Open the Reminders app and tap the plus icon to start a new reminder

The fastest way to create a reminder on iPhone is to open the Reminders app—the one with a checklist icon—and tap the plus sign in the top right corner. A new line appears where you can type what you need to remember. Type your task, then tap Done. That reminder now sits in your default list and will stay there until you mark it complete.

If you have never opened Reminders before, it comes pre-installed on every iPhone. Swipe up from the home screen to search, type "Reminders", and tap it. The app opens to your lists. If you see only one list called "Reminders", that is your default list, and new reminders go there automatically.

This basic method works when you just need to remember something without a specific time. The reminder stays in your list until you check it off. You can come back to it later, edit it, or delete it.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Reminders, tap the plus icon, type your task, and tap Done to create a basic reminder with no time attached.
  • Tap a reminder after you create it to set a specific date, time, or location where you want to be reminded.
  • You can organize reminders into separate lists—one for work, one for home, one for shopping—and switch between them in the app.
  • Siri can create reminders hands-free: say "Hey Siri, remind me to [task]" and Siri adds it to your default list.
  • Reminders sync across all your Apple devices if you use the same iCloud account, so a reminder you create on your iPhone appears on your Mac and iPad too.

Set a specific date and time for your reminder

A reminder without a time is just a to-do list. To get an actual notification at a moment that matters, tap the reminder you just created. The detail screen opens. Tap Details at the bottom right (it looks like a circle with an "i" in it).

You now see options for Date and Time. Tap Date and a calendar appears. Tap the day you want to be reminded. Then tap Time and use the scroll wheels to set the hour and minute. When you finish, tap Done at the top. Your iPhone will send you a notification at that exact time.

If you want a reminder to repeat—say, every Monday at 9 a.m. for a weekly meeting—tap Repeat in the details screen and choose Weekly. The reminder will notify you on that day and time every week until you turn off the repeat or delete the reminder.

Create reminders by location instead of time

Sometimes you need to remember something when you arrive at a place, not at a clock time. In the details screen, scroll down and tap Location. A map appears. Type the place name—your office, the grocery store, a friend's house—and tap it when it shows up in the search results. Your iPhone will send you a notification when you arrive at that location, even if it is weeks away.

Location reminders work best for errands and tasks tied to a specific place. If you need to pick up dry cleaning, set a location reminder for the dry cleaner. When you drive past it or arrive nearby, your phone notifies you. You do not have to remember to check your phone at a certain time.

Location reminders require that you have location services turned on for the Reminders app. If you create a location reminder and never get notified, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, find Reminders, and make sure it is set to While Using or Always.

Organize reminders into separate lists

If you create many reminders, they can pile up in one list and become hard to scan. You can create separate lists for different areas of your life. In the Reminders app, tap Lists at the bottom left. Tap the plus icon in the top right corner. Type a name for your new list—"Work", "Home", "Shopping", "Health"—and tap Done. The new list appears in your list view.

Now when you create a reminder, you can choose which list it goes into. Tap the plus icon, type your task, then before you tap Done, tap the list name at the top. A menu shows all your lists. Tap the one you want. The reminder goes into that list instead of your default list.

Organizing by list makes it much easier to focus on one area at a time. You can look at only your work reminders during the day, then switch to your home list when you get back. You can also share a list with family members or colleagues so you all see the same tasks.

Use Siri to create reminders without typing

If your hands are full or you are driving, you can tell Siri to create a reminder. Press and hold the home button (or the side button on newer iPhones) and say "Hey Siri, remind me to [task]". Siri listens, repeats back what you said, and asks when you want to be reminded. Say a time like "at 3 p.m." or "tomorrow at 9 a.m." or "when I leave work". Siri creates the reminder and confirms it is set.

You can also say "Hey Siri, remind me to [task] at [time]" all in one sentence, and Siri will create the reminder without asking follow-up questions. For example: "Hey Siri, remind me to call Mom at 6 p.m. tomorrow." Siri creates the reminder and sets the time in one step.

Siri reminders go into your default list unless you specify otherwise. If you want a Siri reminder to go into a specific list, you have to edit it after Siri creates it by opening the reminder and changing the list in the details screen.

Share a reminder list with family or coworkers

If you work with others or live with family, you can share a reminder list so everyone sees the same tasks. Open Reminders, tap the list you want to share, then tap the three dots in the top right corner. Tap List Details. Tap Invite and type the email address or phone number of the person you want to share with. They get a notification and can accept the invitation. Once they do, you both see the same list and can add, check off, or edit reminders together.

Shared lists are useful for household chores, team projects, or family planning. When one person checks off a task, everyone sees it is done. You can see who added each reminder and when, so there is no confusion about who is responsible for what.

To stop sharing a list, open it, tap the three dots, tap List Details, find the person's name, and tap Remove. They lose access to the list, but their copy of any reminders they created stays on their device.

Sync reminders across your Apple devices

If you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, your reminders sync automatically across all of them if you use the same iCloud account. Create a reminder on your iPhone and it appears on your iPad within seconds. Check it off on your Mac and it shows as complete on your iPhone. This means you can start a task list on one device and finish it on another without any extra steps.

Syncing happens in the background as long as you are signed into iCloud on each device. To check that syncing is on, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure the toggle next to Reminders is turned on. If it is off, turn it on and wait a few seconds for your reminders to appear.

If you have multiple iCloud accounts or do not use iCloud, reminders stay only on the device where you create them. They will not sync to your other devices. For reminders to sync, all your devices must use the same iCloud account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a reminder for a specific person?

You can add a person's name to a reminder, but the iPhone does not send the reminder to them—it only reminds you. If you want to remind someone else, you can share a list with them so they see the task, or you can send them a message separately.

What happens if I miss a notification?

If you miss a notification, the reminder stays in your list. You can open Reminders anytime and see all your unchecked tasks. There is no penalty for missing a notification—the reminder just sits there until you mark it done or delete it.

Can I set a reminder for a recurring task like taking medicine?

Yes. Create the reminder, tap Details, tap Repeat, and choose how often you want to be reminded—daily, weekly, monthly, or on specific days. Your iPhone will notify you at that time every day or week until you turn off the repeat.

How do I delete a reminder?

Swipe left on the reminder in your list and tap the trash icon. The reminder is deleted. If you delete it by mistake, you cannot undo it, so be careful when swiping.

Can I set a priority level for reminders?

The Reminders app does not have a built-in priority system, but you can create separate lists for urgent and non-urgent tasks, or you can add a word like "URGENT" to the beginning of a reminder so it stands out when you scan your list.