Apple finally brings Journal to iPad & Mac for better writing, sketching & reflection

Apple is finally bringing its Journal app to iPad when iPadOS 26 arrives, giving users a creative way to document their lives.

The Journal app will be available on iPad for the first time in iPadOS 26. The expansion gives users a larger canvas and more versatile tools to reflect, record, and organize personal experiences.

The Journal app originally launched on iPhone in iOS 17.2. It was designed to help users capture daily moments using text, photos, audio, and location data. Now, those features come to iPad along with new enhancements built for the larger screen.

According to Apple, users can write journal entries using Apple Pencil and a third-party keyboard. People can include drawings, handwritten notes, photos, videos, audio recordings, and track their state of mind.

A new map view allows users to browse entries based on location. The app supports multiple journals, which makes it easy to separate topics like personal memories, wellness goals, or travel logs.

Journal's arrival on iPad addresses a long-standing request. For users who do most of their writing and reflecting on an iPad, the omission has been frustrating.

Since the app's launch, I had been typing entries in Notes and pasting them into Journal later. At one point, I even built a shortcut on my iPhone to import those entries automatically to streamline the process.

Now, that workaround is no longer necessary. With iPadOS 26, Journal finally works natively on the device where deeper writing tends to happen. For anyone who relies on iPad for expressive or structured journaling, this is the version we've been waiting for.

Journaling features built for privacy and creativity

Apple says all journaling data is processed on-device and encrypted. Smart suggestions are generated locally and never shared without permission. These features align with the company's broader focus on user privacy.

The Journal app will now be on the iPad in 2025. Image credit: Apple

The Journal app also supports rich content and intelligent suggestions, surfacing memories based on photos, workouts, or music listening history. Users can sketch entries, annotate images, or write longform reflections using the full-size keyboard.

The expansion puts Apple's native app closer in functionality to third-party options like Day One, which have long offered journaling on iPad with similar tools.

Release timeline and supported models

The developer beta of iPadOS 26 is available now. A public beta is expected in July through the Apple Beta Software Program. The final release will arrive in the fall of 2025.

Journal will be available on a wide range of supported devices. That includes iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (8th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later).

With native support now on iPad, the Journal app becomes a more practical tool for users who prefer a larger display and keyboard input. It's a long-overdue fix that makes journaling on Apple devices feel complete.