What reminders do and where to find them
A reminder is a notification your device sends you at a time you choose. You set it once, and your phone or computer alerts you when that time arrives — whether that's in five minutes, tomorrow at 9 a.m., or every Monday. Reminders live in an app that comes built into most devices: the Reminders app on iPhones and iPads, Google Tasks on Android phones, or the Calendar or To Do app on Windows computers.
The reminder sits in the background until the moment you specified. When that time comes, your device shows a notification on your screen, plays a sound, or both. You can dismiss it, snooze it for later, or tap it to see more details. Unlike a calendar event, which blocks out time on your schedule, a reminder is purely a nudge — it doesn't reserve time, it just interrupts you.
Reminders are useful for things that don't need a time slot: picking up groceries, calling someone back, paying a bill, or taking medication. They're also useful for recurring tasks — something you need to do every week or every day at the same time.
Key Takeaways
- Reminders are built into your device and send you a notification at a time you choose, without taking up space on your calendar.
- On iPhones, use the Reminders app; on Android phones, use Google Tasks or Google Calendar; on Windows, use Microsoft To Do or Outlook.
- You can set a reminder for a specific time, a specific date, or a repeating schedule like every Monday morning.
- Reminders work best for tasks without a set duration, like errands or follow-ups, while calendar events work better for meetings or appointments.
How to add a reminder on iPhone or iPad
Open the Reminders app (the icon looks like a checklist). Tap the plus sign in the top right corner or tap "New Reminder" at the bottom of the screen. Type what you want to be reminded about — for example, "Call the dentist" or "Buy milk."
Tap the info button (the circle with an "i") next to your reminder. This opens the details screen. Tap "Add Date" to set when you want the reminder. Choose the date from the calendar that appears. Then tap "Add Time" and set the hour and minute. If you want the reminder to repeat — say, every Monday or every day — tap "Repeat" and choose your pattern. When you're done, tap "Done" at the top right.
Your reminder now appears in your list. On the day and time you set, your iPhone will send you a notification. You can tap it to mark the task complete, or swipe left on the reminder in your list and tap the checkmark to mark it done manually.
How to add a reminder on Android
Android phones don't have a built-in Reminders app the way iPhones do, but Google Tasks and Google Calendar both send reminders. Google Tasks is simpler if you just want a to-do list with notifications.
Open Google Tasks (search for it in the Google Play Store if you don't have it). Tap the plus sign at the bottom right. Type your task. Tap the task you just created, then tap the calendar icon to set a date. Choose your date, then tap the clock icon to set a time. Tap "Save." At that time, you'll get a notification on your phone.
If you prefer Google Calendar, open the app and tap the plus sign to create a new event. Type your task, set the date and time, then scroll down and tap "Notification" to add a reminder. You can choose to be reminded 15 minutes before, 1 hour before, or at the exact time. Tap "Save."
How to add a reminder on Windows
Windows computers have Microsoft To Do, which works similarly to Google Tasks. Open Microsoft To Do (search for it in the Start menu). Click the plus sign to create a new task. Type what you need to be reminded about. Click the task you just created, then click the calendar icon on the right side. Choose your date and time. Click the bell icon to turn on notifications. Close the task details.
When your reminder time arrives, you'll see a notification in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to mark the task complete, or ignore it and deal with it later.
If you use Outlook on Windows, you can also create reminders there. Open Outlook, click "New Event," type your task, set the date and time, then click "Reminder" and choose how long before the time you want to be notified. Click "Save."
Setting reminders that repeat
Repeating reminders are useful for tasks you do regularly — taking medication every morning, watering plants every three days, or paying a bill on the first of each month. Most reminder apps let you set a pattern instead of creating the same reminder over and over.
On iPhone, after you set the date and time, tap "Repeat" and choose "Daily," "Weekly," "Bi-weekly," "Monthly," or "Yearly." If you need a custom pattern (like every three days), some apps don't offer that option, so you may need to create separate reminders instead.
On Android in Google Tasks, you can only set a due date, not a repeat pattern. If you need a repeating reminder on Android, use Google Calendar instead: create an event, set it to repeat, and add a notification. On Windows in Microsoft To Do, reminders don't repeat — you'll need to create a new one each time. Outlook does support repeating reminders: when you create an event, click "Recurrence" to set the pattern.
Reminders versus calendar events
The difference between a reminder and a calendar event matters for how you plan your time. A calendar event takes up a block of time on your schedule — a meeting from 2 to 3 p.m., a dentist appointment at 10 a.m., or a flight at 6 a.m. Other people can see your calendar event if you share your calendar, and it shows you're busy during that time. A reminder is just a notification; it doesn't block time and doesn't show others you're unavailable.
Use a calendar event when you have a specific appointment, meeting, or activity that takes time. Use a reminder when you need to do something but it doesn't have a set duration — picking up groceries, calling someone, paying a bill, or taking a medication. You can also add a reminder to a calendar event: create the event, then add a notification that fires 15 minutes before, so you don't forget to prepare.
Troubleshooting reminders that don't work
If you're not getting reminder notifications, check that notifications are turned on for the app. On iPhone, go to Settings, scroll to Reminders, and make sure "Allow Notifications" is on. On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps, find Google Tasks or Google Calendar, tap Notifications, and turn them on. On Windows, go to Settings, click System, click Notifications, and make sure notifications are on for Microsoft To Do or Outlook.
Also check that your device's volume is not muted. On iPhone, check the mute switch on the side of the phone. On Android and Windows, check that your volume is not set to silent or vibrate only. If notifications are on and your volume is up but you still don't get reminders, restart your device — sometimes the notification service needs a fresh start.
If a reminder is set for a time that has already passed, your device won't send a notification. Always set reminders for a future time. If you set a reminder for 3 p.m. and it's already 3:15 p.m., the reminder won't fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a reminder without a specific time?
Most reminder apps require either a date or a time, or both. If you want a reminder that just says "do this sometime today" without a specific hour, you can set it for a time you know you'll check your phone — like 9 a.m. or noon. Some apps let you set a reminder for "today" without picking an exact time, but you won't get a notification; you'll just see it in your list.
What happens if I ignore a reminder notification?
If you ignore a reminder notification, it disappears from your screen but stays in your reminder list. You can open the app later and see it there. The reminder won't fire again unless you set it to repeat. If you want to be reminded again, you can snooze the notification when it appears — most apps let you snooze for 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or 1 hour.
Can I share a reminder with someone else?
iPhone Reminders lets you share a list with other people if you both have Apple devices. Open Reminders, tap the list you want to share, tap the three dots, and tap "Share List." On Android and Windows, the built-in apps don't have a share feature, but you can use shared to-do apps like Microsoft To Do (which syncs across devices) or third-party apps designed for shared lists.
Do reminders work if my phone is off?
No. Reminders only work when your device is on and connected to power or has battery. If your phone is turned off or in airplane mode at the time your reminder is set to fire, you won't get a notification. Turn your device back on and the reminder may appear, depending on the app.
Can I set a reminder for a location instead of a time?
Some apps support location-based reminders — reminding you when you arrive at a place or leave a place. iPhone Reminders supports this: when you set a reminder, tap "Add Location" instead of "Add Time," and choose a location. Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do don't have this feature, so you'll need to use the time-based option instead.