How to Change a Facebook Event from Private to Public

Trying to switch a private Facebook event to public can be surprisingly frustrating, especially when you discover you can't just flip a switch in the settings. Facebook’s rules on event privacy are strict, but don’t worry - there are straightforward workarounds. This guide will walk you through exactly what’s possible, explain the limitations, and show you the best way to get your event in front of a wider audience.

The Quick Answer: Can You Change a Private Facebook Event to Public?

In almost all cases, the answer is no, you can no longer directly change a private Facebook event to a public one. Once an event is created as "Private," Facebook locks that setting to protect the privacy of the guests who were invited.

Years ago, you had a small window of opportunity to make this change, but Facebook has since tightened its privacy policies. The platform’s logic is that guests who RSVP’d to a private gathering did so with the expectation of privacy. They might share photos, post comments, or have conversations they wouldn't want suddenly exposed to the public. Broadcasting their attendance without their consent would be a major breach of trust. To prevent this, Facebook simply removes the ability to change the privacy setting from private to public after people have been invited.

So, if you’re staring at your event settings and can't find the option, you're not missing anything. The feature has been intentionally removed. But that doesn't mean you're stuck. There is a simple and effective solution that only takes a few minutes.

The Best Solution: How to Duplicate Your Private Event and Make It Public

The best and only officially supported way to turn your private event into a public one is to duplicate it. This process creates an identical copy of your event, which you can then set to "Public" from the start. It copies over the event name, description, date, time, location, and cover photo, saving you the hassle of starting from scratch.

Follow these steps to get it done.

Step-by-Step Guide (Desktop Version)

Using a desktop computer is the easiest way to manage this process, as all the options are clearly laid out. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to Your Event: Go to Facebook and find your private event. You can usually find it under the "Events" tab in the left-hand menu or by searching for it.
2. Find the "More" Menu: Once you’re on your event page, look for the button with three dots (...) located right next to the "Share" or "Invite" buttons, typically just below the event cover photo.
3. Select "Duplicate Event": Click the three-dots menu. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Choose "Duplicate Event."
4. Set the New Privacy Setting to Public: A window will appear to create a new event, but it will be pre-filled with all the information from your original private event. This is the most important step: immediately find the privacy setting (usually displayed with an icon of a globe or people figures) and change it from "Private" to "Public."
5. Review and Customize: Take a moment to review all the copied information - name, date, time, description, location. While everything is carried over, this is a good opportunity to make any updates or improvements. For example, you might want to add more keywords to your description to help people discover it through Facebook search.
6. Create the Public Event: Once you've confirmed that the privacy is set to Public and all the details are correct, click the "Create Event" button at the bottom of the window.

That's it! You now have a public version of your event ready to be shared with the world.

Quick Guide (Mobile Version)

The process is similar on the Facebook mobile app, though the menus might look slightly different depending on your device (iOS or Android).

• Open the Facebook app and navigate to your private event.
• Tap the "Manage" button or look for a gear icon for settings.
• Scroll through the options to find and tap "Duplicate Event."
• In the new event creation screen, immediately change the privacy setting to "Public."
• Verify all the details and tap "Create Event."

Managing the Transition: Next Steps After Creating Your New Public Event

Creating the new public event is only half the battle. Now you have two versions of the same event, which can cause confusion for your guests. Here’s a simple checklist to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any miscommunication.

1. Inform Your Original Guests

The members of your original private event will not be automatically transferred to the new one. You need to tell them what’s happening and where to go.

Go back to your original private event page and post a final update in the discussion feed. Pin this post to the top so it’s the first thing everyone sees. Be clear and direct.

Here’s a template you can adapt:

"Hi everyone! Some exciting news: We've decided to open this event up to a wider audience! To make that happen, we had to create a new, public event page.

Please head over to the new page to RSVP and get all future updates. Here is the link: [Paste the Link to Your New Public Event]

To avoid any confusion, we will be closing this private event page in a couple of days. We can't wait to see you there!"

This message clarifies the situation, provides a clear call-to-action (the link), and creates a sense of urgency to get people to move over.

2. Re-Invite Key Guests to the New Event

While your pinned post will likely get the message across, it's also a good idea to personally invite your core group of attendees to the new public event. This includes co-hosts, special guests, or anyone you absolutely need to be there. This ensures they get a direct notification and can help spread the word by sharing the new public page.

3. Promote Your New Public Event

Now that your event is public, take full advantage of it! Public events are discoverable through search, can be recommended to people in your area, and can be shared by anyone. Start promoting it:

• Share it on your Facebook Profile or Page: Post the new event to your feed with an engaging caption.
• Share it in relevant Facebook Groups: If you're part of local community groups or groups related to your event's theme, share the link there (always check the group's rules on promotion first).
• Encourage your friends to share: Ask your attendees to share the public event with their own networks.
• Update other marketing materials: If you mentioned the event on your website, in a newsletter, or on other social media platforms, make sure you update the link to go to the new public event page.

4. Delete the Old Private Event (Recommended)

After a day or two - once you feel confident that your guests have seen the message and moved to the new page - you should cancel and delete the original private event. Keeping it active only creates clutter and increases the risk of people finding the old page and getting the wrong information.

To delete the event:

1. Go to the original private event page.
2. Click the “Edit” or “Manage” button.
3. Find the option for "Cancel Event."
4. You’ll be given choices to either cancel it or delete it entirely. Deleting it will remove it permanently, which is the best way to clean everything up.

This final step ensures that your new public event is the single source of truth for all attendees.

Planning Ahead: Choosing the Right Privacy Setting from the Start

This whole process can be avoided by choosing the right privacy setting when you first create your event. Thinking about your goals beforehand will save you a lot of trouble later. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide in the future.

Public Events

• Who can see it? Anyone on or off Facebook.
• Best for: Concerts, festivals, fundraisers, brand promotions, workshops, store openings, community gatherings - anything you want to attract the largest possible audience for.
• Key benefit: Maximum visibility and organic reach. Your event can show up in search results and Facebook's "Discover" section, and anyone can share it.

Private Events

• Who can see it? Only people who are invited.
• Best for: Birthday parties, family reunions, weddings, internal company meetups, surprise parties - anything where you need to control the guest list.
• Key benefit: Complete control and privacy. The event details, discussion, and guest list are not visible to the public. You can allow guests to invite their friends, but you still maintain control over who sees the event.

Before creating your next event, ask yourself these two simple questions:

1. What is the primary goal? Is it to raise awareness and attract as many people as possible, or is it to celebrate with a specific group of people?
2. Who is my intended audience? The general public or a hand-picked list of individuals?

If your goal involves growth, sales, or community building, always start with a Public event. You can always manage your guest list carefully, but you can’t make a private event discoverable.

Final Thoughts

While you can't directly change a private Facebook event to public due to Facebook's important privacy rules, the solution is simple and effective. Duplicate the event, set the new version to public, and cleanly guide your original guests to the new page. This method ensures you can expand your reach without compromising the trust of your initial invitees.

Getting the word out about your new public event is where the real work begins. We built Postbase to make promoting your events across all your social channels less of a headache. Instead of manually posting everywhere, you can schedule and customize announcements for your Facebook Page, Instagram, and other platforms from a single visual calendar, ensuring you consistently reach your audience without getting bogged down in the process.