Remember the people inside your everyday moments.
An @mention brings related writing together, so you can return to the conversations, shared days, and small details involving someone important.
Updated October 19, 2026
What does mentioning a person do?
On iPhone and iPad, add or choose a person with @ while writing an entry or Article. Interactions brings People and Topics into one destination and links a person to the writing where you selected them. You can enter names manually or choose optional on-device Contacts suggestions. Free users see their two top-ranked people; Premium reveals all people and their complete activity patterns.
- Platforms
- People and Interactions on iPhone and iPad
- Writing
- Mention people in entries and Articles
- Free access
- Create mentions and view the two top-ranked people
- Premium
- Every person and complete people insights
- Contacts
- Optional; names can be entered manually
- Privacy
- Private diary identities; no messages or notifications to mentioned people
A private way to remember someone
A person links to entries through an explicit saved mention. Simply finding the same name in text does not silently create a person or rewrite older writing.
Open a person to revisit associated entries and activity. Topic and person entries remain in your own diary; an @mention never contacts that person.
Contacts are optional and device-local
Enter a name yourself, or explicitly allow Contacts access for name and photo suggestions on this device. DiaryThreads can work with the contacts you permit.
Only a name you explicitly select becomes a diary person. The Contacts identifier, local contact association, and contact photo stay on that device. A separately selected custom diary avatar can follow the existing private iCloud path.
One Interactions destination
The mobile navigation is Home, Search, Analytics, and Interactions. Topics and People share the Interactions destination; Favorites opens separately from Home.
Free users see the two top-ranked people and two top-ranked topics in their respective collections. Premium opens the complete views. Eligible diary person data can sync through Premium private iCloud; the Mac app keeps its existing Topics workspace.
Questions about this topic
Will the person receive a notification?
No. A mention is a private relationship inside your diary and sends no message or notification.
Do I have to allow Contacts access?
No. You can enter names manually. Contacts suggestions and their device-local association are optional.
Which people are visible without Premium?
Free users can create mentions and see their two top-ranked people. Premium reveals every person and complete activity patterns.