** when the visitor should not see the bucket name or summary until after they know the password. ![Password gate title and description options disabled](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/15-password-gate-title-description-off-settings.png) With both options off, the public gate uses generic copy instead of revealing the site title or description. Visitors see "Protected website" and "This website is protected by its owner" before entering the password. ![Password gate with title and description hidden](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/16-password-gate-title-description-hidden.png) The **Custom domain** tab is where you connect a branded domain to the published Revdoku site. ![Custom domain settings tab](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/13-website-settings-custom-domain.png) The **Auto-Index Page** tab lets you customize the generated file index for a bucket-specific website. ![Auto-Index Page settings tab](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/14-website-settings-page-template.png) ## 13. Ask ChatGPT to check access mode If ChatGPT is connected to Revdoku, ask it to check whether a published site is public, password gated, or email gated before you send the link. This is useful when you manage several published buckets and want a quick safety check. ![ChatGPT checks the access mode for a Revdoku demo site](/assets/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/chatgpt-revdoku-access-mode-magic-stories.webp) ## Publish a protected site of your own Revdoku is built for workflows that start with files, not a CMS. Create or collect files in a bucket, publish them as a website, and choose the right access model, public, password, or password plus email, without moving the content anywhere else. [Create a free Revdoku account](https://app.revdoku.com/users/sign_up) to publish your first protected website. Start publishing for free Connect this AI to Revdoku so it can store files, create, update, and publish websites for me. Read and follow https://revdoku.com/prompt.md. A Revdoku account is required. If I do not have one, send me https://app.revdoku.com/users/sign_up?utm_source=revdoku.com&utm_medium=ai-chat&utm_campaign=connect_ai_first and wait until I confirm signup is complete. For ChatGPT, Claude, or another cloud AI, connect https://app.revdoku.com/mcp and complete Revdoku OAuth. For a local agent, use Revdoku's browser device sign-in and complete the connection in Revdoku. Never ask me for a password or API key in chat, or for a verification code. When Revdoku tools are connected, verify the connection, tell me you’re ready, and ask what I want to publish. Copy Prompt or Create Free Account --- [View the canonical page](https://revdoku.com/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-revdoku-website/) · [Browse llms.txt](https://revdoku.com/llms.txt)