Learn how to set up early reminders for your tasks on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to stay organized and never miss a deadline again.
The Apple Reminders app can not only remind you on the date and time you choose but also send an early reminder. This serves as a warning ahead of time and ensures you get alerted twice for a task, thus reducing the possibility of missing it.
For instance, I often set reminders for things like booking travel tickets and canceling app subscriptions. Now, as mentioned, the Reminders app on my Apple device diligently alerts me on the day and time I have asked it to. However, in most cases, it helps to be reminded before the due date.
As an example, if I have set a reminder to book tickets for Saturday, I like to be reminded about it once on Friday, so I can finalize things and maybe get related items in order.
Just so we are clear, this early reminder alert is in addition to the notification you’ll get at the actual date and time you have set for that task.
This works on both iOS and macOS. However, remember that your reminders sync via iCloud, so you don’t need to create a to-do on all your Apple devices.
On iPhone and iPad
1) Open the Reminders app on your iOS device and create a new reminder or tap an existing one.
2) Tap the info button ⓘ next to the reminder.
3) Turn on the Date and Time switch if it’s off and select a date and time.
4) Tap the selector menu next to Early Reminder and choose an option (tap Details if you’re adding a new reminder and don’t see the Early Reminder option yet). Now, choose to get reminded:
- 5 minutes before
- 15 minutes before
- 30 minutes before
- 1 hour before
- 2 hours before
- 1 day before
- 2 days before
- 1 week before
- 1 month before
- Or tap Custom and pick a precise value in minute, hour, day, week, and month
5) When you finish, tap the checkmark icon or Done to save your reminder.
On Mac
1) Go to the Reminders app and create a reminder.
2) Click the info icon ⓘ next to the task name.
3) Turn on the Date and Time switches. On older versions of macOS, check the box for On a Day to pick a date. Next, select a time.
4) Click the Early Reminder dropdown menu and make a selection.
When you receive the time-sensitive early reminder, it appears like a standard notification from the Reminders app. The alert will also show the future scheduled time for that task, so you know it’s an early reminder. Of course, you’ll be alerted one more time when the due date and time for this task hits.
However, if you touch and hold the early reminder notification and mark it as completed, this means you have finished that task, and thus, you won’t be alerted on the scheduled date and time.
Do more with your reminders: