How to Set a Reminder on Your Computer — Windows, Mac, and Browser

Every major computer platform has a way to set reminders. The method you use determines how the reminder reaches you — desktop pop-up, email, push notification on your phone, or SMS. Here's a clear breakdown for each platform.

On Windows 11

Clock App (Built-In)

1. Search for "Clock" in the Start menu and open it
2. Click Alarms & Clock in the left sidebar
3. Select the Reminders tab (Windows 11) or Alarms tab (Windows 10)
4. Click + to add a new reminder
5. Set the name, date, and time
6. Choose repeat frequency if needed
7. Click Save

Windows shows a pop-up notification at the scheduled time. If you're not at your computer, you'll see it when you return (it persists until dismissed).

Cortana (Voice — Windows 10)

Say or type: "Remind me to [action] at [time]" in the Cortana search bar. Cortana creates a reminder that fires as a Windows notification.

Microsoft Outlook (Work/Calendar-Based)

1. Open Outlook → Calendar view
2. Click the time slot for your reminder
3. Fill in the title
4. Under Reminder, set how far in advance to alert you
5. For recurring: click Recurrence → set pattern
6. Click Save & Close

Outlook reminders work well in professional environments and sync across all devices with the Outlook app installed.

On Mac

Reminders App (Built-In)

1. Open Reminders (in your Applications folder or Launchpad)
2. Click New Reminder (or press Command+N)
3. Type the reminder text
4. Click the info icon (i) → toggle Remind me on a day
5. Set the date, time, and repeat frequency
6. Press Return

Mac Reminders syncs with your iPhone via iCloud if you're signed into the same Apple ID. Set it on your Mac and it appears on your phone.

Calendar App

1. Open Calendar
2. Double-click the time slot
3. Fill in the event details
4. Click Add Alert under the event to set when the reminder fires
5. For recurring events, set repeat frequency

Siri on Mac

Click the Siri icon (top right menu bar) or press Command+Space and type Siri. Say: "Remind me to [action] at [time]."

In a Browser (Any Computer)

Google Calendar

1. Go to calendar.google.com
2. Click on the date and time you want
3. In the quick event creator, change Event to Reminder
4. Type what you need to remember
5. Click More options to set a specific time and repeat frequency
6. Click Save

Google sends a push notification if you have the Google Calendar mobile app. On your computer, it shows a Chrome desktop notification.

Todoist Web

If you use Todoist, set tasks with due dates and times in the browser — reminders fire as push notifications on your phone.

SMS Reminders — Set From Your Computer, Arrive on Your Phone

Built-in computer reminders deliver as desktop pop-ups. When you're away from your computer, they don't reach your phone unless you have the corresponding mobile app installed.

YouGot is browser-based: set reminders from any computer, receive them as SMS texts on your phone. No separate app installation required on either end.

Useful scenario: You're at your desk setting up the week's schedule. You add reminders for medication, a bill payment, and a weekly check-in with a client. All fire as text messages to your phone throughout the week — even if you're away from your computer.

Comparison: Computer Reminder Methods

Method	Platform	Delivers to phone	SMS	Syncs with mobile
Windows Clock	Windows	No	No	No
Outlook	Windows/Mac	App push	No	Yes (Outlook app)
Mac Reminders	Mac	iCloud push	No	Yes (iPhone, iCloud)
Google Calendar	Browser	App push	No	Yes (Google app)
YouGot	Browser	Yes (SMS)	Yes	Yes (any phone)

The Best Computer Reminder Method by Situation

You're at your desk all day and just need a pop-up: Windows Clock or Mac Reminders.

You use a work PC with Microsoft 365: Outlook reminders — they sync to your phone via the Outlook app.

You want reminders to also go to your phone as texts: YouGot — set in a browser, receive as SMS.

You share a computer or work from different machines: Google Calendar or YouGot — both are browser/cloud-based and work from any device.

For current plans and SMS limits, see YouGot pricing.

Ready to get started? YouGot works for Technology — see plans and pricing or browse more Technology articles.

Try these reminders

These are real reminders you can copy into YouGot — just tap the Try button on the card above the article.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set a reminder on my computer?

On Windows 11: use the Clock app's Alarms & Clock → Reminder feature. On Mac: open Reminders (pre-installed). In a browser on any computer: use Google Calendar to create an event with a notification. For reminders that go to your phone as texts, use YouGot.

How do I set a reminder in Google Calendar?

Open calendar.google.com, click the date and time you want, select 'Reminder' (not Event), type what you need to remember, set the time, and add a repeat if needed. Click Save. Google sends a push notification at that time if you have the Google Calendar app installed.

How do I set a reminder in Outlook?

In Outlook, create a new calendar event at the desired time and use the Reminder dropdown to choose how far in advance to alert you (15 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, etc.). For recurring reminders, set the event to repeat and the reminder fires before each occurrence.

Can I get a computer reminder that also texts my phone?

Not from built-in computer tools — they deliver desktop pop-up notifications only. YouGot sends reminders as SMS texts regardless of which device you're on — set it from any browser and the text arrives on your phone.

How do I set a reminder on a Mac?

Open the Reminders app (pre-installed on all Macs), click the '+' to add a reminder, type the text, then click the info icon to set a date, time, and repeat frequency. The reminder syncs via iCloud to your iPhone if you're signed in with the same Apple ID.