Check these in order
- On both devices, open Settings and tap your name. It should show the same Apple Account
- On both, tap iCloud, then See All next to Saved to iCloud, and make sure the app is on
- In the app on both, tap the gear on Today and turn on "Sync with iCloud" under Privacy
- Close the app from the app switcher on both devices, then open it again
- Look at the Stored row under Privacy. It should say iCloud
- Make an entry, keep both devices online and wait a minute or two
What the Stored row tells you
Settings show where your journal lives right now. It's the quickest way to see whether sync is running.
| You see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stored: iCloud | Sync is running through your iCloud | Wait a minute or two, then check iCloud storage |
| Stored: This device | Sync is off, or the device isn't signed in to iCloud | Sign in to iCloud and turn on Sync with iCloud |
| "This takes effect the next time Dawn Light opens." | You just changed the setting | Close the app fully and open it again |
If your iCloud storage is full
Apple says that when you run out of iCloud storage, iCloud apps won't stay up to date across your devices. Check how much is left in Settings under your name, then iCloud. Recordings and photos take most of the space in a voice journal. If you'd rather keep only the words, turn off "Keep recordings" in Settings under Recording. New recordings are then deleted once your words are saved.
Other things that hold sync up
- No connection on one of the devices
- The app hasn't been opened on the device that's missing entries. Open it and leave it open for a minute
- An Apple Watch recording reaches your iPhone first. It appears on the iPad once the iPhone has written it down and synced it
What not to do
Don't use Delete all data to reset sync. It removes every entry from the device and from iCloud, and it can't be undone. If you want to try reinstalling, first tap Export everything in Settings under Your data and save the file somewhere safe.
Questions about journal sync
Why did an entry disappear from both devices?
Deleting an entry on one device removes it from iCloud and from your other devices too. That's how sync works, which is why an export file is worth keeping.
Does Dawn Light sync to a Mac, Android or the web?
No. It syncs between iPhone and iPad through your own iCloud account. Dawn Light has no servers and no account of its own.
Still not syncing?
Write to support with the iOS version on each device and what the Stored row says on each one.
Sources
Your journal on iPhone and iPad
Dawn Light syncs every entry, recording and photo between your iPhone and iPad through your own iCloud, free, with no account to make.
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