TradingView Public Ideas Privacy: Hide Scripts & Publish

For many traders, this is a nightmare scenario. You spend weeks optimizing a specific strategy, only to realize that once you hit "Publish," anyone can copy, modify, and trade your exact logic. Even worse, if you share your chart ideas publicly, you might accidentally reveal your entry and exit points to the broader market.

TradingView actually has built-in privacy controls for this, but they're buried in the UI. You can hide published scripts, restrict who sees your ideas, and manage your publishing workflow to protect your edge.

Here's exactly how to secure your TradingView presence without sacrificing the benefits of the platform.

About this guide: I'm the writer behind supa.is. Between February and May 2026 I've published 150+ articles on supa.is across crypto and brokerage tooling — including 60+ TradingView-specific guides (recent examples: TradingView Free Plan Indicator Limit, TradingView Pine Script Beginner Guide, TradingView Pine Script v5 to v6 Migration). The most-repeated reader question across that TradingView archive is exactly how to publish scripts safely without giving away your edge, which is why I'm publishing this standardized guide instead of answering one-off.

Why TradingView Privacy Matters

TradingView is a social platform first, a charting tool second.

When you publish a Pine Script indicator, it goes into the TradingView community library. Anyone with a free account can add it to their chart. If your script contains a proprietary strategy—like a specific combination of RSI, volume, and order flow logic—publishing it means you are giving that strategy away for free.

Furthermore, if you use TradingView's "Ideas" feature to post chart analysis, your public ideas are visible to everyone. While sharing analysis can build a following, it also exposes your trading thesis. In highly liquid markets, front-running or copycat trading can dilute your edge.

Managing your public ideas privacy isn't just about being secretive—it's about protecting your trading edge.

How to Hide Published Scripts on TradingView

Once you publish a Pine Script indicator to the community, can you hide it? The short answer is yes, but the process isn't as simple as clicking a "hide" button. You have to unpublish it or change its visibility settings.

Unpublishing a Script

If you have already published a script and want to remove it from public view, you need to unpublish it.

1. Go to your Profile page.
2. Click on the Scripts tab.
3. Find the script you want to hide and click the three dots (...) next to it.
4. Select Unpublish from the dropdown menu.

Making a Script Private

If you are writing a new script and don't want it to be public at all, you can save it as a private script.

1. Open the Pine Editor at the bottom of your chart.
2. Write or paste your code.
3. Click Save.
4. In the save dialog, ensure the Publish toggle is off.
5. Name your script and click Save.

Protecting Your Edge: How to Publish Without Giving Away Your Logic

You want to publish a script to build your reputation, but you don't want to give away your exact trading logic.

You can use input parameters and obfuscation techniques to hide the core of your strategy.

Use Input Parameters for Sensitive Values

Instead of hardcoding sensitive values (like specific RSI thresholds or moving average lengths) directly into your script, turn them into input parameters.

//@version=5
indicator("My Secret Strategy", overlay=true)

// Instead of hardcoding 14, use an input
rsiLength = input.int(14, "RSI Length")
rsiOverbought = input.int(70, "Overbought Level")
rsiOversold = input.int(30, "Oversold Level")

rsi = ta.rsi(close, rsiLength)
plot(rsi)

By doing this, you are giving the user the *framework* of your strategy, but they have to figure out the optimal settings themselves. You can even add a note in the script description saying, "Optimal settings are not public, use the default values for best results."

Hide the Core Logic with request.security()

If your strategy relies on complex calculations that you want to keep completely secret, you can use the request.security() function to pull data from a different timeframe or symbol, effectively masking the logic.

Alternatively, you can use TradingView's Invite-Only script feature. This allows you to share the script with specific users without publishing it to the public.

Invite-Only Scripts

Invite-only scripts are a middle ground between public and private. You can share the script with a specific group of people without making it available to the entire TradingView community.

1. Write your script in the Pine Editor.
2. Click Save.
3. In the save dialog, click Invite-Only.
4. Enter the usernames of the people you want to share the script with.
5. Click Save.

Managing Public Ideas Privacy

Sharing chart ideas is a great way to engage with the TradingView community, but it can also expose your trading thesis. If you post an idea about a potential breakout, you are telling the market where you expect price to go.

To protect your ideas, you can adjust your privacy settings.

Restricting Who Can See Your Ideas

By default, your ideas are public. To change this:

1. Click on the Ideas tab on the left sidebar.
2. Click the three dots (...) next to the idea you want to restrict.
3. Select Edit.
4. In the edit dialog, look for the Audience setting.
5. Change it from Public to Friends or Private.

Hiding Your Trading Activity

TradingView also allows you to hide your trading activity from your profile. If you use TradingView's built-in paper trading or connect a broker, your trades might be visible to others.

1. Go to your Profile page.
2. Click on the Settings icon (gear icon).
3. Look for the Privacy section.
4. Toggle off Show my trading activity.

The TradingView Publishing Workflow: Best Practices

To avoid accidentally publishing something you didn't mean to, establish a strict publishing workflow.

1. Develop in Private Mode: Never hit "Publish" while you are still testing. Use the Pine Editor to write, test, and optimize your script.
2. Test on a Demo Account: Before publishing, test your script on a paper trading account or a historical replay. This ensures that the script works as expected and doesn't have any bugs that could ruin your reputation.
3. Review the Code for Sensitive Data: Go through your code line by line. Are there any hardcoded values that you want to keep secret? Convert them to input parameters. Are there any comments that reveal your strategy? Delete them.
4. Decide on the Audience: Ask yourself: Do I want this script to be public, invite-only, or private? If you are unsure, start with invite-only. You can always expand the audience later.
5. Publish with a Disclaimer: If you decide to publish your script publicly, always include a disclaimer in the script description. Something like: "This script is for educational purposes only. Use at your own risk. The author is not responsible for any losses incurred."

Common Pitfalls When Publishing on TradingView

Even with the best intentions, it's easy to make mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid.

FAQ

Can I delete a published TradingView script?

How do I make a TradingView idea private?

Is TradingView invite-only script free?

Can I hide my trading activity on TradingView?

What happens if I unpublish a script with many followers?

Risk Warning

Risk Warning: Trading financial markets involves substantial risk of loss. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. This is not financial advice. Always do your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any trading decisions.