Google Calendar: How to Add a Reminder

To add a reminder in Google Calendar, open the app or website, click the date and time you want, choose “Reminder” from the options, type your text, and save. You can also create reminders by typing in the “Search for people, tasks, or rooms” box or by using voice commands on mobile. This guide covers the exact steps for desktop, Android, and iPhone, plus how to set repeat reminders, change notifications, and fix common issues.

What Exactly Is a Google Calendar Reminder?

A reminder in Google Calendar is a lightweight event that appears on your calendar and sends you a notification at a set time. Unlike an event, a reminder doesn’t have a start and end time or invite guests. It’s simply a note like “Call dentist” or “Water plants” that pops up on your phone, computer, or smartwatch.

Google Calendar offers three similar but distinct features:

• Reminders – simple to-do items that appear on your calendar and can repeat.
• Tasks – more structured to-dos with due dates, subtasks, and the ability to mark complete.
• Events – time-blocked appointments with attendees, location, and video conferencing.

Reminders are the quickest to create and are ideal for things you don’t want to forget but don’t need to schedule as a full event.

How to Add a Reminder on Desktop (Web Browser)

On a computer, you can add a reminder in a few ways. Here’s the most direct method:

1. Go to calendar.google.com and sign in.
2. Click the date and time on the calendar grid where you want the reminder. A pop-up box will appear.
3. Click the dropdown arrow next to “Event” and select Reminder.
4. Type a title (e.g., “Take out trash”).
5. Optionally set a specific time, or leave it as “All day”.
6. Click Save.

You can also create a reminder by clicking the “+” button next to “Search for people, tasks, or rooms” at the top left, then choosing “Reminder”. Or, type a natural-language command in that search box, like “Remind me to call Mom tomorrow at 9am” and press Enter – Google Calendar will automatically create the reminder.

How to Add a Reminder on Android and iPhone

The Google Calendar app for both Android and iOS works similarly. Here’s how:

1. Open the Google Calendar app.
2. Tap the “+” (plus) icon at the bottom right.
3. Tap Reminder.
4. Enter the reminder text.
5. Choose a date and time, or tap “All day”.
6. Set a repeat if needed (e.g., “Daily”, “Weekly”).
7. Tap Save.

On iPhone, you can also use Siri: say “Hey Siri, remind me to water the plants tomorrow at 8am” and Siri will create a Google Calendar reminder if you have the app installed and set as your default calendar. On Android, you can use Google Assistant similarly.

Setting Repeating Reminders

Many users want a reminder to occur every day or every week. Here’s how to set that up:

• When creating or editing a reminder, look for “Does not repeat” or “Repeat” and click or tap it.
• Choose a preset like “Daily”, “Weekly”, “Monthly”, or “Yearly”.
• For custom repeats, select “Custom” and set the frequency (e.g., every 2 days, every weekday).
• Reminders can repeat indefinitely; you cannot set an end date for a repeating reminder in the current version, but you can delete the series later.

Note that repeating reminders appear as a single series on your calendar. To edit one occurrence, you must edit the entire series, or delete and recreate that one occurrence.

How to Change Notification Settings for Reminders

By default, Google Calendar sends a notification at the time of the reminder. You can change this to get an early alert:

1. Click or tap the reminder to open its details.
2. Look for the notification bell icon or “Notification”.
3. Choose a time before the reminder (e.g., 10 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day).
4. You can add multiple notifications, but for reminders, only one is allowed in the web version.

To change the default notification time for all reminders, go to Settings → General → “Default reminder time”. You can set it to “At time of event”, “5 minutes before”, “10 minutes before”, etc. This applies to new reminders you create.

Common Problems and Fixes

If your reminder isn’t showing up or notifying you, try these fixes:

• Notifications not appearing on phone: Check that notifications are enabled for the Google Calendar app in your phone’s settings. On Android: Settings → Apps → Google Calendar → Notifications. On iPhone: Settings → Google Calendar → Notifications.
• Reminder not showing in the app: Make sure you’re viewing the correct calendar. Reminders are stored in a separate “Reminders” calendar, which you can toggle on/off in the calendar list (left sidebar on desktop, hamburger menu on mobile).
• Can’t find the reminder you created: Use the search bar at the top of Google Calendar and type the reminder’s text. If it doesn’t appear, check if you accidentally created it as an event instead.
• Reminder doesn’t repeat as expected: Verify the repeat rule by opening the reminder and checking “Repeat”. If you set a custom repeat, ensure the interval and frequency are correct.

Reminders vs. Tasks: Which Should You Use?

Google Calendar’s “Tasks” feature is separate from reminders and offers more structure. Tasks allow you to:

• Create subtasks and checklists.
• Set due dates (but not specific times).
• Add details and notes.
• See tasks in Google Tasks app and Gmail sidebar.

Reminders are simpler – they have a title, date/time, and repeat option. If you need a quick nudge, use a reminder. If you’re managing a project or a to-do list, use Tasks. You can also convert a reminder to a task by opening the reminder and clicking the “Convert to task” option (available on desktop).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a reminder for a specific time without a date?

No, every reminder requires a date. If you want a reminder for a specific time, you must pick a date. However, you can set it as “All day” if you just want it to appear on that day without a specific time.

Why don’t I see the “Reminder” option when creating an event?

In the pop-up box, the default is “Event”. You need to click the dropdown arrow next to “Event” and select “Reminder”. If you’re using the mobile app, tap the “+” icon and choose “Reminder” from the menu. If you still don’t see it, update the app to the latest version.

Can I share a reminder with someone else?

No, reminders are private and cannot be shared. If you need to share a reminder, create an event and invite the person, or use a shared calendar and add the reminder there (but only you will see it). For shared tasks, use Google Tasks and share the task list via Google Workspace (if you have a work or school account).

How do I delete a reminder?

Click or tap the reminder, then select the trash icon or “Delete”. For a repeating reminder, you’ll be asked if you want to delete “This event” or “All events”. Choose “All events” to delete the entire series, or “This event” to delete only that occurrence.

Do reminders work offline?

Google Calendar requires an internet connection to create and sync reminders. However, on mobile, if you have previously synced your calendar, you may see reminders offline, but you cannot create new ones. Notifications for reminders are also delivered via the app, which requires the app to be running or backgrounded.

Can I set a reminder to a different time zone?

Yes, when creating a reminder, you can change the time zone by clicking “Time zone” in the details. This is useful for travel or when coordinating with people in other regions. The reminder will fire at the correct local time for that time zone.

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