# Using Connect to build your network

https://help.circle.so/p/members/additional-resources/using-connect-to-build-your-network

Category: [Members](https://help.circle.so/p/members) › [Additional resources](https://help.circle.so/p/members/additional-resources)

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_Last updated: December 24, 2025_

Connect helps you grow a personal network right inside your community. You can discover members with shared interests, similar activity, or overlapping spaces, and build one-to-one connections as you participate in the community.

In this guide, you’ll learn where to find Connect, how to send and manage connection requests, and how to view your connections across the community.

> **ℹ️ Connect is currently in beta and being rolled out to communities in phases. Please contact your community admin for information on availability in your community.**

## Using connect

### Connections page

If your community has enabled Connect, the Connections page replaces the Member directory with a redesigned experience focused on helping you grow your network.

To access the Connections page, navigate to the Member directory in the **top navigation bar** through the Circle desktop app or a web browser. The connections page is not available for mobile apps.

On the Connections page, you’ll see two tabs:

- **All members:** From this page, you can review and respond to connection requests, discover people to connect with, browse all community members, and use search and filters such as near me, sign-in status, recently joined, location and tags to find meaningful connections.

- **My connections:** To focus on your existing network of active connections, select **My connections** at the top of the page

> ℹ️  **Note:** If your community does not use a member directory, you can still access Connect through the Connect panel and send requests from other areas of the community. See the **Sending a connection reques** t section below.

### Connect panel

The Connect panel provides quick access to your connection activity through desktop/web browsers, as well as our mobile apps.

**Desktop/Web browsers**

To access the Connect panel on desktop or web browsers, click the **Connections** button in the top-right corner of the community header.

**Mobile apps**

To access the Connect panel on iOS, Android or branded apps, tap your **profile picture** in the top-right corner and select **Connections**.

In the panel, you’ll see two tabs:

- **Discover:** Here, you can respond to pending connection requests, and view/connect with your personalized recommendations.

- **My connections:** See a list of your active connections.

### Sending a connection request

There are a few ways to connect with others through the community on desktop, web browsers and mobile apps:

- **Connections page (desktop and web browsers):** Discover connections through recommendations or filters on the connections page. Click the **Connect**  button on a profile to send a connection request.

- **Profile cards (desktop and web browsers):** Hover over a users’s name or avatar in various parts of the community, such as the feed, comments or posts to open their profile card and click the **Connect**  button to send them a connection request.

- **Member profiles (all platforms):** You also have the option to send a connection request through the **Connect** button when you open a user’s profile.

Once you’ve sent a connection request, the user’s profile will display a **Pending** badge.

### Manage connection requests

You can accept or ignore requests from the **Requests** section of the **Connections** page or through the **Discover** tab in the **Connect** panel.

Accepted requests instantly add you to each other’s **My connections** page.

### Connect notifications

Email notifications for incoming connection requests are enabled by default. You can disable notifications for Connect in your [**Notification settings**](https://help.circle.so/p/members/account-access-management/manage-your-notification-preferences).

### **View your connections**

You can access your complete list of connections in two places:

- **Connections page:** Navigate to the connections page and select the **My connections** tab on the top of the page.

- **Connect panel:** Open the **Connect** panel and select the **My connections** tab.