Open the Reminders app and tap the plus button

The fastest way to create a reminder on iPhone is to open the Reminders app — the one with a checkmark icon — and tap the plus button in the top right corner. This opens a blank reminder where you can type what you need to remember.

If you don't see the Reminders app on your home screen, swipe left through your home screens or use Spotlight Search: swipe down from the top of the screen, type "Reminders", and tap the app when it appears.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the plus button in the Reminders app to create a new reminder, then type what you need to remember.
  • Set a time or date by tapping "Add Date" so your iPhone alerts you at the right moment.
  • You can organize reminders into lists — create a new list by tapping "Lists" at the bottom and then the plus button.
  • Siri can create reminders hands-free: say "Hey Siri, remind me to [task] at [time]" and your reminder is set.
  • Completed reminders stay in your list until you delete them, so you can check off tasks without losing the record.

Type your reminder and add a date or time

After you tap the plus button, a text field appears where you type what you want to remember. Type the task clearly — "Call dentist" or "Buy milk" — then tap outside the text field or press Return.

To set when you want to be reminded, tap Add Date below the text. A calendar and time picker appear. Choose the date you need the reminder, then tap the time field to set what hour and minute you want the alert. If you only need a date with no specific time, you can leave the time blank and your reminder will appear at 9 a.m. on that day by default.

Use location-based reminders to remember at a specific place

Instead of setting a time, you can set a reminder to alert you when you arrive at or leave a location. Tap Add Location instead of Add Date, then search for the place — your home, your office, a store — and tap it when it appears in the results.

When you arrive at that location, your iPhone uses GPS to detect it and sends you the reminder. This works even if the Reminders app is closed. Location reminders are useful for shopping lists (set it to your grocery store) or tasks you need to do at work (set it to your office address).

Organize reminders into separate lists

By default, all your reminders go into one list called "Reminders". If you want to separate work tasks from personal tasks or create a shopping list, you can make new lists. Tap Lists at the bottom of the screen, then tap the plus button in the top right corner.

Type a name for the new list — "Work", "Shopping", "Home Projects" — and tap Done. Now when you create a reminder, you can choose which list it goes into by tapping the list name at the top of the reminder screen. You can also move a reminder to a different list by opening it, tapping the list name, and selecting a new one.

Use Siri to create reminders without typing

If your hands are full or you're driving, you can create a reminder by talking to Siri. Press and hold the home button (or side button on newer iPhones) and say "Remind me to [task] at [time]". For example: "Remind me to pick up dry cleaning at 5 p.m." or "Remind me to call Mom tomorrow at 10 a.m."

Siri creates the reminder and confirms it back to you. You can also say "Remind me when I get home to [task]" and Siri sets a location-based reminder for your home address. If you make a mistake, you can edit the reminder later in the Reminders app.

Check off reminders and delete them when done

When you complete a task, open the Reminders app and tap the circle next to the reminder to mark it as done. The reminder moves to a "Completed" section at the bottom of the list, and a checkmark appears in the circle.

Completed reminders stay in your list so you have a record of what you've finished. If you want to remove a reminder entirely, swipe left on it and tap the trash icon. You can also tap "Edit" in the top left corner, tap the minus button next to any reminder, and tap "Delete" to remove multiple reminders at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a reminder to repeat every day or every week?

Yes. Open a reminder, tap the list name at the top, then scroll down and tap "Repeat". Choose "Daily", "Weekly", "Monthly", or "Yearly". The reminder will alert you on that schedule until you turn off the repeat setting.

What if I want to share a reminder list with someone else?

Open the list, tap the three dots in the top right, and tap "Invite People". Enter their phone number or email address. They'll receive an invitation and can see and edit the list on their own iPhone. Both of you will see updates in real time.

Can I set a reminder for a specific time on a repeating task?

Yes. Create the reminder with a date and time, then tap the list name and turn on "Repeat". The reminder will alert you at that same time on each day or week you selected. You can change the time later by opening the reminder and tapping the time field.

Do reminders work if my iPhone is turned off?

No. Your iPhone must be on and have internet or cellular service for reminders to send. If your phone is off when a reminder is scheduled, you won't receive the alert, though the reminder will still exist in your list.