Files You Attach to a Note Are Now Private by Default

Any document you attach to a note on a contact record is now private by default. It is stored in the Notes attachments folder under Documents, and nobody can open it from a link unless you deliberately share it. Previously these files were public in nature and could be passed around with no expiry and no access controls.

Where do my note attachments go now?

Every new file you upload through the notes section lands in the Notes attachments folder under Documents, and it is marked private the moment it is saved. You do not need to change a setting or tick a box — this is the default behaviour.

How do I share a file with a customer?

When you share a document you choose the level of access that suits it, rather than being given one public link for everything. A quotation you want a client to forward to their partner can use a public link, while a signed contract or an identity document can be locked down.

• Public link — anyone with the link can open the file
• Private link — access is restricted rather than open to anyone who receives it
• OTP-protected link — the recipient enters a one-time code before the file opens
• Password-protected link — the recipient enters a password you set

What happens to the files I uploaded before this?

Documents you uploaded through notes before this change keep their existing status and remain public. The new default applies only to files uploaded from this point onward, so nothing you have already shared with a customer will suddenly stop working.

If an older file holds something sensitive, you can still generate and share a private link for it instead of the public one. Open the document, choose to share it, and pick the level of access you want.

Who should pay attention to this?

Any business that keeps customer paperwork on a contact record benefits immediately — clinics, law firms, accountants, schools and anyone handling identity documents. Take a few minutes to review the files you uploaded before the change and re-share the sensitive ones with a private, OTP or password-protected link.

You will find your files in Documents, in the Notes attachments folder.