iPad User Guide

Write in your journal on iPad

The Journal app makes it easy to capture your thoughts on everyday moments and special events. You can also get suggestions for topics to write about.

Create a journal entry

  1. Go to the Journal app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Tap 👁 the Create an Entry button
    at the top of the screen.

  3. Start typing or tap 👁 the Add Drawing button
    and use Apple Pencil to create a handwritten entry.

    👁 A screen in the Journal app showing the New Entry button at the top and journaling suggestions below.

Use Journaling Suggestions

Journaling Suggestions intelligently group outings, photos, workouts, and more to help you remember and reflect on your experiences. You can sync journaling suggestions from iPhone to iPad when you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.

  1. Go to the Journal app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Tap 👁 the Create an Entry button
    at the top of the screen.

  3. Tap 👁 the Journaling Suggestions button
    .

    If you don’t see 👁 the Journaling Suggestions button
    ,     tap 👁 the More button
    ,     then tap Journaling Suggestions.

  4. Browse the recommended suggestions or tap Recent to see suggestions sorted by date.

  5. To start a new entry with all the suggested attachments, tap 👁 the Write About This button
    at the bottom-right corner of the suggestion.

  6. To preview the attachments before creating the entry, tap the suggestion, then do any of the following:

    • Browse the attachments: Swipe through the attachments.

    • Change to list view: To see the details for all attachments, tap 👁 the List View button
      .

    • Choose the attachments you want: Tap an attachment to select or deselect it.

  7. Tap Add to Entry to start writing or 👁 the Back button
    to return to the suggestions list.

To delete a suggestion, touch and hold the suggestion, then tap Remove.

Use Apple Pencil to handwrite your entries

  1. Go to the Journal app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Create a journal entry, then tap 👁 the Add Drawing button
    .

  3. Start writing with Apple Pencil, then do any of the following:

    • Select a different color: Tap a color on the palette.

    • Select a different tool: Swipe through the toolbar to see other tools, then tap the one you want. Tap any tool a second time to change its qualities, like the thickness or opacity of a stroke.

    • Select and transform text: Tap 👁 the Lasso button
      and outline the text you want to select, then drag the text to a new location or tap 👁 the More button
      and choose Cut, Copy, Paste, Duplicate, Refine, Copy as Text, Translate, or Straighten.

    • Change spacing between words: Select a writing tool, touch and hold between two words, then drag left or right.

    • Refine your handwriting: Tap 👁 the More button
      in the toolbar, then turn on Auto-Refine Handwriting.

    • See spelling suggestions: Tap an underlined word to see the spelling suggestion. To use the suggestion, tap it.

    • Transcribe your handwriting into typed text as you write: Tap the Scribble tool 👁 Image
      ,       then start writing.

Create multiple journals

  1. Go to the Journal app 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. Tap 👁 the New Journal button
    in the sidebar above All Entries, then name the new journal.

  3. To reorder journals, touch and hold the journal name, then drag up or down.

  4. To edit the journal name, color, or icon, touch and hold the journal, then choose Edit Journal.

Take action from the Home Screen

  1. On the iPad Home Screen, touch and hold 👁 the Journal app
    .

  2. Choose Record Audio, Add Photos, View Suggestions, or New Entry.

Start a journal entry from another app

When you’re doing something in another app—such as listening to a song in the Music app or reading an article in the News app—you can quickly capture your thoughts in a new journal entry.

  1. In the app you’re using, tap 👁 the Share button
    or Share, then tap Journal.

    If you don’t see Journal, you may need to customize the app’s sharing options.

  2. Enter your thoughts, then tap 👁 the Done button
    .

You can review your entry and add more details later in the Journal app. See Edit a journal entry.

Thanks for your feedback.