HomeCircle Support

Help with the HomeCircle website and app, and how to contact us.

Contact us

About this website

Do I need an account?

No. The website has no accounts and no sign-in, and everything on it is free.

Does the website collect my data?

No. There are no cookies, no ads, no trackers, no analytics and no third-party scripts or fonts. Nothing you type or save is sent to HomeCircle.

What does the website save, and where?

Only what you choose to save: your day count, journal notes, health safety answers, the breath-hold setting, Kai's chat and where you put Kai on the screen. These are kept only in this browser's local storage, on this device. They aren't sent to us, and they aren't shared with the app or your other devices. Private browsing, clearing your browser data or using another browser removes them or starts fresh. You can delete everything on Your circle.

How does the meeting finder work?

Your browser downloads the same public meeting list the app uses, from GitHub Pages, and searches it on your computer. What you type isn't sent anywhere. Near me only asks for your location when you press it, and your location stays on the page. The site and the list are hosted on GitHub Pages, which, like any web host, receives normal web requests.

Is Kai on the website?

Yes. Kai, your recovery buddy, is the round button in the corner of every page. Kai isn't AI, and isn't a person, counsellor, doctor or sponsor. Replies are put together in your browser from saved rules, the same ones the app uses. Kai makes no network calls, and nothing you type leaves your browser. Kai looks for some words that may mean you're in danger and then shows 000 and Lifeline, but it can miss things. If you're unsafe, call 000 or Lifeline 13 11 14 yourself. You can minimise Kai, drag it to the other side, or clear the chat. Kai hides while a breathing guide or meditation is playing.

How do meeting reminders work on the website?

On a meeting, choose Add reminder, then Just this one or Every week. Your browser downloads a calendar file (.ics). Open it with your calendar app to add the meeting, with an alert set for 2 hours before it starts. The website sends no notifications and keeps no list of your reminders; to remove one, delete it in your calendar.

Spotted a wrong meeting or event?

Meetings and events come from AA and NA's own public listings. Please tell the group or the fellowship, and email us too so we know.

The iPhone app

Answers below are for HomeCircle 1.3.0 for iPhone (iPhone only for now), which is with Apple for review and will arrive as a free update, with notes for 1.2.16, the version on the App Store today. In 1.3.0 and later you can check your version in the app: open Profile and scroll to About.

Do I need an account or to sign in?

No. HomeCircle has no accounts and no sign-in. There's no email, password or code. Open the app, do the short setup, and your data stays on your phone.

How do I find meetings?

Open Meetings to see AA and NA meetings from the public AA Australia and NA Australia listings, as a list or on a map. You can pick a state, search and filter. Tap Near me if you'd like meetings sorted by distance. Your location is used only when you tap it, and it stays on your phone. Listings come from public sources, so times can change. Check with the group if you're unsure.

How do meeting reminders work?

On a meeting, tap Remind me 2 hours before and choose Just this one or Every week. The alert comes 2 hours before the meeting starts, in the meeting's time zone. If you set a Just this one reminder when the meeting is less than 2 hours away, you'll get one "Starts soon" alert about a minute later. A Just this one reminder removes itself once that meeting has started. Reminders are local notifications on your phone, and HomeCircle asks for notification permission only when you set one. You can remove reminders in Circle.

How do I report a problem or a concern?

HomeCircle 1.3.0 has no community feed, posts or messages, so there's no other people's content to report. To report a wrong or unsafe meeting listing, a bug or any other concern, email us from your own mail app (or use Profile → About → Contact us). If someone may be in danger, call 000, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Is my journal private?

Yes. Your journal, sober date, reminders, health answers and Kai chats are stored only on your phone. They're never uploaded to us, and HomeCircle doesn't use iCloud.

Is my data in my iCloud or computer backup?

HomeCircle 1.3.0 keeps its data folder out of iCloud and computer backups. If you lose or replace your phone, your HomeCircle data won't come back from a backup, so use Export my data to keep a copy. Files saved by 1.2.16 aren't deleted by the update yet and may still be in your backups until you delete the app.

How do I export my data or move it to a new phone?

Open Profile and go to Export my data. HomeCircle makes a file on your phone. Use Share to save it somewhere you trust, such as the Files app. The file isn't password-protected, so keep it safe. On the new phone, open Profile → Import and choose the file. Import replaces the HomeCircle data on that phone, so you'll be asked to confirm first.

How do I delete my data?

Open Profile → Your data & account and tap Delete data on this phone, then confirm. This erases the HomeCircle data stored on your phone and can't be undone. There's no online account, and we don't hold a copy. If you want to keep anything, export it first. Deleting the app also removes its data from your phone.

Is Kai a real person or AI?

Neither. Kai puts together replies on your phone from built-in templates. It makes no network calls, and nothing you type to it leaves your phone. Kai isn't a person, counsellor, doctor or sponsor. Kai looks for some words that may mean you're in danger and then shows 000 and Lifeline, but it can miss things. If you're unsafe, call 000 or Lifeline 13 11 14 yourself. If you're struggling, reach out to your sponsor or your GP, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Does HomeCircle cost anything, show ads or sell my data?

HomeCircle is free, with no in-app purchases. It has no ads and no analytics, doesn't track you across other apps and never sells your data.

Still on 1.2.16?

HomeCircle 1.2.16 works differently. Its data controls are in Settings → Your data (Export my data, Import from file and Delete account). When you update to 1.3.0, your journal, display name and sober date are copied over on your phone, and you'll be asked to confirm your sober date. The community feed, follows, posts, messages, and the Faith/beliefs and Culture fields aren't in 1.3.0. We recommend updating from the App Store.

Privacy and terms

Read the App Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Site features that save anything (your day count, journal, health notes and Kai chat) keep it only in this browser's local storage. Nothing is sent to HomeCircle.