This guide will describe all options available to protect data against loss. All backup options are available to all users (Basic, Plus, and Premium).
Data is stored locally on each device where Day One is installed. If Day One Sync is enabled, data is also stored on Day One Sync servers. If the iOS or Android apps are deleted, local data is also deleted. Data is not stored in the app on Mac, but on the hard drive. See here. Please be sure data is synced or a backup has been exported prior to uninstalling the app.
For help transitioning to a new device, see this guide: Transitioning Day One data to a new device
Backup Options in Day One (iOS/macOS)
Backups are used to safeguard your data from loss. If you lose your phone, need to wipe your device or have a problematic iOS update, backups are useful for restoring your data to your device(s).
The following backup methods are available for all users (Basic, Plus and Premium)
- Secure Cloud Backup: Users with the Basic account status can backup unlimited data from one device. This service requires signing into a Day One account in the Settings. Once signed in, data is backed up securely to Day One Sync while the app is opened. More details are available in this guide.
- Auto Text Backups to iCloud (iOS only). These are text-only backups to iCloud. They are enabled by default for all Basic users starting in version 5.8. Plus and Premium users can enable them manually. Automatic Text-only backups to iCloud for Day One iOS. Please note that these backups are contingent on the available space on the iCloud account.
- iCloud Device Backups (iOS only). These are backups Apple makes of all apps and data on a device once per day. Restore your phone using iCloud device backups which will keep your Day One data intact (text and photos) and all your preferences preserved. These are automatic backups made once per day to your iCloud account. Learn more: Backing up Day One data to iCloud. Please note that these backups are contingent on the available space on the iCloud account.
- JSON Export (iOS and macOS). Users can also manually back up their data by exporting to JSON. JSON files can be re-imported to Day One and include text and media files. Please see here: Exporting entries. There are other export options available like PDF and Plain Text.
- Time Machine Backups (macOS). You can use Time Machine, the built-in backup feature of your Mac, to automatically back up all of your files, including apps, music, photos, email, documents, and system files. When you have a backup, you can restore files from your backup if the original files are ever deleted from your Mac, or the hard disk (or SSD) in your Mac is erased or replaced. See more here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250. Day One data is stored here on Mac: The data is stored in this location on your Mac: ~/Library/Group Containers/5U8NS4GX82.dayoneapp2. This option is not intended to restore previous revisions of entries.
Sync
Sync keeps data up-to-date across multiple devices. Sync is primarily used if you use Day One on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad, and/or Mac). Day One supports syncing data to as many devices as you’d like. Day One Sync stores your journal in the cloud and is easily re-downloaded when you log in to your account on a new phone. Simply download Day One and sign into your account. To verify your synced data, see here.
Sync must be enabled by signing in to an account.
Note: The Day One app does not require an Internet connection to use it. All data is stored locally (unless Optimize Device Storage is enabled), so you have access to your information at any time. You can create and edit entries on multiple devices while offline and all the data will merge together properly once you are back online.
