Add it to Control Center
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center
- Tap the Add button at the top left
- Tap Add a Control at the bottom of the screen
- Find your journal app's record control in the gallery and tap it
- Drag it where you want it, then swipe up from the bottom to close
Add it to the Lock Screen
The Lock Screen has two control slots at the bottom, usually the flashlight and the camera. You can swap either one.
- Touch and hold the Lock Screen, then tap Customize and choose the Lock Screen
- Tap the Remove button on one of the two controls at the bottom
- Tap the Add Quick Action button in the empty slot
- Choose your journal app's record control
- Tap Done
Put it on the Action button
This works on iPhone models that have an Action button instead of the Ring/Silent switch. Press and hold the Action button to use it.
- Open Settings and tap Action Button
- Swipe to Controls
- Tap the button below it and choose your journal app's record control
Which one to choose
| Place | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Action button | Recording without looking at the screen | Replaces whatever the button did before |
| Lock Screen | Starting from the screen you see most | Only two slots, shared with the flashlight and camera |
| Control Center | Keeping the Lock Screen as it is | One extra swipe |
| Siri | Hands-free starts | You need to say the phrase out loud |
What happens when you press it in Dawn Light
The control is called Record an entry. If your iPhone is locked, it asks for Face ID or your passcode, then the app opens straight into a new recording. A Live Activity shows the recording timer, and Done saves the entry. In the app, Settings under Recording has Record from Control Center or the Lock Screen, which walks through these steps.
Other quick ways in
- Ask Siri, using the phrases below
- Add the Home Screen widget, which shows the sunrise, and tap it to start recording
- Put the app in the dock so the sun on Today is one tap away
Questions about quick recording
Can I start a journal entry without unlocking my iPhone?
Not in Dawn Light. Your iPhone asks for Face ID or your passcode first, so nobody else can open your journal from the Lock Screen. With Face ID that usually takes a glance.
I can't find the control in the gallery. What now?
Update the app from the App Store, open it once, then look again. In the controls gallery, scroll to the app's name or use the search field at the top.
Can Siri start a recording?
Yes. Say "Record a Dawn Light entry" and it opens straight into a new recording. "Talk to Dawn Light" works too.
Sources
One press, then talk
Add Record an entry to your Lock Screen or Action button. One press opens Dawn Light straight into a new recording, with your words appearing 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.