Allow previews before login
One setting decides whether preview lessons are public or reserved for signed-in students.
Where
Course settings → Configuration → Preview lessons also require login.
What it changes
| Preview lesson | Preview requires login | Signed out | Signed in, no access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Off | Readable | Readable |
| Yes | On | Blocked | Readable |
| No | — | Blocked | Blocked |
Off is the marketing configuration: anyone can read the preview. On is the members' configuration: registering is the first step, and the preview is the reward.
Choosing
Leave it off when previews exist to attract people who have never visited before — a public sample of a paid course, a taster shared on social media, content you want indexed.
Turn it on when:
- registration itself is what you want first;
- the site is a members' area where anonymous browsing is not the model;
- previews contain material you are willing to give to registered users but not to the open internet.
It only affects previews
The setting has no effect on ordinary lessons — those follow the course's access model regardless.
It also has no effect if the course has no preview lessons, which is worth remembering when it appears to do nothing.
Pair it with a login form
If previews require login, a signed-out visitor who reaches one is blocked. Enable Add a login form on top so they can sign in without leaving, and make sure the no-access message mentions registration.
Check it from the outside
The only reliable way to see which lessons are public is to look at the course as a visitor:
- Open the course in a private browser window.
- Look at the outline: the selectable lessons are the ones anyone can read.
- Confirm that list is exactly what you intended.
Do it before launch and after any change to preview flags. A preview left on by mistake is invisible in the administration and completely visible to the internet.
Verify
- Mark one lesson as a preview.
- With the setting off, open the course in a private window and confirm the preview is readable.
- Turn the setting on, reload, and confirm it is now blocked.
- Sign in as a student without access and confirm the preview is readable again.
- Leave the setting at whichever behavior you actually want.