Checked against Apple’s Journal guide for macOS 27 on 11 October 2026. This is a practical setup guide, not a claim that every feature arrived in macOS 27.
Journal is useful when you want a small record of decisions, moments, or progress without building a complex system. A weekly review is an easy place to start: one entry, three prompts, and a quick privacy check.
Create a five-minute weekly entry
- Open Journal on your Mac and click the Add button. If the button is not visible, select Journal in the sidebar first.
- Write three short answers: What worked this week? What took longer than expected? What should I change next week?
- Add a photo or drawing only if it helps you remember the context. Keep the entry useful to your future self rather than turning it into a report.
If you use a supported Apple Intelligence setup, Journal can offer Writing Prompts based on what you have already written or added to the entry. In the editor, choose the Writing Prompts control and use a prompt only when it makes the reflection more specific. Apple notes that this feature depends on availability and requires an adult account; ordinary entries do not require it.
Separate personal and project journals
Use the New Journal button above All Entries to make a second journal, such as “Work decisions” or “Travel.” Drag journals in the sidebar to reorder them. Keep the number small: separate journals are useful when they change what you look for later, not simply to tag every subject.
Capture a moment from another app
After enabling sharing for Journal, use the Share control in a supported app such as Music or News and select Journal. Add a sentence explaining why the item matters. The saved item appears in your main journal. If you only need a task with a due date, use Reminders instead; Journal works best for context and reflection.
Check sync, locking, and backup
To sync entries between your Apple devices, open System Settings, select your Apple Account, then iCloud and turn on Journal under Saved to iCloud. In Journal > Settings > General, turn on Lock Journal if you want the app to require your Mac password or Touch ID. Apple says Journal entries are not included in iCloud backups. On a Mac, Time Machine is the documented backup path, so check that your backup actually runs if these entries matter to you.
Sources: Apple: Write in Journal and Apple: Protect entries. Reviewed 11 October 2026.
