Apple Journal App Expands to Mac and iPad

Digital Diaries Get a Bigger Canvas

Apple is extending the reach of its Journal app, initially launched for iPhone, to Mac and iPad, offering users more screen space and input options for documenting their lives. The expansion arrives with the upcoming macOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates.

New Features for Mac Users

The Journal app will provide Mac users with a convenient way to capture and reflect on daily experiences. According to Apple’s press release, the Mac version simplifies creating detailed entries and viewing them geographically on a map. Users can also maintain multiple journals, all synchronized across their Apple devices.

“Journal comes to Mac, making it easy to capture and write about everyday moments and special events when inspiration strikes.”

—Apple, macOS 26 Press Release

iPad Enhancements for Creative Journaling

For iPad users, the app will support both finger and Apple Pencil input, allowing for the incorporation of drawings and handwriting into journal entries. This feature could appeal to those who prefer a more tactile journaling experience. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 34% of U.S. adults keep a journal or diary, highlighting the continued popularity of personal reflection (Pew Research Center, 2023).

The larger screen real estate on the iPad is expected to provide a more immersive and traditional journaling feel, potentially attracting users who haven’t previously embraced digital journaling.

Availability and Beta Testing

While developer betas are currently available, the public beta versions of iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 will be released next month. The full launch of the updates, and therefore the expanded Journal app, is anticipated this fall.

The expansion of the Journal app to Mac and iPad represents Apple’s commitment to providing a consistent and versatile journaling experience across its ecosystem.