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Care Circle

Sharing with another Apple ID — evolving in beta. Be transparent: the most stable path today is still a .ambar file.

During the external beta, treat Care Circle as experimental. It needs two people (two Apple IDs) and has not had the same validation depth as the local folder, same-account iCloud sync, or .ambar export. If you need to give someone information now, use .ambar.

What it is (and is not)

Care Circle tries to keep a profile folder updated between different people (e.g. you and a caregiver), each with their own Apple ID, via iCloud sharing (CloudKit Sharing).

  • It is not iCloud sync of your folder (same Apple ID on your devices).
  • It is not Apple Family Sharing of a subscription (that is payment, not health data).
  • It does not replace backup: use iCloud Sync for your devices; use .ambar for a one-time copy.

Creating a folder about someone does not prove their identity or make you their legal representative.

In the pilot: what we ask

  • You do not have to test Care Circle to join the beta.
  • If you and someone else are willing to try (two iPhones, two Apple IDs), tell us what failed or felt confusing — that is especially helpful.
  • If the invite fails, expires, or data never appears: that is already valuable feedback. Use .ambar as fallback and tell us what happened (without attaching clinical data).

Stable path today: .ambar

  1. In Ambar, export a .ambar file for the profile you want.
  2. Send it through a channel you trust (only to people who should see that data).
  3. The other person imports it in Ambar — a one-time copy, not continuous sync.

Details: .ambar files.

How to try Care Circle (step by step)

  1. Inviter and invitee both need Ambar installed (ideally the same TestFlight build).
  2. Both need an Apple Account with iCloud available (Settings → Apple Account → iCloud).
  3. In Ambar, open the profile to share and use Care Circle / invite.
  4. Choose a role (e.g. caregiver) and send the system share sheet invite (Messages, Mail, etc.).
  5. The other person opens the invite, accepts iCloud sharing, then opens Ambar.
  6. If anything fails at any step: note what you saw and use .ambar.

Requirements

  • Two devices and two different Apple IDs (you cannot fully validate this alone on one account)
  • iCloud on and working on both accounts
  • Stable network when inviting and accepting
  • Accept the invite on the correct Apple Account (not another ID on the device)

Known limitations

  • Two-person validation is still limited — invite, accept, and sync bugs are expected in beta.
  • No assisted merge of conflicting folders.
  • Incomplete attempts may leave AmbarShare-* zones in iCloud; that does not delete your AmbarPrivate folder.
  • Roles (viewer / caregiver / editor) and Apple permissions may still feel confusing.
  • Do not rely on Care Circle as the only way to share or back up.

Safety

  • Accept invites only from people you know.
  • Be wary of urgent health-data requests by message.
  • Revoke access in the app when someone no longer needs it.
  • Do not send clinical content through the beta feedback form — describe only what broke in the experience.

Sync on your devices: iCloud and sync.

Feature state: Feature status.

Pilot: beta page.