How to fix "You don't have access to see this content" on a public space?

[Charlie Hubbard]

I have a confluence space that I created as a portal that I've made public.  I can see all of my pages are public in the space by going to the Space Settings > Public Access and confirming that I see all the pages I want to expose publicly.  I've also turned on anonymous access to view only.  However, when I visit my top level public page the dynamic components like search, filter by label, recent updates do not display any content and simply say "You don't have access to see this content".  What else is there to turn on so that anonymous users can visit my site and see something?  I really want to replace these with just a page tree of links (kinda like a table of contents, but for the whole space).  I'm sure Confluence has that, but I can't seem to find it.  And if I did I'd be back to this access issue.

So can you help me?

[Kristian Klima · Accepted solution]

Hi @Charlie Hubbard and welcome to the Community.

Enabling public access to a Confluence space is a mixed back when it comes to what features anonymous users can use and what they see.

When it comes to the actual content, you may find that restricted content (via page restrictions, apps restrictions, etc.) is not displayed. For example, if you have, in your public space, content from a private space (via excerpt include, page include etc.), it will not be displayed.

Normally, if you make a space public, the page tree is visible, along bits and pieces of Confluence UI.

Aside from fine tuning all premissions and restrictions, there are two options.

• Content syncing. The idea is that you work in a private space and when your content is ready, you sync (copy) the content to the public space. Check Comala Publishing, Space Sync for Confluence. 
• Theme app. They can either put a 'skin' over your public Confluence space or generate a public static website from your Confluence content. Typically, you can control what features can be used and what appears on that site. Check Scroll Viewport, Spacecraft, Refined, Instant Websites

[Charlie Hubbard]

Thank you Kirstian for your response.  I don't know if that is what I'm encountering.  I don't have a mix of private and public information in my space.  I have a new space which is meant to be all public.  I've gone through my all of pages and marked them as shared publicly.  And I've turned on anonymous access at the global level.  I've also ensured my space is public and has the permission to allow public pages.  However, the gadgets I add to the page don't seem to reflect that.  Why aren't they working and what can I do to troubleshoot the issues?

[Kristian Klima]

"I've gone through my all of pages and marked them as shared publicly. "

Public links are for sharing individual pages - kinda an ad hoc thing. The problem is that a shared page is a standalone unit. A link to another page would not work - even if another page is shared publicly.

If you enable anonymous access in your space, you don't have to create public links to share individual pages. I can't test it now but the two might conflict.

As for gadgets (macros, I presume)... I can't account for that but stock confluence macros tend to work in anonymous-access spaces.

[Charlie Hubbard]

Ok by turning off public pages and only enabling anonymous users I can now see the gadgets.  Thanks for that suggestion.

[Kristian Klima]

Glad to help!