Why are entries being added to my journal automatically?
If new entries are appearing in your Day One journal without you creating them (entries appearing on their own, entries created automatically, auto-generated entries) — for example, entries containing YouTube videos, social media posts, tweets, articles, or other content from another app — they are almost always being created by an external automation service that you (or someone with access to your account) previously connected to Day One.
The two most common services that can do this are IFTTT (ifttt.com) and Zapier (zapier.com). Day One itself does not auto-create entries from YouTube, social media, or any third-party service — that always comes from an external automation.
Step 1: Identify the source
When an IFTTT applet or a Zapier Zap creates a Day One entry, the applet or Zap is almost always configured to tag the entry with the name of the service that triggered it. Open one of the auto-created entries and look at the tags shown next to the journal name (in the timeline preview line and on the entry itself):
- A tag named IFTTT means an IFTTT applet created the entry.
- A tag named Zapier means a Zapier Zap created the entry.
- A second tag often names the trigger app, for example YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, RSS, or Gmail, which is the service the automation is watching.
If the tags do not make the source obvious, you can confirm by opening the entry’s full metadata. The “Entry Creation Device” field on an automated entry will read IFTTT or Zapier, followed by Day One Server 1.0:
- iPhone or iPad: Open the entry, tap the info button (the (i) icon at the top), and scroll to Entry Creation Device.
- Android: Open the entry, tap the menu (three-dot icon), and choose Info. Look for the creation device row.
- Mac and web: The creation-device metadata is not surfaced in the entry view on these platforms, so rely on the tags instead.
Step 2a: Stop IFTTT entries
If the entries are coming from IFTTT (turn off applet, disable IFTTT, remove IFTTT applet):
- Go to ifttt.com and sign in. Your IFTTT account is the one you signed up with, which may be an email, or a Google or Apple sign-in.
- From the top menu, open My Applets.
- Find the applet that connects the trigger app (for example, YouTube) to Day One and open it.
- Toggle the applet off, or use the menu to delete it.
From that moment on, no new entries will be created by that applet. To revoke Day One’s connection inside IFTTT entirely, see IFTTT’s help for disconnecting a service.
Step 2b: Stop Zapier entries
If the entries are coming from Zapier (turn off Zap, disable Zapier, disconnect Zapier), you have two options:
Option 1 — Turn off the Zap from Zapier:
- Go to zapier.com and sign in.
- Open Zaps in the left sidebar.
- Find the Zap that creates Day One entries, then toggle it off or delete it.
Option 2 — Disconnect Zapier from Day One:
- In Day One on iOS, tap your profile in the upper right corner and open Settings.
- Tap Integrations, then Zapier.
- Disconnect Zapier from your Day One account.
Either option stops new automated entries. Disconnecting from Day One’s side stops all Zaps that write to your Day One account, not just one.
Step 3: Delete the entries that were already created
Disabling the automation only stops new entries from being created. The entries that have already been added will remain in your journal until you delete them manually. You can swipe or right-click an entry and move it to the Trash, then empty the Trash. See Recover Deleted Entries from Trash for more on how the Trash works.
Still seeing new entries appear?
If new entries keep appearing after you have disabled IFTTT and Zapier:
- Make sure you signed into the correct IFTTT or Zapier account. If you have more than one account, the applet or Zap may be on a different one.
- Check whether the entries are being created by another service that uses the Day One API. The entry’s tags or “Entry Creation Device” metadata will identify it.
- If you can’t identify the source, please contact our support team and include a screenshot of one of the auto-created entries.
