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Rename or pause a circle

Change your circle's name, or pause one you're finished with. Everything you've shared stays right where it is.

Who can do this

The person who started the circle and its admins can rename it, and pause or reopen it. Everyone else in the circle sees the changes but can't make them.

Changing your circle's name

  1. Open your circle, choose Circle options, then Settings.
  2. Under Name and picture, type the new name.

There's no Save button. Your change is kept automatically, and a short note beside it confirms it. The new name shows up everywhere: on everyone's home page, and at the top of every email and text from the circle.

Everyone's circle email address and the phone number people send photos to stay the same, so anyone who has saved them can keep sending without doing anything.

Pausing a circle you're finished with

Some circles are for a season: a wedding, a summer, a trip. When one has run its course, choose Pause this circle in the circle's settings. Here's what that means:

  • Everything shared stays. Every photo, note, recording, and comment is still there to look through, and everyone in the circle can still download any of it.
  • Nothing new gets added. Nobody can add new photos, texts, emails, voice messages, comments, or reactions while the circle is paused.
  • It stays on your home page. A paused circle isn't hidden or deleted. It sits with your others, marked Paused.
  • You can reopen it any time. Pausing is never permanent. Choose Reopen this circle in the same place, and everything is back as it was.
  • Months not yet used aren't returned. Months the circle hasn't started yet aren't returned, and pausing doesn't change card billing: see Using your free months.

What everyone else sees

If someone sends a photo or message to a paused circle, we write back to say it isn't taking new messages. Nothing they send disappears without a word, and nothing already shared is affected.

Want it gone for good?

Pausing keeps everything. If the circle's owner wants it erased completely instead, see Delete a circle. Deleting can't be undone.

Need help?

If anything doesn't look the way you expect, reach out using the Still stuck? Get in touch link at the bottom of the Help panel and we'll take care of it.