Open the Reminders app and create a new reminder

The Reminders app comes built into every iPhone. Tap the Reminders icon on your home screen — it looks like a checklist with a red circle. If you can't find it, swipe down from the top of your screen and search for "Reminders" instead.

Once the app opens, tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner. A new reminder line will appear at the bottom of your list. Type what you want to remember — "buy milk," "call the dentist," "pay electric bill" — anything you need to do.

After you type your reminder, tap "Add" or press return on your keyboard. The reminder now exists, but it won't alert you unless you set a time. If you want a notification, tap the reminder you just created to open its details.

Key Takeaways

  • The Reminders app is built into your iPhone and found on your home screen or through search.
  • Tap the plus sign to create a new reminder, type what you need to remember, then tap Add.
  • Set a specific time or date by tapping the reminder and choosing "Alert" to receive a notification.
  • You can organize reminders into lists like "Shopping," "Work," or "Home" to keep them grouped together.
  • Siri can create reminders hands-free — just say "Hey Siri, remind me to [task] at [time]."

Set a time or date for your reminder

When you tap a reminder to open its details, you'll see several options. Look for the line that says "Alert" or shows a clock icon. Tap it to set when you want to be notified.

You can choose a specific time ("2:00 PM today"), a specific date and time ("Tuesday at 9:00 AM"), or a location-based alert ("when I leave home" or "when I arrive at work"). For a one-time reminder, pick the date and time you need it. For something that repeats, tap "Repeat" and choose daily, weekly, or monthly.

After you set the alert, your iPhone will send you a notification at that time. The notification appears on your lock screen and in the notification center, and your phone will also play a sound (unless you've silenced it).

Organize reminders into separate lists

By default, all your reminders go into a single list called "Reminders." If you have many reminders, creating separate lists makes them easier to find. Tap "Lists" at the bottom of the screen, then tap the plus sign to create a new list.

Name your list something clear: "Shopping," "Work," "Home," "Health," or whatever makes sense for your life. When you create a new reminder, you can choose which list it goes into by tapping the list name at the top of the reminder details.

You can also move a reminder between lists after you create it. Open the reminder, tap the list name, and choose a different one. This keeps your reminders organized so you're not scrolling through dozens of tasks to find what you need.

Use Siri to create reminders without typing

If your hands are full or you're driving, Siri can create reminders for you. Press and hold the home button (or say "Hey Siri"), then speak your reminder: "Remind me to pick up groceries at 5 PM" or "Remind me to call Mom tomorrow at noon."

Siri understands natural language, so you don't have to be exact. Say "Remind me to water the plants on Saturday" and Siri will set it for Saturday at a default time. You can also say "Remind me to take my medication when I get home" and Siri will create a location-based reminder.

After Siri creates the reminder, it shows you what it heard and asks you to confirm. If something is wrong, you can say "change the time to 3 PM" or "change it to next week" before confirming.

Mark reminders complete and delete ones you don't need

When you finish a task, tap the empty circle next to the reminder to mark it complete. The circle fills in and the text grays out, but the reminder stays in your list so you can see what you've done.

To delete a reminder, swipe left on it and tap the trash icon. If you delete it by mistake, you can undo the deletion by shaking your phone and tapping "Undo" — but only immediately after you delete it.

Completed reminders stay visible until you manually delete them or until they're old enough that the app archives them. If you want to clean up your list, delete the completed reminders you no longer need to see.

Share reminder lists with family or coworkers

You can share a reminder list with other people so you're all working from the same task list. Open the list you want to share, tap the three dots in the top right, and choose "Share List." Enter the contact information for the person you want to share with.

The person you share with will receive an invitation and can accept it to see and edit the list. Changes either of you make appear for both of you in real time, so if one person marks a task complete, the other person sees it immediately.

This works well for household chores, grocery lists, or team projects where multiple people need to see the same tasks. You can share with anyone who has an Apple device and an iCloud account.

Troubleshoot reminders that aren't working

If you're not receiving notifications for your reminders, check that notifications are turned on for the Reminders app. Go to Settings, tap Notifications, find Reminders, and make sure "Allow Notifications" is turned on. Also check that your phone's volume is not muted — the mute switch is on the left side of your phone.

If a reminder is set but you're not seeing it, make sure you're looking in the right list. Tap "Lists" at the bottom and check that the reminder is in the list you're viewing. You can also search for the reminder by swiping down and typing in the search box.

If you've deleted a reminder by mistake and want it back, check your Recently Deleted list. Open the app, tap "Lists," scroll down, and tap "Recently Deleted." You can restore reminders from there within 30 days of deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a reminder for a specific location instead of a time?

Yes. When you open a reminder's details and tap "Alert," you can choose "At a Location" instead of a specific time. Pick "When I Arrive" or "When I Leave," then select a location from your contacts or type an address. Your phone will notify you when you reach or leave that place.

What happens if I don't set an alert for a reminder?

The reminder stays in your list, but you won't receive a notification. You'll only see it if you open the Reminders app and look at it. If you want to be notified, you must set an alert with a time or location.

Can I set a reminder to repeat every weekday but not weekends?

Yes. When you tap "Repeat," choose "Custom" at the bottom of the options. You can then select which days of the week the reminder should repeat on. Uncheck Saturday and Sunday, and the reminder will repeat only Monday through Friday.

How do I move a reminder from one list to another?

Open the reminder by tapping it, then tap the list name at the top of the details screen. A menu appears showing all your lists. Tap the list you want to move it to, and the reminder is transferred immediately.

Can I add notes or details to a reminder?

Yes. Open the reminder and scroll down to find the "Notes" field. Type any extra information you need — a phone number, an address, a size, or instructions. The notes appear when you open the reminder but not in the main list view.