Protect your journal entries on iPhone

In the Journal app, there are a number of ways you can protect your journal entries. You can lock your journal, you can sync your journal entries with iCloud, and you can include your journal entries in your iPhone backup if you encrypt your iPhone backup and store it locally on your computer or external storage device.

Keep your entries in sync across your devices with iCloud

Your entries—and any changes you make to them—appear on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account and have Journal turned on in iCloud settings.

  1. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
    on your iPhone.

  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.

  3. Tap See All, then turn on Journal.

How do I back up my journal entries?

To include your entries in a backup of your iPhone, your iPhone backup must be encrypted and stored locally on your computer or external storage device. Journal entries aren’t included in iCloud backups, but you can check that they sync to iCloud in Settings.

When you create encrypted backups, you have a copy of your entries to use in case your iPhone is replaced, lost, or damaged. To learn how to create encrypted backups, see the Apple Support article Back up Journal entries in an encrypted backup.

Lock your journal

You can keep your journal private so only you can access it with with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

👁 A screen in the Journal app that prompts you to use Face ID to unlock your journal.

To lock your journal, use any of the following methods:

  • From the Home Screen or App Library: See Lock or hide an app.

  • In the Journal app: Above the Insights summary, tap 👁 the More button
    ,
    then tap Lock Journal.

  • In the Settings app: Go to Settings 👁 Image
     > Apps > Journal, then tap Lock Journal.

Thanks for your feedback.