Updated October 7, 2026
How do I start a journal?
Open a date, write in the journal, and add photos when you want. You can also add health records, goals and important reminders manually. Voice and smart organization are optional.
What if voice or smart organization is unavailable?
Check microphone and speech-recognition permissions in iOS Settings. Transcription requires available Apple on-device recognition and language resources. Apple system resources may need to be downloaded before first use or when they are unavailable. Smart organization also requires a supported device, system, language and region, with Apple Intelligence enabled and available. Manual writing and recording do not require Apple Intelligence and remain available without those resources.
Apple Intelligence availability — official support ↗Does speaking automatically save an entry?
No. Review the transcript and suggestions, edit them, then confirm what you want to keep. Suggestions can be wrong. Check dates, quantities and goal matches against what you actually meant.
How can I choose a look?
The App offers covers, decorative clasps, paper and seasonal day/night effects. Some decorations unlock through your own recording progress without an extra purchase. The website's appearance studio lets you browse the artwork; seeing a look here does not mean it is already unlocked in the App. Web motion is an approximation; the App is the final reference. A clasp preview shows decoration, not a passcode or authentication feature.
Open the appearance studio →Why does a report include unknown or empty days?
Recording that you did not do something differs from making no record at all. Reports preserve that distinction. Record coverage is not a completion rate. Return to the original date to check the underlying entries.
How do I create and save a backup?
In the App's Settings → Data & Privacy, choose Back up now, enter and confirm a passphrase, then select Start backup. The backup is created in the App's own local directory. You cannot choose another save location in the App, and it has no save-to-cloud feature. After the App reports success, use Finder on a Mac or Apple Devices file sharing on Windows to copy the complete encrypted file to your computer for safekeeping. The App does not automatically upload or sync it. Backup reminders do not create backups. Keep the backup file and passphrase (recovery secret) safe separately; do not make both public together.
What happens to external copies or a lost passphrase?
After transferring a file to your computer, you may separately save a copy to your own cloud storage or share it with someone. That service or recipient manages the copy. These are actions outside the App; it does not sync or delete those copies. Copies remain wherever you saved or shared them, even if you later delete data in the App or uninstall it. There is no master key: the developer cannot recover a lost recovery secret or decrypt the backup for you. A backup file without its correct passphrase cannot be restored.
How do I restore after switching phones or reinstalling?
Transfer a valid backup file to the target device. In Settings → Data & Privacy, choose Restore from backup, select the file and enter the passphrase used to create it. The App validates the backup before asking you to confirm restoration. A successful restore replaces the current diary; it does not merge two diaries. If the target already contains records, back them up first and confirm replacement. After restoring to another device, each copy stays independent without automatic sync. Please do not delete the App as a first troubleshooting step. Without a valid backup saved outside the device, uninstalling, erasing or losing the device can make records unrecoverable. Changes made after a backup need a new backup. Reinstalling, iCloud Backup and Quick Start are not guarantees of journal recovery.
Can a PDF export restore my journal?
No. Journal export in Settings → Data & Privacy lets you select a date range and choose important reminders, journal content, health and tracking records for an offline-readable PDF. A PDF cannot restore the journal and is not protected by your backup passphrase. Keep it safe and share only content you want the recipient to see. Use an encrypted backup file when you need to restore.
What are traditional features for?
The almanac, meridian clock and hexagram explanations support cultural reading and reflection. Health records are for personal record-keeping. These features do not provide medical diagnosis, treatment, or predictions about personal outcomes.
What are the purchase and system requirements?
Petals & Days is made by Pineroost Studio LLC and is a one-time purchase, with no subscriptions, in-app purchases or advertising. The US store price is US$9.99; other regions use the price shown in their local App Store. It supports compatible iPhones running iOS 26.1 or later, in English and Simplified Chinese. Optional Apple AI capabilities have additional device, settings and system-resource requirements. Once the download link is available, check your local App Store for availability.