8 Tips to Make the Most of Journal App on iPhone

ByJim Miller

Apple recently introduced the Journal app with the iOS 17 update on iPhone. Although it wasn't included in the official release, users can now try it out with the iOS 17.2 update. In this article, we'll explore the best tips to help you make the most of the Journal app on your iPhone.

What Is Journal on iPhone

As the name suggests, Journal is an app that allows you to write down your journal entries with pictures, voice notes, location, and videos. It offers suggestions from your photo memories and reflection prompts to inspire and get you started. While there are many journal apps available on the App Store, it's great to see an official offering from Apple that integrates well with other apps like Photos and iCloud.

Get Journal on iPhone

To use the Journal app, you need to have the iOS 17.2 update. If you don't have it yet, follow these steps to install it:

  1. Open Settings and scroll to General.
  2. Select Software Update and install the latest iOS build on your iPhone.

Once you've successfully updated, the Journal app should appear on your home screen.

1. Create an Entry in Journal

The Journal app has a user-friendly interface. If you prefer to skip the reflection prompts and suggestions, follow these steps to create a quick entry:

  1. Launch Journal and tap the “+” button at the bottom.
  2. Tap “New Entry” and write down your thoughts. Tap “Done” when you're finished.

2. Enable Journaling Suggestions or Use Reflections

If you need some inspiration to start journaling regularly, Journal offers suggestions and prompts to get you started. Here are a few examples:

  • Add the location of your dream travel destination and write about what draws you to that place.
  • Write about someone from your childhood you wish you could go back and thank.
  • What's your favorite music to listen to on a tough day? How does it make you feel?

You can always refresh the suggestions and get more ideas to write about. When you create an entry using one of the reflections, the app shows it as a small banner over your created entry.

3. Add Photos, Voice Notes, and Location to an Entry

Your journal entries don't have to be limited to just text. You can add photos, voice notes, and more to create a captivating note. When creating a new entry, explore the options below to add media and voice notes. You can choose photos from your gallery or use the built-in camera to capture memories. Your added entry will display a neat preview of the images.

4. Bookmark an Entry

As you develop a journaling habit, you may end up with hundreds of entries. To easily find and access your important memories, you can bookmark them:

  1. Launch Journal and tap the three-dot menu below an entry.
  2. Select “Bookmark” to mark it. A small bookmark symbol will appear beside the entry.
  3. Tap the filters option at the top and select “Bookmarked” to view all bookmarked entries.

5. Tweak Journaling Suggestions and Privacy

If you prefer not to receive suggestions from Journal, you can adjust the app settings:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll to Journal.
  2. Select “Journaling Suggestions” and tap “Suggestion Privacy Settings.”
  3. Disable suggestions based on your media, location, contacts, and health activities.

6. Lock Journal

To protect your private memories in the Journal app, you can lock it with Face ID or a passcode:

  1. Go to Journal in iPhone Settings.
  2. Tap “Lock Journal.”
  3. Enable the “Lock” toggle. You can set the frequency at which the app asks for a passcode.

7. Enable Journaling Schedule

If you want to make journaling a regular habit, you can set reminders to prompt you to write. Here's how:

  1. Launch Settings and scroll to Journal.
  2. Select “Journaling Schedule.”
  3. Enable “Schedule” and choose a specific time and day.

8. Save Photos and Videos Taken in Journal to the Photos App

If you prefer using the built-in camera in Journal to capture photos and videos, you can save them to the Photos app:

  1. Navigate to Journal in iOS Settings.
  2. Enable the “Save to Photos” toggle.

Jot Down Your Thoughts in Style

While the Journal app on iPhone offers a solid journaling experience, it does lack useful features like a calendar view and home screen widgets. In future updates, we hope Apple will add these missing add-ons to enhance the app even further.