Override private status - Enable users to read private posts

Question

Hidden private posts for not logged in users

The private posts are by default only visible when logged in.

Override, show private posts for everyone

Is there a clever way to override this? Make it visible to everyone?

404 page

I know about using it in queries but the big problem is the 404 page that is shown. Instead of 404 template it should use single.php template.

Answer 1

As already mentioned in the comments, private posts are private for a good reason.

If you want to change this behaviour, you could probably alter the get_posts() which is used to retrieve your posts.

I did not try it, but this could work:

$args = array(
    'post_status' => array(
                         'publish',
                         'private'
                     )
);
$myposts = get_posts($args);

Answer 2

You can add capability of reading private post to any user role like this.

Add these code below to functions.php in wordpress theme folder:

$subRole = get_role( 'author' );
$subRole->add_cap( 'read_private_pages' );

Here you'll see a details tutorial http://www.shartd.com/let-subscriber-see-private-post-wordpress/

Answer 3

I'm confused by the answers.

When I have "private" posts/pages, I cannot see them when I am logged in. I can only see them when I am the Admin.

About the OP's question--

I use the WPDB class methods to extract post_content from the database selectively to bypass permissions:

global $wpdb; //global wpdb class may not work everywhere...
$post_id = (int) $post_id; // you supply $post_id && make sure int...
$result = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT post_content FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = $post_id");
if(!empty($result)) $result = apply_filters('the_content',$result); //will also execute shortcodes in the content
//do stuff like echo $result