Features in detail
My Family Circle brings chat, place, and alerts into one private circle. Here each feature is explained on its own—in calm, plain language.
Contents
Tap an item—or scroll through them one by one.
Overview
Each description explains what the feature is for—and what it deliberately does not do.
Feature 01
Your circle is closed: only people you invite are in. There is no public profile, no feed for strangers, and no contact requests from people you do not know.
The app stays a calm place for family—care instead of a social network.
Feature 02
Some families need more than one circle—for example “immediate family” and “grandparents.” You can create several circles and switch the active one.
Map, chat, and location apply to the circle you currently select— clear and separate.
Feature 03
New members join with an invite code. You create the code in the app and share it personally—by message, call, or note.
You decide who joins. Nobody finds your family through a public search.
Feature 04
Every circle has a shared chat. All members write together—perfect for everyday notes, weekend photos, or “I’ve arrived.”
Only members of that circle can see it. No public channel, no outsiders.
Feature 05
Some things do not belong in the group chat. Private chats let you write confidentially with one person from the circle—for example a parent and a teen, or a grandchild and grandparent.
Same rules apply: only circle members, encrypted, no strangers.
Feature 06
Share photos and short videos directly in chat. Before upload, media is prepared on the device—so sends are faster and use less storage.
Like text messages, media is end-to-end encrypted. The server does not store readable content.
Feature 07
Replies point clearly to a message. While someone is typing, you see it live—and read receipts show whether a message was delivered and read.
Chat feels alive without constant follow-up questions.
Feature 08
On the map you see members who share their location—in the active circle. At a glance you know who is on the way and who is already home.
The map is not public tracking: only circle members can see it, and only when sharing is on.
Feature 09
Location sharing is voluntary. Turn it on when it fits—and pause it anytime with a tap.
Nobody can see your place when sharing is off. Control stays with you.
Feature 10
Sometimes one tap is enough: “I’m here right now.” No ongoing tracking and no need to leave sharing on.
Ideal for sharing a meeting point briefly or saying you have arrived.
Feature 11
Set places—such as home or school. When someone arrives or leaves, others in the circle get a gentle notice.
Fewer “Are you there yet?” messages. More calm in daily life— without constantly checking the map.
Feature 12
Chat messages and location payloads are encrypted on the device before they reach the server. The server stores ciphertext—it cannot read the plaintext.
Content stays with your family’s devices. That is the technical core of “private.”
Feature 13
On top of your device lock, you can protect the app with biometrics or a PIN. If someone briefly holds your phone, the family circle stays protected.
A small step—noticeably more security in daily life.
Feature 14
New messages reach you even when the app is closed. You do not miss what matters—without keeping the app open all the time.
Notifications can be managed as usual in your system settings.
Feature 15
German or English, light or dark appearance, and larger text—so the app stays readable for every generation.
Few settings, clearly named—understandable without a tech course.
Feature 16
Choose whether photos and videos are prepared more sparingly (Standard) or in higher quality (HD). Match the app to your data plan and preference.
Optimization happens on the device—before anything encrypted is uploaded.
Feature 17
Servers are located in Austria. Operations and data processing follow the GDPR and European standards.
There is no advertising and no sale of your family data. More in the privacy policy.
Feature 18
Your family does not need to agree on one system. iPhone and Android work in the same circle—chat, map, and alerts stay together.
One shared everyday life, whatever phone is in the pocket.
Back to the home page for download and FAQ—or keep an eye on the stores.
