Skip to main content

Apple is adding a brand new app to your iPhone with iOS 17

Journal app for iOS 17.
Apple
Promotional logo for WWDC 2023.
This story is part of our complete Apple WWDC coverage

Apple is adding a new first-party app called Journal with the introduction of iOS 17, the company announced today during WWDC 2023. Journal is, as its name simply states, a new place for iPhone users to keep track of their daily activities, log their emotional health, and jot down anything else that they want to write about.

Apple has continued to lean into its first-party health and wellness iOS apps with things like Fitness, Sleep, and Breathe, and now Journal will be joining their ranks as the company’s first attempt at an app that focuses on mental well-being.

Journal app for iOS 17.
Apple

While people have been using the Notes app and plenty of other third-party iOS apps to keep track of their thoughts and feelings, Journal helps get the ball rolling for those looking to do some deeper reflection by using on-device machine learning to look at the activities that a user took part in that day and offer “personalized suggestions” to help inspire and guide the writing. By integrating other apps such as Photos and Maps, Journal will be able to serve as a fully digital journal for those looking to incorporate elements outside of just the written text.

Journal app for iOS 17.
Apple

Rumors about the app’s inclusion in iOS 17 started circling earlier this year, with many citing that it seems like a good idea for those looking for a better way to write their thoughts down and keep track of memories outside of what Apple has previously offered. As exciting as the app seems, however, it does look to be taking plenty of inspiration from Day One, a similar, popular journaling app that’s been on iOS since 2012.

Recommended Videos

For those worried about personal information written in Journal being shared with Apple or other outside sources such as app developers, Apple reassures that personal privacy was at the core of the app’s development and that it is end-to-end encrypted, with all information being stored locally on each individual iPhone.

Journal will be available later this year alongside the public launch of iOS 17, along with other new iPhone features such as Name Drop, Check In, Live Stickers, and Adaptive Audio.

Peter Hunt Szpytek
A podcast host and journalist, Peter covers mobile news with Digital Trends and gaming news, reviews, and guides for sites…
My Android 16 update made me jealous of iOS 26… but it shouldn’t
Deep down, I know my disappointment is irrational
The Android 16 logo on the screen of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

I've just downloaded Android 16 on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold. As someone who’s a sucker for a software update this should be a momentous occasion - so why am I feeling flat?

Whether it's an update for one of my favourite apps, or a complete operating system overhaul, I love pouring over change logs to see what's new and diving into features.

Read more
The iPadOS 26 developer beta has transformed my iPad
4 windows open on the iPad Pro 11 on iPadOS 26 developer beta 1

I somewhat called it! In the run-up to WWDC 2025, I asked Apple to please introduce true multitasking to iOS (and by extension, iPadOS). We didn’t get it in iOS, but Apple did unveil an entirely new windowing system on iPadOS 26. With it, they’ve transformed the iPad for me and likely for millions of customers as well.

It’s not just about multitasking: Apple saved the best till last during its WWDC keynote, and the iPad has a host of other features that are further transformative to the iPad experience. I’ve been using the iPad OS 26 developer beta for the past 24 hours, and here’s how it’s transformed my iPad Pro experience.

Read more
WWDC 2025: Apple announces iOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26 and more
Major updates to iOS, macOS, watchOS, iPadOS, tvOS and visionOS
WWDC 2025 logo

Apple kicked off WWDC 2025 with its keynote presentation at its annual World Wide Developer's conference, and it was a bumper affair.

We were treated to a raft of updates across all of the firm's software platforms, as we were introduced to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.

Read more