Photos and videos
That completely ordinary Tuesday.
The trip. The haircut. The afternoon you hadn’t thought about in years. See the photos and videos you took on today’s date over the years.
Check in every day
Oh, I remember that!
A time capsule of your photos, videos, music, and moments that shaped your day.
Take a look Backward.
Check in daily, revisit some memories, and leave a note about your day.
Music
Some days come with a soundtrack.
See songs and albums from your library that were released today. Tap a track to hear a preview or open it in Apple Music.
One line a day
A few words for future you.
Most journals feel intimidating. Instead, write one line a day about your day. Say what you did, how you felt, or write about that tiny thing you’d otherwise forget.
The same date, year after year.
Every line you write comes back on the same date next year, stacked with the ones before it.
- 2025New job starts Monday. Bought a very serious notebook for it.1 year ago
- 2024Went to the farmers market for peaches. Came home with flowers and no peaches.2 years ago
- 2023Wedding in the hills. Danced with my shoes off. Found one of them.3 years ago
- 2022Did absolutely nothing today. Highly recommend.4 years ago
Optimized for iPhone Duo.
Fold it, open it like a book, or lay it flat. Backward is built to fit every way you hold your iPhone Duo.
Make it feel like you.
Pick your favorite color for the icon and accent color.
Privacy
Yours to look back on.
No account to make, no ads, and no third-party tracking. Your photo and music libraries aren’t uploaded to a server and stay completely on your device. Notes and streaks sync through iCloud across your devices if enabled.
Read the privacy policyPricing
Free.
Backward is free, with no in-app purchases. It’s a passion project, not a side hustle.
Questions, answered.
Does Backward work with Spotify?
Not for now, though I wish it could. Spotify has closed its doors to most independent developers and saves full access for big companies, so a small app like Backward can’t connect to it for everyone. That’s why the music in Backward comes from your Apple Music library. If Spotify ever opens back up, I’ll be the first one knocking.
What is Backward?
Backward is a free daily time capsule for iPhone and iPad. Each day it shows the photos and videos you took on that date in past years, songs and albums from your library released that day, and the one-line notes you wrote on that day before.
How is Backward different from “On This Day” in Photos?
Backward brings photos, music and your own notes together in one daily check-in. Alongside the photos and videos from this date in past years, it shows music from your library released that day and lets you write one line about today for future you.
Is Backward a journal app?
In a small way. Instead of asking for long entries, Backward asks for one line a day. Each year, those lines come back on the same date.
Does Backward upload my photos?
No. Your photo and music libraries stay on your device and are never uploaded to a server. Notes and streaks sync through your own iCloud account if you enable it.
Is Backward free?
Yes. Backward is free, with no in-app purchases, ads or account.
Which devices does Backward support?
Backward runs on iPhone and iPad, including iPhone Duo, where it adapts to folded, open and flat positions.
Download now
Available now on iPhone and iPad.
A little nostalgia, wherever the day takes you.
Support
Something on your mind?
Something not working, a question about your memories, or an idea you’d like to share? Send me a note and I’ll get back to you.