Setting Your Sensor to Private
When registering your PurpleAir sensor, you have the option to designate it as either public or private with the Visibility option.
- Public Sensors: Visible to all users on the PurpleAir map.
- Private Sensors: Only visible to the sensor’s owner and individuals with whom the owner shares specific access information. How Private is my Sensor
If you choose to set your sensor as private during registration, it will not appear on the public map. However, you can still access its data through specific methods.
Viewing a Private Sensor on the Map
There are two primary ways to view your private sensor:
1. Using the Registration Confirmation Email
After registering your sensor, you will receive a confirmation email sent to both the associated and owner’s email addresses provided during registration. This email contains direct links to view your sensor on the PurpleAir map.
- Look for the link labeled “View on the PurpleAir map” under the “Useful Links” section.
- Clicking this link will direct you to a map view displaying your private sensor.
2. Logging into the PurpleAir Map
You can log into the PurpleAir map to view your private sensors:
- Navigate to map.purpleair.com.
- Click on the “Login” button located at the top right corner of the page.
- Sign in using the Google account that matches the Owner’s Email provided during sensor registration.
- Once logged in, ensure the “Show My Sensors” option is enabled in the map’s configuration menu. Here is more information about those settings.
Please note: Currently, only Google-associated email addresses are supported for this login feature. If your Owner’s Email is not linked to a Google account, you won’t be able to use this method to view your private sensor.
Sharing Access to a Private Sensor
If you wish to share your private sensor’s data with others:
- Provide them with the direct link from your registration confirmation email.
- Alternatively, you can create a custom URL using your sensor’s Sensor Index and Read Key.
For example:
https://map.purpleair.com/?show=YOUR_SENSOR_INDEX&key=YOUR_READ_KEY
Replace YOUR_SENSOR_INDEX and YOUR_READ_KEY with your sensor’s specific information.
Changing a Sensor’s Privacy Setting
If you initially registered your sensor as public but wish to make it private (or vice versa):
- Use the “Modify this registration” link found in your registration confirmation email.
- This link will take you to a pre-filled registration form where you can adjust the privacy setting.
- After making the desired changes, click “Register” to update your sensor’s settings.
Additional Considerations
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Sensors: On the PurpleAir map, indoor sensors are indicated with a black outline, while outdoor sensors have no outline.
- API Access: Private sensor data is not publicly accessible via the API. To access this data, you must provide the correct Sensor Index and Read Key.
- Data Sharing with Third Parties: Even if your sensor is set to private, it may still report data to third-party services like Weather Underground if selected during registration.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following resources:
