Using the Al-Anon Family Groups App for Electronic Meetings
If you are searching for Al-Anon meetings from your phone, the official app and the wider meeting directory serve different needs. Start with the type of meeting you want. Then check the actual listing and give yourself a few quiet minutes before joining.
Choose the directory before the meeting
Open the app through the World Service Office's resource rather than assuming every similarly named download is the same. If you want a local room or a telephone option, use Al-Anon's broader meeting directory to find the appropriate category. A meeting absent from the app may still be listed elsewhere.
Select a listing by its actual details: language, scheduled start and participation format. Do not rely on a title alone to infer how people share. If a listing leaves something important unclear, check the group's published instructions or contact before the meeting.
Check your name and setting
Look for the name or profile information that others may see, following the app's current guidance. Choose a private place if possible and consider using headphones. Pause any notifications that might expose a contact's name or message on a shared screen or in a room you are using with others.
Know where the microphone and camera controls are before the meeting starts. Settings and available features can differ by group. If you are uncertain about what is expected, ask rather than assuming video is required. Avoid testing the microphone by discussing a personal story while you are unsure whether you are muted.
Prepare one fallback
Write down a second listing that fits your time and language so a technical problem does not leave you searching again at the last minute. If audio fails, check whether your device has connected to the headphones you intended to use. Leave and rejoin only if the meeting's instructions make that appropriate.
Afterward, note the meeting's time and whether its format worked for you. Keep your notes about logistics and your own preferences. Do not save screenshots, names or personal sharing from the room. A private record of practical details is enough to help you return.
On your first visit, have the listing ready before you open the meeting. Write down the group name and scheduled time for yourself so you can find it again. If you later recommend it, share the official meeting entry rather than a private invitation, screen capture or message forwarded without the group's permission.
Ask about group customs separately
An electronic listing does not tell you whether a group marks participation anniversaries or uses a token. If that question matters, ask the group directly. Our guide to Al-Anon token customs discusses why recognition customs vary and why Al-Anon participation and AA sobriety are different occasions.
If a friend tells you they have found a meeting that works, a quiet acknowledgement may be all they want. Give them control over whether they disclose that participation to anyone else. The AA medallions below apply to a separately confirmed AA anniversary.
Medallions to consider
For a separately confirmed AA anniversary, these are two optional retail keepsakes. Check the recipient's preferred design before ordering.
Tricolor Jet Black Rainbow Sparkle (1-50y)
The milestone selector lists 1 to 50 years, plus 18 Months. The photo shows IX as a sample. Select the recipient's confirmed milestone on the product page.
Tricolor Velvet Plum (24h, 1-45y)
The milestone selector lists 1 to 45 years, plus 24 Hours, 18 Months. The photo shows VII as a sample. Select the recipient's confirmed milestone on the product page.
Common questions
Is every electronic meeting in the app?
No. Groups can use other platforms. Consult the broader official meeting directory too.
Should I assume my camera must be on?
Check the group's instructions and ask if the expected format is unclear.
Keep reading
Explore Elite Medallions and Deluxe Coins to compare designs and available milestones.
If your group has changed how people join, see Updating an Al-Anon Electronic Group Record.
