The fastest way to set a reminder on iPhone

Open the Reminders app — the yellow icon with a checkmark — and tap the plus sign in the top right corner. Type what you want to remember, then tap the blue "Add" button. That creates a basic reminder with no specific time attached. It will sit on your list until you mark it done.

If you want the reminder to alert you at a specific time or date, tap the reminder you just created, then tap "Details" at the bottom of the screen. From there you can set a date, a time of day, or both. When that moment arrives, your iPhone will send you a notification — a message that pops up on your screen or appears in your notification center.

The Reminders app syncs across all your Apple devices if you use the same Apple ID on each one. A reminder you set on your iPhone will show up on your iPad and Mac automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • The Reminders app is built into every iPhone and requires no setup — just open it and start typing.
  • A basic reminder is just a to-do item on a list; adding a time or date makes your iPhone send you a notification at that moment.
  • You can set reminders to repeat daily, weekly, or on a custom schedule by tapping "Details" and choosing "Repeat."
  • Reminders sync automatically across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac if you use the same Apple ID on all devices.

Setting a time or location for your reminder

When you tap "Details" on a reminder, you see several options. The "Date" field lets you pick a specific day. The "Time" field lets you pick what hour and minute you want to be notified. If you set both, your iPhone will alert you at that exact moment.

You can also set a location-based reminder. Tap "Location" and search for a place — your home, a store, your workplace. Your iPhone will then send you the reminder when you arrive at or leave that location. This works even if your phone is locked or the Reminders app is closed, as long as location services are turned on in your settings.

To turn on location reminders, go to Settings, scroll down to Reminders, and make sure "Location" is toggled on. Without this permission, location-based reminders will not work.

Making reminders repeat on a schedule

Open a reminder and tap "Details," then look for the "Repeat" option. Tap it and you can choose "Daily," "Weekly," "Monthly," or "Yearly." If you pick "Weekly," you can then choose which days of the week — for example, every Monday and Thursday.

Tap "Custom" if you need something more specific, like every two weeks or every third Tuesday. You can also set an end date so the reminder stops repeating after a certain date. Once you save these settings, the reminder will automatically recreate itself on the schedule you chose.

Organizing reminders into lists

By default, all reminders go into a list called "Reminders." You can create separate lists to keep different types of reminders organized — one for work tasks, one for shopping, one for home projects. Tap "Lists" at the bottom of the app, then tap the plus sign to create a new list.

When you create a new reminder, you can choose which list it goes into before you tap "Add." You can also move a reminder to a different list by opening it, tapping "Details," and changing the list name at the top. Organizing this way makes it easier to focus on one area of your life at a time.

Using Siri to create reminders hands-free

You can create a reminder by talking to Siri without opening the app at all. Press and hold the home button (or the side button on newer iPhones) and say something like "Remind me to call Mom at 3 PM" or "Remind me to buy milk when I get to the store." Siri will create the reminder with the time or location you mentioned.

Siri works best when you include a specific time or place in your request. If you just say "Remind me to call Mom," Siri will create a reminder but will not set a time for it. You can then open the Reminders app and add the time manually if you want.

Marking reminders complete and deleting them

When you finish a task, open the Reminders app and tap the circle next to the reminder. The circle fills in and the text gets a line through it, showing the reminder is done. The reminder stays in your list but marked as complete. You can tap the circle again to undo this if you change your mind.

To delete a reminder entirely, swipe left on it and tap the trash icon. To delete a whole list, tap "Lists," then swipe left on the list name and tap delete. Deleting a list removes all reminders in it, so be careful with this action.

Troubleshooting reminders that do not alert you

If you set a reminder with a time but never get notified, check three things. First, go to Settings, then Notifications, then Reminders. Make sure "Allow Notifications" is toggled on. Second, check that your iPhone is not in Do Not Disturb mode — swipe down from the top right corner and look for the moon icon. If it is lit up, tap it to turn off Do Not Disturb.

Third, make sure the reminder actually has a time set. Open the reminder and tap "Details." If the time field is blank, your iPhone has no moment to alert you at. Add a time and save. If notifications are on and Do Not Disturb is off but you still do not get alerts, restart your iPhone by holding the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share a reminder list with someone else?

Yes. Open a list, tap the three dots in the top right, and tap "Invite." Enter the person's email or phone number. They will get an invitation and can then see and edit that list on their own device. Changes either of you make appear for both of you in real time.

What happens if I delete the Reminders app?

You cannot fully delete the Reminders app from an iPhone — it is built in. You can hide it by pressing and holding the icon and tapping "Remove App," but your reminders are still stored in iCloud and will reappear if you reinstall it. Your reminders are never lost.

Do reminders work if my iPhone is turned off?

No. Your iPhone must be on and connected to power or have battery for reminders to send notifications. If your phone is off when a reminder time arrives, you will not get an alert. When you turn the phone back on, the reminder will not trigger retroactively.

Can I set a reminder for someone else?

You can create a reminder and share the list with them, but you cannot send a reminder directly to another person's phone. The best approach is to create the reminder in a shared list and invite them to that list so they see it on their own device.

How do I change the sound a reminder makes?

Go to Settings, tap Notifications, tap Reminders, and look for "Sound." Tap it to choose from different alert tones. You can also set different sounds for different lists by tapping the list name in the Reminders app, tapping the three dots, and choosing "List Details."