How to Set a Reminder on Your iPhone — Every Method Explained

Your iPhone has three ways to set reminders: Siri by voice, the Reminders app manually, and Calendar events with alerts. Each has a specific sweet spot.

Method 1: Siri (Voice — Fastest)

The fastest way to set any reminder:

Say: "Hey Siri, remind me to [action] at [time]"

Siri understands natural language well. Examples:

• "Remind me to take my vitamins at 8am every day"
• "Remind me to call the dentist tomorrow at 2pm"
• "Remind me to check the mail when I get home"
• "Remind me in 30 minutes to take the chicken out of the oven"

Siri confirms the details and creates the reminder immediately. It appears in the Reminders app where you can edit it afterward.

Recurring reminders with Siri:

• "Remind me every day at 8am to take my medication"
• "Remind me every Monday at 9am"
• "Remind me every weekday at 6pm to close my laptop"

Method 2: Reminders App (Manual — Most Control)

For reminders that need specific configuration:

1. Open the Reminders app
2. Tap a list or New List to create one
3. Tap New Reminder at the bottom
4. Type the reminder text
5. Tap the calendar icon (or the info button on the reminder)
6. Toggle Remind me on a day → set date and time
7. Tap Repeat → choose Daily, Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, or Yearly
8. Tap Done

Location-based reminder: Instead of toggling "Remind me on a day," toggle Remind me at a location → enter the address → choose "Arriving" or "Leaving."

Flagging and priority: Tap the flag icon to mark a reminder as high-priority — flagged reminders appear in their own smart list for easy review.

Method 3: Calendar App (Best for Events)

1. Open Calendar
2. Tap + in the top right
3. Enter the event title, date, and time
4. Scroll down to Alert → set when you want the notification (at time of event, 5 min before, 1 hour before, etc.)
5. For recurring: tap Repeat → choose the frequency
6. Tap Add

Calendar reminders work best for appointments, meetings, and events with a specific date and time. Reminders works better for personal to-do-style tasks without a fixed event.

How iPhone Reminder Notifications Work

All three methods above deliver push notifications — an alert that appears on your screen. When the phone is locked, you see it on the lock screen. When unlocked, it appears as a banner at the top.

Push notifications can be missed if:

• You put your phone in Focus/Do Not Disturb mode
• You swipe the notification away without acting on it
• The Reminders or Calendar app lost notification permission (check Settings → Reminders → Notifications)

For reminders you genuinely can't afford to miss — medication, a legal deadline, a payment due date — consider adding an SMS backup via YouGot.

Getting SMS Reminders on iPhone

Apple's built-in tools don't send SMS text message reminders. For text-based reminders:

1. Sign up at YouGot with your iPhone number
2. Set your reminder in plain language: "Remind me every morning at 7:30am to take my blood pressure medication"
3. Receive an SMS text at that time every day

The text arrives in your regular Messages app — the same place texts from people appear. It doesn't require a separate app to view, and it works even if YouGot's app is closed or uninstalled.

This is especially useful for:

• High-stakes recurring reminders (medication, insulin, anticoagulants)
• Reminders you want on your phone AND to send to another person
• Situations where you share a phone and both people should get the text

Managing Reminders After You Set Them

Edit: Tap the reminder in the Reminders app → tap the info (i) icon → change any field.

Complete: Tap the circle to the left of the reminder. It disappears from your active list (accessible under Completed).

Delete: Swipe left on a reminder → tap Delete. For a recurring reminder, you'll be asked if you want to delete this one or all future occurrences.

Snooze: From the notification, swipe to see options — you can snooze the reminder for a set period without opening the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set a reminder on my iPhone?

Three ways: (1) Say 'Hey Siri, remind me to [action] at [time]' — fastest method. (2) Open the Reminders app, tap New Reminder, set the date/time and repeat options. (3) Create a Calendar event with a notification alert. All three deliver as push notifications.

How do I make an iPhone reminder repeat every day?

In the Reminders app: create a reminder, tap the info (i) icon, toggle 'Remind me on a day,' set the time, tap 'Repeat,' then choose 'Daily.' With Siri: say 'Remind me every day at [time] to [action].' Both create a daily push notification.

Can I get text message reminders from my iPhone?

Not from built-in iPhone tools — Siri and the Reminders app only send push notifications. For SMS text reminders, use YouGot: sign up with your phone number and set reminders in plain language — they arrive as texts, not app notifications.

How do I set a location reminder on iPhone?

In the Reminders app: create a reminder, tap the info (i) icon, toggle 'Remind me at a location,' then enter the address or choose Home/Work. The reminder fires when you arrive at or leave that location. Requires location access for the Reminders app.

How do I delete or change a recurring reminder on iPhone?

Open the Reminders app, find the reminder, swipe left to delete or tap the info (i) icon to edit. When deleting a recurring reminder, iPhone asks whether to delete just this occurrence or all future occurrences. Choose 'Delete All' to stop the series.