The phrases to say

Apple requires every app's Siri phrases to include the app's name. So a journal app can't answer to a plain "start a journal entry". Dawn Light answers to four phrases. Each one opens the app straight into a new recording.

  • "Record a Dawn Light entry"
  • "Start a Dawn Light entry"
  • "Record in Dawn Light"
  • "Talk to Dawn Light"

Step by step

The first time takes a moment longer, because your device downloads Apple's speech model for your language. That needs a connection once.

  1. Open the app once by hand after you install it
  2. Call Siri the way you usually do, then say one of the phrases
  3. Use Face ID or your passcode if your iPhone is locked
  4. Start talking when you see "Start talking." Your words appear on the screen as you speak
  5. Tap Pause if you need a moment, then Done to save a dated entry

What a locked iPhone shows

Starting a recording opens the app, so a locked iPhone always asks for Face ID or your passcode first. If you've turned on Lock with Face ID, the journal opens behind Face ID too. While you talk, the Lock Screen shows only the word Recording, a timer and a stop button. It never shows your words.

Other ways to start without opening the app

Siri is handy when your hands are busy. When they're free, a button is often quicker. Each of these starts the same recording.

  • Control Center: touch and hold an empty space, tap Add a Control, then search for Dawn Light
  • Lock Screen: touch and hold it, tap Customize, tap one of the buttons at the bottom, then choose Record an entry
  • Action button: in Settings, open Action Button, choose Controls, then pick Record an entry
  • Shortcuts: the same Record an entry action appears in the Shortcuts app for your own shortcuts

If Siri doesn't start a recording

  • Say the app's name exactly as it appears under its icon
  • Check that Siri is turned on in your iPhone's Settings
  • Open the app once by hand after installing or updating it, then try again
  • If you see "The microphone is off for Dawn Light", tap Open Settings and turn the microphone on
  • If you see "Getting" followed by your language, wait for the download to finish. It happens only once

Where Dawn Light fits

In Dawn Light, Settings > Recording > "Record from Control Center or the Lock Screen" shows all of these steps in one place, Siri included. Starting by voice is free, and so is every word of the transcript.

Questions about Siri and journaling

Can Siri write the entry for me without opening the app?

No. Siri opens the app into a recording, and Apple's speech model writes your words down inside the app, on your device. The entry is saved when you tap Done.

Do I need a subscription to start entries with Siri?

No. Siri, Control Center, the Lock Screen button and the Action button all start a free recording. Summaries and the weekly recap are the parts that need Plus.

Can I start an entry from my Apple Watch?

Recording on Apple Watch is part of Plus. Open Dawn Light on the watch, tap to talk and tap Done. The watch sends the recording to your iPhone, which writes it down.

Start an entry with one sentence

Say "Record a Dawn Light entry" and start talking. Your words appear as you speak and are kept as a dated entry, free and with no limit.

Get Dawn Light free

Unlimited entries, transcripts, search and iCloud sync. For iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later.