Getting started with your circle
The first steps in a new circle: make your first post, choose how you hear from it, and catch up on what's new since your last visit.
Your first steps
If you do not have a circle yet, your home page welcomes you and offers Start a circle. Give your circle a name, then invite the people you want to share with. If someone has invited you to their circle, open the invitation they sent you by email or text.
In your first circle, the guide links to the conversation so you can share a photo or a note. You can also email a post to your own circle email address, which you'll find under Your posting address in the circle's settings (choose Circle options, then Settings) and on your contact card. To post by text, use the circle number in your welcome message.
Follow the notification link to choose how often you hear from your circle.
Recent activity from your people
Your circle can show a short line about what each member did recently, such as sharing a post, reacting, or adding to a chapter. Only recent activity counts, so someone who hasn't done anything lately may have no line. Hidden posts, and posts that aren't up yet, don't count.
Since your last visit
The new counts on your home page and the marks on collections help you catch up on posts shared since you last opened that circle. Each person's visit is remembered separately. On your first visit, nothing already there is marked as new. Hidden posts and posts you cannot currently view do not count.
An optional second way to reach you
If you have verified only an email address or only a phone number, you may see an invitation to add the other. Use its button to add and confirm it, or choose Not now and keep using your circle as you are.
Dismiss the guide when you are ready
The getting-started guide in your circle and the optional verification prompt can be dismissed separately. Your choice is saved to your account, so they stay hidden on another browser or device too.
The welcome on your home page shows while you don't own a circle, whether you have no circles yet or only circles someone else owns. When you don't need it any more, choose Got it, hide this. That choice is saved to your account too. If you hide it before you have any circles, your home page shows No circles yet. Create one, or open an invitation someone sent you.