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Circle General FAQ

Setup questions

Walkthroughs: Circle Parental Controls and Circle Home Plus
  • How to set up the Circle Parent Controls app (2nd gen)
  • How to set up the Circle Home Plus device (2nd gen)
  • How to set up Circle's mobile device (data) management
  • The Circle Parental Controls and Circle Home Plus Manual
What app should I use to set up Circle Home Plus (2nd gen)?

To set up and manage Circle Home Plus, download the Circle Parental Controls App (available on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store). 

  • Circle Parental Controls app (iOS)
  • Circle Parental Controls app (Android)
What app should I use to set up Circle with Disney (1st gen)?

Download the Circle 1st generation app to set up and manage a Circle with Disney device (1st gen). You will experience errors if attempting to pair the Circle 1st generation app with the Circle Home Plus device.

  • Circle 1st generation app (iOS)
  • Circle 1st generation app (Android)
I have a Circle 1st generation account, can I use that with the 2nd gen app and device?

If you would like to set use the Circle Parental Controls app, you will need to set up a fresh account and profiles in the new Circle App. Circle is not able to transfer history or existing profiles and settings from Circle 1st generation. 

General questions about Circle features

How does Circle Home Plus compare to Circle with Disney?

Circle Parental Controls (2nd generation) features several upgrades from Circle with Disney (1st generation):

  • Mobile (data or Wi-Fi) management for your Android and iOS devices
  • Location tracking for mobile devices
  • Faster network connection at home
  • Less disruptions (upgraded hardware, parent notifications and app deletion restrictions)
  • More flexibility and security so settings are always saved

See more on the differences here.

What is the difference between Basic and Premium features?

Basic: Filters, History, Usage

Premium: Time Limits, Bedtime, Focus Time, Pause the Internet®, Location, Rewards

The basic features are always free. The Circle premium subscription includes access to all Premium features, regularly $9.99 (USD) monthly or $99.99 (USD) annually. To manage all your devices anywhere, choose your Circle Home Plus device and app subscription package. To manage mobile devices only, try the Circle Parental Controls App free for 1-month.

See more about Basic and Premium here.

Learn about the various Circle product offerings here.

What types of screen time can Circle manage?

Circle can manage online screen time for any Internet-connected devices on your home network once Circle Home Plus is connected to your router.

As long as the Circle Parental Controls App is installed on any mobile device, you can also manage online screen time on that device away from home.

Currently, Circle doesn't manage offline screen time (that is, screen time that does not require an Internet connection). Apps that are available offline and downloaded content will still be available on your devices.

Learn more about what devices Circle can manage here, and more on screen time management here.

Does Circle show what websites are visited?

You can monitor web use with the Usage and History features.

Usage gives you a view of all Internet activity by day, week, and month, by category, app, and site. History shows all sites visited, what has been filtered by Circle, and lets you create custom filters.

However, popular sites like YouTube, Google, Netflix, and Facebook are fully encrypted, which limits Circle from seeing the complete URL link. See more info here.

What’s the difference between Circle and other solutions?

Circle’s award-winning parental controls device and app combo is the most comprehensive solution for families looking to manage screen time and content on all devices.

With Circle, you can manage all your Internet and Wi-Fi connected devices, at home and away, from one app. Circle offers the most customizable features so you can set limits and manage content across an unlimited number of devices, from computers to smartphones to gaming consoles.

Filtering questions

What types of sites or apps can Circle filter?

With Circle you can filter all kinds of sites and apps! We cover Fortnite, Disney+, TikTok, YouTube, etc. You can manage these from the Filter menu settings. For more details, refer to our Filter support article.

Can Circle manage specific apps, like YouTube, TikTok, or Netflix?

Yes. Circle can manage access and set time limits for popular sites and apps, including YouTube, TikTok, Fortnite, Instagram, Netflix, Snapchat, Disney+, and more.

Does Circle filter search results? What about image searches?

Circle adds another layer of protection on top of existing safety restrictions. Activate SafeSearch settings and Restricted Mode from the Circle App. You can even require that SafeSearch is turned on for certain family members and their devices to ensure inappropriate material is filtered out when your kids search. See more on searches and Circle's management here.

This feature functionality is managed by the respective search engines.

Does Circle monitor texting?

No. Circle does not monitor texts, phone calls, iMessages, emails, or in-app messages from Instagram, SnapChat, and so on. Since SMS-based text messages and phone calls are transmitted through your cellular carrier, these types of communication are invisible to Circle. Read more here.

Can I customize Filters?

Yes. Circle has different Filter levels for Kid, Teen, Adult, or None—all with default apps and websites blocked. You can custom manage these defaults along with other apps and websites within the Filter settings. See more on Custom Filters here.

Can Circle manage offline games or other content?

No. Circle manages online time but can’t manage anything that does not require an Internet connection to work, such as games that can be played offline or pre-downloaded movies. Read more on that here.

What does Circle do with my data?

We take user privacy very seriously and do not share your information with anyone. Read more about what Circle does with your data. You can also check out our Privacy Policy to learn more.

Device management

How does Circle manage at-home devices? What types of devices?

Circle Home Plus manages your home network Internet traffic through your router to monitor online screen time and content on all Wi-Fi connected devices, including:

  • iPhones and iPads
  • Android smartphones and tablets
  • Windows, Mac based computers, and laptops like Chromebooks
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Streaming devices, smart assistants, and more

iOS and Android mobile devices are also covered anywhere they go using the Circle Kid App.

Can Circle manage devices away from my home Wi-Fi?

Circle can manage iOS and Android devices wherever they go. The Circle Parental Controls App extends coverage to mobile devices away from home. Circle does not manage laptops outside the home.

Once installed, Circle’s parental control features are extended to devices through a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Track and manage online activity on any data network—even Wi-Fi networks away from home.

You can also manage your Circle Home Plus device and any mobile devices using the parent app while away from home using the parent version of the app while signed in.

How does Circle work on mobile devices?

Circle's mobile management utilizes an innovative VPN that runs locally on your mobile iOS or Android device to track and manage online activity. Because it runs locally, it won't interfere with sites like Netflix that don't normally work with VPNs.

Using Circle's mobile management you can filter, Pause, or locate your kid's Android and iOS devices on any network.

How can I use Circle for my family’s shared devices?

The most common solution for managing shared family devices is to create a Profile just for shared devices. If you have Circle Home Plus, the Home Profile is a great option. Read more here about shared devices.

System requirements

Is my router compatible with Circle Home Plus?

Circle Home Plus is compatible with most routers. The Circle App also has the option to enable Compatibility Mode to ensure the best experience and connection. See more on compatibility here.

What does the Circle hardware device do?

Circle Home Plus connects to your Wi-Fi router. By downloading and installing the Circle App, it will then detect all your family’s Wi-Fi, mobile, and Internet-connected devices so you can apply all of Circle’s parental control features.

Can I use the Circle Parental Controls App without the device?

Yes. The Circle App can manage Android and iOS smartphones and tablets anywhere they go. Without Circle Home Plus, you are not able to manage devices on your home Wi-Fi router such as smart TVs, gaming consoles, computers, and other Internet-connected devices. Learn more about the various Circle product offerings here. Wondering about which product is right for you? See here.

Will Circle work with my home Wi-Fi network?

Yes. Circle is designed to work with as many networks as possible. When setting up your Circle Home Plus, you can run Compatibility Mode to ensure it will work on your network.

What are the Circle App system requirements for Android or iOS?

App requirements:

  • iOS version 11 and newer
  • Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and newer

See more on system requirements here.

Pricing and shipping

What are Circle Premium features and what do they cost?

Premium features include Time Limits, Bedtime, Focus Time, Pause the Internet®, Location, and Rewards. Circle subscriptions include access to all Premium features, regularly $9.99 (USD) monthly or $99.99 (USD) annually.

Basic features (Filters, Usage, and History) are always free.

See more on basic and premium here.

How much does Circle Home Plus cost?

Learn more about Circle Home Plus bundles.

What is the meetcircle.com return policy?

You can return Circle Home Plus for any reason within 30 days and get your money back (US only). 

If you purchased your Circle device through another retailer other than Circle, please contact that retailer for return information. 

See our return policy here.

Is Circle available internationally?

Circle is currently available for sale via MeetCircle.com in the United States only. Circle can also be found on various Amazon websites depending on your location. Check back occasionally for updates on international availability.

 

See more Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

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