Learn how to set a call back reminder directly in the iPhone Phone app so you never forget to return a call.
When someone calls you, and you don’t want to answer immediately, you can use the “Remind Me” option on the full call interface to get alerted to call back after an hour or after you leave the current location.
But what if you want to be reminded to call back someone whose call you missed, or someone you already talked to but have something important to follow up on later? For instance, when my bank’s relationship manager calls me, I usually pick up, and if there is something that requires a follow-up call, I use the call reminder feature so I don’t forget.
If you make and receive a lot of calls, the built-in call reminder feature can act as an assistant, alerting you to call someone back.
Set up a call back reminder on iPhone
- Open the Phone app and go through your recent call logs.
- To set a callback reminder, swipe left on a cellular or FaceTime call entry, then tap the little clock icon.
- Choose to get reminded in 1 hour, tonight, tomorrow, or tap Remind Me Later to set a custom date and time. Choosing the custom option displays the Reminders app interface, where you can enter the details as needed.
When it’s time to call back…
You’ll get a time-sensitive notification on your iPhone, tapping which will take you to the iOS Reminders app. From there, tap the tiny Phone icon area carefully to place a call. You can also tap the info button ⓘ next to the reminder, then tap the call button on the next screen.
In my opinion, it would have been far better if tapping or touching & holding this reminder notification showed an option to call back, thus eliminating one extra step of going to the Reminders app. But as of now, doing that just shows options to reschedule the reminder or mark it as completed.
See all your call back reminders
If you use the new and default Unified Phone app style, all your callback reminders will be visible in an appropriately named ‘Reminders’ section at the top of the Calls tab.
However, if you have switched to the Classic Phone app style, you can see your callback reminders in the ‘Today’ or ‘Scheduled’ sections of the iOS Reminders app.
Edit a call back reminder
You can make changes to the time and other things in the Reminders app, like you normally do. Or, you can swipe left on a recent call with a reminder set up, then tap the clock icon. Now, choose to Edit in Reminders and make the necessary changes.
Mark a call back reminder as completed
Mark it as completed in the Reminders app, or swipe left on a call entry in the Phone app, and tap ‘Mark as Completed.’ The latter won’t take you to the Reminders app.
If you swipe left on a recent call and tap the red trash icon, it will remove that call entry from your recent call log, along with any callback reminder you set for it.
What do you think of this little feature? As someone who often doesn’t pick up calls straightaway, I sure find it useful.
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