How to Use Happens - Tutorial & Getting Started Guide

Voice recording with real-time transcription

Step 1: Record

Tap the mic and start talking

Open Happens and tap the purple microphone button at the bottom of the screen. Start speaking naturally about your day, ideas, or whatever is on your mind. No structure required.

Tap the purple mic button to begin recording
Speak naturally — recording length depends on your plan (free or premium)
See your words transcribed in real time as you talk
Tap the stop button when you are done
Your note is saved automatically with the transcript

Tip: Switch voice input language by tapping the flag icon next to the mic button. Happens supports 30+ languages.

Step 2: Transcribe & Enhance

See your words, enhanced by AI

After you stop recording, Happens instantly transcribes your voice note using built-in speech recognition. Play back the audio, read the transcript, and tap AI Enhance to improve transcription accuracy and clarity.

Your transcript appears automatically after recording
Play back the audio anytime with the built-in player
Tap "AI Enhance" to improve the transcription quality beyond built-in speech recognition
Share AI-generated quotes as images

Step 3: Tasks & Moments

AI finds what matters in your words

Happens automatically detects tasks and meaningful moments from your voice notes. When AI finds something, it appears in the Suggestions section on your Notes screen. You decide what to keep.

Tasks you mentioned are extracted automatically
Meaningful moments appear as "Remember Moment?" suggestions
Accept or dismiss each suggestion with one tap
Accepted tasks get added to your task list with deadlines
Accepted moments are saved to your Findings dashboard

Tip: You don't need to say "remind me to..." for task extraction. Just mention something naturally like "I need to book flights" and AI will catch it.

Step 4: Track Your Mood

Check in with how you feel

After recording a note, Happens can ask how you feel. Use the mood grid to place your emotional state on two axes: pleasant to unpleasant, and high energy to low energy. The app names the emotion for you and tracks it over time.

Drag the dot on the mood grid to match how you feel
The app labels your mood automatically (e.g. Gloomy, Excited, Calm)
Track your mood patterns over days and weeks
Sync mood and emotion data to Apple Health as State of Mind
Mood data feeds into your AI reflections
No forced check-ins -- only when you want to

Step 5: Reflect with AI

Choose how you want to reflect

Tap the reflection button to open the AI reflection screen. Choose a time period (today, yesterday, or the full week), select an AI companion that matches your mood, and tap Start Reflection.

9 AI companions: Storyteller, Reflector, Therapist, Strategist, Project Manager, Career Consultant, Creative Assistant, Productivity Coach, Encourager
Select a time period: today, yesterday, or the whole week
AI reads only the notes from that period
Get personalized reflections based on your actual entries
Switch companions anytime for different perspectives

Tip: The reflection screen shows a summary of your notes (Plans, Wins, Thoughts, Emotions) so you can see what the AI will work with before starting.

Findings dashboard with moments and tasks

Step 6: Your Findings

See everything that matters, organized by week

Tap the Findings tab in the bottom navigation bar. This is your dashboard for everything AI has extracted from your voice notes -- tasks with deadlines and meaningful moments.

Tap the Findings tab in the bottom nav bar
Browse extracted tasks and moments by day or week
Mark tasks as complete with one tap
Moments are saved with dates for easy recall
Switch folders to see findings from different spaces

Step 7: Folders & Privacy

Keep your thoughts truly private

Organize your notes into folders (spaces). Lock any folder with a password or Face ID for extra privacy. When a folder is locked, its contents are hidden behind a "Tap to unlock" screen.

Create folders to organize notes by topic or area of life
Lock sensitive folders with Face ID or a password
Locked folders show "Tap to unlock" until authenticated
All data stays on your device -- no cloud storage
No account required to use the app

Happens on Apple Watch - recordings list

Step 8: Apple Watch

Record from your wrist

Open Happens on your Apple Watch to record voice notes without pulling out your phone. Tap the microphone to start, tap the red stop button when done. Browse and play past recordings directly on your watch.

Open Happens on Apple Watch and tap the mic to record
Tap the red stop button to finish recording
Browse past recordings with the list icon
Playback recordings directly on your watch
Recordings sync to your iPhone automatically

Step 9: Widgets

Access Happens without opening the app

Add widgets to your Lock Screen and Home Screen for instant recording, quick task views, and more.

Lock screen customization - bottom widget area

Searching for Happens widget on lock screen

Happens Record widget added to lock screen

Lock Screen Widget

Place a Happens widget on your Lock Screen for instant recording access. Tap the widget to start a voice note without unlocking your phone or opening the app.