Export from Day One on iPhone or iPad
On iPhone and iPad, Day One asks which journal to export. If you keep several journals, repeat the steps for each one, or export them all at once from a Mac.
- In Day One, open Settings, then Import/Export
- Select the journal you want to export
- Set the date range. Leave it wide to get every entry
- Choose JSON as the format
- When the share sheet appears, tap Save to Files and pick iCloud Drive or On My iPhone
Export from Day One on a Mac
On a Mac, choose File > Export, then JSON, to export every journal and entry. To export one journal, Control-click it in the journal list, choose Export, then JSON. Day One notes that exports from its web and Windows apps can come out as an empty zip, so use an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Which format to choose
Day One offers three export formats. Only JSON carries the details another journal app needs to rebuild your entries.
| Format | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| JSON | A .zip with a .json file of entries, plus folders of photos, videos, audio and PDFs if you include media | Moving to another app |
| A document you can read and print | A copy to read, not to import | |
| Plain Text / Markdown | Your words as text files | Reading in any text editor |
Bring the zip into Dawn Light
- Open Dawn Light and tap the gear at the top of Today to open Settings
- Under Your data, tap "Import from Day One or Apple Journal"
- Choose the .zip file Day One made
- Read the summary, such as "120 entries added". Import each journal's zip the same way
What comes across, and what doesn't
Each entry keeps its original date. A first line that starts with # becomes the entry's title. Importing the same file twice adds nothing the second time, so it's safe to try again.
- Comes across: the text, the date, tags, photos, one audio recording and the place name
- If one zip holds several journals, each keeps its name as a separate journal
- Doesn't come across: videos and PDF attachments
- Formatting marks in your text stay as plain characters
Before you delete anything from Day One
- Keep the original zip in iCloud Drive or on a computer, even after the import works
- Open your oldest entry and one with photos to check they look right
- Search for a name you know you wrote about, to check the words are all there
- If you subscribe to Day One through the App Store, manage it in your iPhone's Settings under your name, then Subscriptions
Questions about leaving Day One
Can I import Day One's PDF or Markdown export instead?
Not into Dawn Light. Its importer reads Day One's JSON export, so choose JSON. A PDF is still worth keeping as an extra copy you can read anywhere.
Will my old Day One entries get summaries?
With Plus and Apple Intelligence turned on, entries from the last week are summarized after an import. For an older entry, open it and tap Summarize this entry. The words stay exactly as you wrote them.
What if the export fails or the zip is empty?
Export one journal at a time, and use the iPhone, iPad or Mac app rather than the web app. Make sure your phone has enough free space for the photos.
Bring your journal with you
Bring your Day One entries into Dawn Light with their dates, tags and photos, free, then keep going by talking. Every new entry is written down on your iPhone as you speak.
Get Dawn Light freeUnlimited entries, transcripts, search and iCloud sync. For iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later.