Docs & Reading Room
The Manual.
The Reading Room.
Technical guides and FAQs alongside essays on slow spaces, digital boundaries and the science of reflective writing.
Start here
Where do you want to go?
Open the web journal, write your first entry and set up your library.
Open the journal →Add JournalOn to Chrome and journal from any tab — no account needed.
Extension guide →Order a custom-cover printed journal with your Celtic J design.
Visit the shop →Ask questions, share rituals and suggest features with other journalers.
Go to community →Bullet journaling, morning pages, gratitude logs and more — explained.
Read the methods →Send a direct message — bugs, feedback, data requests or anything else.
hello@journalon.ie →The Manual
How the tools work
Technical guides, feature walkthroughs and local-first data lifecycle.
Library & diaries
- Create a new diary from the Library tab
- Rename, pin or trash a diary from its card menu
- Use the tree view to navigate entries
- Pinned entries appear in the sticky strip
Writing canvas
- Click anywhere to start writing
- Select text to reveal the inline formatting toolbar
- Long-press a word on mobile for synonym suggestions
- Use the Pomodoro timer in the Companion panel
Sketch pad
- Open from the toolbar or the Companion panel
- Choose pen, pencil or brush; adjust size and colour
- Add shapes, stickers and backgrounds
- Download or embed the sketch into a card
Import & export
- Export from Settings → Export as encrypted or plain JSON
- Encrypted exports require a password to restore
- Import from Settings → Import — select a .json file
- Clippings and sketches are included
Keyboard shortcuts
- Ctrl/Cmd + B — bold
- Ctrl/Cmd + I — italic
- Ctrl/Cmd + Z — undo
- Tab — indent list item
Snippets
- Open from the toolbar → ⚡ Snippets
- Create a trigger (e.g. /gr) and body text
- Type the trigger in the canvas to expand
- Use {{date}} for today's date, {{time}} for current time
All entries live in
localStorage. Export regularly to JSON (encrypted or plain). Clearing browser data without an export is permanent — there is no server copy. Pro cloud sync is coming in a future release.Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is JournalOn free?
Yes. The web journal and Chrome extension are completely free with no account required. A Pro tier with cloud sync and encrypted backup is coming soon.
Where is my data stored?
Your journal entries are stored locally in your browser's localStorage. Nothing is sent to any server. Your writing never leaves your device unless you explicitly export it.
What happens if I clear my browser data?
Clearing your browser cache or storage will delete your journal data. We strongly recommend using the Export function (Settings → Export) regularly to back up your entries.
Can I use JournalOn on my phone?
The web journal works on mobile browsers. A native iOS and Android app is in development. Long-press synonym suggestions and an accessory bar are already live for mobile users.
Can I import my journal from another app?
JournalOn can import JSON exports from previous JournalOn sessions. Importing from other journaling apps is on the roadmap.
Is my writing private?
Yes. Your private writing is never used for advertising, community content or commercial targeting. Nothing becomes public without a deliberate action and preview from you.
How do I back up my journal?
Open the panel → Settings → Export. You can export as encrypted (AES-256-GCM) or plain JSON. Save the file somewhere safe — a cloud drive, encrypted folder or external drive.
What are Personas?
A Persona is a saved layout configuration — font, colours, card style and panel theme. Apply community Personas from the Marketplace or save your own from the Settings panel.
What are Snippets?
Snippets are keyboard shortcuts that expand into pre-written text. Free: 20 snippets / 1,000 chars each. Pro: unlimited / 25,000 chars each.
How do I delete my data?
Settings → Privacy. Export then permanently delete individual diaries, or toggle auto-clear trash to remove trashed entries when you close the browser.
Privacy & data
Your data, your control
JournalOn stores everything locally in your browser. No account, no cloud, no server ever sees your writing.
Still need help?
Get in touch
Something broken, a question unanswered, or a feature idea? Reach out directly — JournalOn is independently built and every message is read.