---
title: "Public vs. Private sessions"
canonical: "https://support.appfire.com/space/JPP/148570767/Public%20vs.%20Private%20sessions"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (excerpt)
> 
> > ℹ️ **Agile Poker Cloud**
> > ℹ️ 
> > ℹ️ This part of the documentation relates to **Agile Poker for Jira Cloud**. If you use Jira Server go to the [**Agile Poker for Jira Server and Data Center documentation**](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570282).

## Session Types

Each estimation session ([Interactive](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570576), [Asynchronous](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570624), [Relative](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570193) or [Bucket Sizing](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570288)) can be created as either **Public** or **Private**:

- **Public** - unrestricted session access. Every Jira Software user can access such session, update its configuration and participants list (including moderator, participants and observers roles). All Jira restrictions apply here: users who do not have access to the specific project, board or issue will not be able to see restricted data. But they can still join and modify a public estimation session in Agile Poker.
- **Private** - restricted session access. Only the users invited to the session (moderator, participant, estimator or observer) can join it.  Depending on the role the user will get:
  - **Moderator** - full session access, ability to update session participants (add or remove users), update session configuration, change a moderator, finish the session or remove it;
  - **Participants** (Participant / Estimator / Observer) - limited session access, ability to participate in estimation process that is controlled by a moderator. ***Note****: Agile Poker allows setting "Everyone" as the moderator that results in every session participant getting moderator's permissions.*
  - **Jira administrator** - remove any active or finished session. Administrators are not able to join a private session if they are not on the session's participants list.

> ℹ️ Once session is created it's impossible to change its type. We plan enabling session type change in the future, you may watch [[APJ-1617] As an AP user I want to switch a running session from Public to Private](https://appfire.atlassian.net/browse/APJ-1617) for the updates.

More on session user roles:

- **Moderator** - controls the session flow: picks up the Jira issue(s) to be estimated, enables/disables voting, finishes the session;
- **Participant**, **Estimator** - participates in the estimation session but can't control its flow;
- **Observer** (available for Interactive sessions only) - observes the estimation process but can't provide estimates, session is progressed without observer's input.

Once session is finished (estimation is completed; "Finish session" action executed) then it is not longer possible to join it or update its configuration. 

## Accessing Sessions

"See all sessions" button at the Agile Poker's home screen or "See all active sessions" link for a particular session type will take you to the **All sessions** page where you can easily find the sessions by:

- Estimation type ([Interactive](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570576), [Asynchronous](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570624), [Relative](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570193), [Bucket Sizing](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JPP/pages/148570288))
- Status (Active, Finished)
- Session type (Public, Private)

Private sessions also have a lock icon shown to the right from the session participants list.

![image](media://6c213ca5-a390-4e9a-9353-345071c86cdc)