Linking to websites and other entries

Entries in Day One can contain two kinds of links: a link to a website (a URL or web address, such as https://dayoneapp.com), and a link to another entry in your journal. Both are created from the same link button, so the sections below cover them together. Follow the section for the app you’re using — the behavior differs by platform.

The most reliable way to add a website link on any platform is to include the full address, starting with https://. Whether a shorter form (such as www.example.com, or example.com on its own) becomes a link by itself varies by platform, and each section below says what to expect.

If a link in an entry isn’t clickable, or tapping it doesn’t open anything, check the section for your platform. On Android you must finish editing an entry before a link can be tapped — see Opening a link on Android.

Entries can be linked to each other using the link picker while writing an entry (version 2026.13 and later), or by copying a link to an entry and pasting it into another. The link picker steps vary by platform below; copying and pasting a link works on every platform and every version of Day One.

iOS

Link to a website

Type or paste the full web address into your entry. On iOS, an address that begins with https:// (or another scheme) or with www. becomes a tappable link on its own. An address with neither — example.com by itself — stays plain text, so type https://example.com instead.

To turn wording of your own into a link:

1. Select the text you want to turn into a link.
2. Tap the link button in the formatting bar just above the keyboard. (It only appears once you’ve selected text.)
3. Type or paste the web address. This is the same field used to search your entries — it reads Enter a URL or search entries, so a web address is accepted here.
4. Confirm to insert the link.

Markdown works while typing too: [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com) becomes a link as soon as you type the closing parenthesis.

Link picker (version 2026.13 and later)

You must select text first. The link button in the formatting bar only appears once you’ve selected the text you want to turn into a link.

1. Select the text you want to turn into a link.
2. Tap the link button in the formatting bar (also called the editor toolbar) just above the keyboard. (It only appears once you’ve selected text — if you don’t see it, select some text first.)
3. Start typing the title of the entry you want to link to. Matching entries appear in a list as you type. (The same field also accepts a web address — see Link to a website above.)
4. Tap the entry you want to link to. The link is inserted at your selected text.

To edit an existing link, long-press it and choose Edit Link.

The >> shortcut for the link picker is available on macOS only. On iOS/iPadOS, typing >> while writing an entry does not open the link picker — use the steps above instead.

Copy and paste a link (works on any version)

1. Tap the More (•••) button at the top right of an entry, then Entry Info. Or the Map at the bottom of an entry to access the Entry Info/Metadata view.
2. Tap Entry ID.
3. In the sheet that appears, you can choose from three options: Copy Entry URL, Copy Markdown Link, and Copy Entry ID. Tap Copy Markdown Link. (For including a link in an entry, this is the best option.)
4. Open another entry and tap where you would like to place the cursor. Paste the link in this entry by long-pressing (press and hold a finger on the spot where you want to add your link), then tap Paste.
5. Dismiss the keyboard by tapping the down arrow at the top left of the keyboard or swipe down on the keyboard.

macOS

Link to a website

Type or paste the full web address into your entry. As on iOS, an address that begins with https:// (or another scheme) or with www. becomes a clickable link on its own, while example.com by itself stays plain text.

To turn wording of your own into a link, select the text, then either press Cmd + Shift + K or right-click the selection and choose Link > Add Link…. Enter the web address and confirm. To change or remove a link later, select it and use Link > Edit Link… or Link > Remove Link from the same right-click menu.

Markdown works while typing too: [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com) becomes a link as soon as you type the closing parenthesis.

Link picker (version 2026.13 and later)

1. While writing an entry, type >> to open the link picker.
2. Optionally, add a search word immediately after, for example >>paris, to search your entries.
3. Select the entry you want to link to from the results.

Copy and paste a link (works on any version)

1. Click the More icon (•••) at the top right of an entry
2. Click Share > Copy Entry URL
3. Paste that into the desired entry

1. Right-click (Control+click) any entry in the List
2. Choose Share > Copy Entry URL
3. Paste into the desired entry

 

Android

Link to a website

On Android, a web address you type does not become a link on its own — in any form, with or without https://. Typing Markdown link syntax such as [Day One](https://dayoneapp.com) doesn’t create a link as you type either. This differs from iOS, macOS, and the web app, and it is the usual reason a web address in an Android entry isn’t clickable. Use one of the two methods below instead.

Use the link button

1. Tap the Pencil icon to edit the entry.
2. Select the text you want to turn into a link.
3. Tap the link button in the formatting toolbar.
4. Enter the web address and confirm. If you leave out the https://, Day One adds it for you, so example.com becomes https://example.com.
5. Tap the Checkmark icon to save.

Or paste the address. Copy the full address from your browser’s address bar and paste it into the entry. Pasting a complete address that starts with https:// is the most reliable option.

Opening a link on Android

Links open only while you are reading an entry, not while you are editing it. If you tap a link and the cursor moves instead of the link opening, you are still in the editor.

1. Tap the Checkmark icon at the top of the screen to finish editing.
2. Tap the link. It opens in your browser.

Link to another entry

The link picker isn’t currently available on Android. Use the steps below to copy and paste a link instead.

1. Tap the More (•••) button at the top right of an entry, then Metadata. Entry Info/Metadata view.
2. Tap Entry ID.
3. In the sheet that appears, you can choose from three options: Copy Entry URL, Copy Markdown Link, and Copy Entry ID. Tap Copy Markdown Link. (For including a link in an entry, this is the best option.)
4. Open another entry and tap the Pencil icon to edit. Paste the link in this entry by long-pressing (press and hold a finger on the spot where you want to add your link), then tap Paste.
5. Tap the Checkmark icon to save.

Web and Windows App

Link to a website

Type or paste the full address starting with http:// or https://, then press the spacebar — the address becomes a link. An address that starts with www. alone stays plain text in the web and Windows apps, so include https://.

To turn wording of your own into a link, select the text, click the link button in the formatting toolbar, enter the web address, and confirm.

Link to another entry

The link picker isn’t currently available on the web app or Windows. Use the steps below to copy and paste a link instead.

1. Click the More icon (•••) at the top right of an entry. Alternatively, you can right-click on an entry from the List view.
2. Click Copy Entry URL
3. Paste the copied URL into the desired entry