The Core Issue
➤ Apple’s Journal app does NOT currently sync via iCloud (as of iOS 17 and early iOS 18 betas)
- Unlike Notes or Reminders, Journal data is stored locally on-device.
- It only gets backed up if:
- iCloud Backup was enabled and
- A complete restore from that backup occurred successfully.
So if your old iPhone died before a recent backup completed, or if the backup didn’t capture the Journal app properly, your entries might not have been transferred.
Step-by-Step: What You Can Try Now
1. Check if the Journal Data Was Backed Up
Go to:
Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups
Tap your old iPhone’s backup (if still listed)
Look under "Next Backup Size" or "Last Backup Size" and see if Journal is in the list.
If Journal is not listed, it likely wasn't included in the backup — which unfortunately confirms the loss.
2. Try Restoring from a Different Backup (if available)
If you made multiple iCloud backups or had backups on a Mac:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings
- During setup, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and pick an older backup that may contain the missing Journal data
This will erase your current iPhone, so only do this if you're confident it’s worth the risk — and if you’ve backed up the new iPhone first.
