# Setting up a Family Circle

> Mum and Dad at home, your sister abroad, Nani on her tablet. Here's how to make a Family Circle in Philos and share with just them.

By Suhail (One of the people who make Philos) · Published 22 Oct 2026 · 1 min read
Section: Guides · Topics: Family, Your people
Source: https://getphilos.com/blog/setting-up-a-family-circle

## In short

- A Circle is a private tag for some of your people, like Family. Only you can see it.
- Make one from Circles, or straight from Who sees this? when you share.
- People are never told they're in a Circle, and someone can be in more than one.

Some moments are for family: the new baby's first bath, Dad's surgery update, the photos from Nani's birthday. A Family Circle lets you share those with just your family, in a couple of taps, every time.

## What a Circle is (and isn't)

A Circle is a private tag for some of the people in your space, like Family or Football friends.

**A Circle in Philos**

- Only you can see your Circles. People are never told they're in one.
- It isn't a group. There's no chat, and no one ever sees it.
- Someone can be in more than one Circle.

## Make your Family Circle

![The Circles screen in Philos, listing Close friends and Family, with a New Circle button](https://getphilos.com/_image?href=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.getphilos.com%2Fv1%2Fcms%2Fimages%2Fb24813a6e466d0e376b48c93017de56447a0f070b020dea11441ac9aa4ef17ea.webp&w=1080&h=2348&q=78&f=webp)

*Circles: name it, choose a colour, pick your people.*

1. Go to **You** and open **Circles**, then tap **New Circle**.
2. Name it **Family**, and choose a colour so you'll spot it at a glance.
3. Pick your people: Mum, Dad, your sister, Nani.

You can also make a Circle in the middle of sharing. When you post, open **Who sees this?** and tap **New Circle** under your Circles.

## Share with just your family

When you post a photo, open **Who sees this?** and tick **Family**. Only the people in your Family Circle will see it. They won't see who else it went to, and nobody can pass it on.

![A Circle's page in Philos showing four people, a button to share a post with the Circle, and the posts shared with it](https://getphilos.com/_image?href=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.getphilos.com%2Fv1%2Fcms%2Fimages%2Fdf8d54892dbbf704e1156ac0672b1b4542926fa7533cdfbbe6dc7a4c28b6af06.webp&w=1080&h=2348&q=78&f=webp)

*Each Circle has its own page: share with it, see what you shared, add people.*

## Keep it up to date

Families change. From your Circle's page you can add someone, take someone out, or share a post with the whole Circle in one tap. If you take someone out, they aren't told.

## Questions people ask

### Is a Circle a group chat?

No. A Circle is a private tag for your people. There's no chat, and no one ever sees it.

### Will my family know they're in a Circle?

No. Only you can see your Circles, and people are never told they're in one.

### Can someone be in more than one Circle?

Yes. Your sister can be in Family and in Close friends.

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© 2026 Philos. From the Philos blog: https://getphilos.com/blog/setting-up-a-family-circle