---
title: "Create a public workspace"
slug: "create-a-public-workspace"
tags: ["Totara Engage", "How-to", "Participant"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:28Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:28Z
canonical: "totara.help/create-a-public-workspace"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a public workspace

You can create a new public [workspace](/totara-20/docs/what-are-workspaces) by following these steps:

1. Go to **Your workspaces** from the main menu.
2. Click **Create new**.
3. Enter a **Workspace name** and **Description**.
4. Select **Public** for the **Workspace type**.
5. Optionally add any required [**Tags**](/totara-20/docs/what-are-tags).
6. Click **Edit image** to upload a thumbnail image for the workspace. The image should be 426 x 477px.
7. Click **Create**.

Note that the **Self enrolment** [enrolment method](/totara-20/docs/what-are-enrolment-methods) must be enabled in order to create public workspaces.

![Creating a new public workspace.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1727777255362.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A55%3A47Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A55%3A47Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kbDuLb24gpyhsEvO5PHd09%2FuQri47qVJDZCNLVHXk1Y%3D)

By default, all authenticated users will have the capability to create new workspaces. If you decide to disable this capability site-wide, you can choose to assign the [Workspace Owner role](/totara-20/docs/workspace-roles) to specific users to allow them to create workspaces.

After the workspace has been created, any Workspace Owners can update the workspace's details and thumbnail image.

Note that if a user is deleted, any workspaces they have created will not be deleted. If they were the Workspace Owner you may want to [transfer ownership of the workspace](/totara-20/docs/transfer-workspace-ownership) to another user. Any contributions created by the deleted user (e.g. resources, playlists and surveys) will be deleted, so you may need to recreate any important contributions in the workspace.

[YouTube video player](https://www.youtube.com/embed/nMwL6tcWKz4?si=fis0AnOMG-B9m8uT)

## Next steps

- [Add a member to a workspace](/totara-20/docs/add-a-member-to-a-workspace)
- [Add an audience to a workspace](/totara-20/docs/add-members-to-a-workspace-in-bulk)
- [Configure workspace notifications](/totara-20/docs/configure-workspace-notifications)
- [Start a discussion](/totara-20/docs/start-a-discussion)
- [Moderating workspaces](/totara-20/docs/running-a-workspace)
- [Remove inappropriate content](/totara-20/docs/remove-inappropriate-content)

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_workspaces-in-totara-engage.svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A55%3A47Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A55%3A47Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kbDuLb24gpyhsEvO5PHd09%2FuQri47qVJDZCNLVHXk1Y%3D)

Join the conversation on [workspaces](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=891) in the Totara Community.

The Totara Academy has a whole course dedicated to using [Workspaces in Totara](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=891). Here you can find out more about setting up and using workspaces, see best practice, and give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

© Copyright 2026 Totara Learning Solutions. All rights reserved.