How to Set Reminders in Slack: 4 Methods and When Each Falls Short
Slack has a built-in /remind command that sets reminders for yourself or teammates. Type /remind me to [task] at [time] in any channel or DM to create a reminder that fires as a Slackbot message. For simple, one-time task nudges within a connected team, it works well. For recurring reminders, multi-channel delivery, or reaching people outside Slack, a dedicated reminder tool handles what Slack can't.
If your team lives in Slack, you already have a basic reminder tool — you just might not know about it. Here's how to use it, where it breaks down, and what to add when it does.
The Slack /remind Command: Basic Usage
Type /remind in any Slack channel, DM, or message box to access the reminder syntax:
/remind [me or @person] [to do task] [at time or on date]
Examples:
/remind me to send the weekly report at 4pm every Friday/remind @sarah to review the contract on Monday at 9am/remind #team-marketing to submit campaign assets by 3pm today
Slack parses natural language reasonably well — "next Friday," "in 2 hours," "every weekday at 9am" all work.
Managing Slack Reminders
To see your pending reminders: type /remind list in any message box.
To delete a reminder: open /remind list, then click the trashcan icon next to the one you want to remove.
Completed reminders are marked done when you click "Mark as Complete" in the Slackbot notification.
Try These Slack Reminder Examples
Type any of these directly into Slack:
/remind me to follow up with the client on Tuesday at 2pm.
/remind @team to submit timesheets every Friday at 4:30pm.
/remind me to review the Q2 budget on the 28th of every month at 10am.
/remind #engineering to run the weekly deployment checklist every Monday at 9am.
For reminders that also need SMS or WhatsApp delivery — reaching people outside Slack — set up parallel reminders at YouGot.
Where Slack Reminders Fall Short
Slack reminders work well within Slack. Outside it, they have limits worth knowing:
| Limitation | What happens | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient is offline | Reminder fires as unread Slackbot message; may be missed | SMS reminder via YouGot |
| Need SMS delivery | No SMS support | Dedicated SMS reminder service |
| Need WhatsApp delivery | No WhatsApp support | YouGot WhatsApp reminders |
| Need reminders for non-Slack users | Can't add external recipients | Email/SMS reminder service |
| Complex recurring patterns | Limited natural language parsing | YouGot, Todoist, or Google Tasks |
| Need confirmation/read-receipt | No read-receipt tracking | CRM or appointment reminder tool |
The core limitation is channel lock-in: Slack reminders only work if the recipient checks Slack. For teams where remote workers, clients, or non-desk employees aren't consistently active, a Slackbot reminder is invisible.
4 Methods for Setting Work Reminders
Method 1: Slack /remind Best for: internal team nudges where everyone is Slack-active. Zero setup, instant.
Method 2: Slack scheduled messages Draft a message → click the arrow next to the send button → "Schedule message." Sends a formatted message at a future time. Better than /remind for longer, context-rich reminders.
Method 3: YouGot SMS reminders YouGot delivers reminders via SMS and WhatsApp. Text "Remind me to follow up with the Acme client every Monday at 9am" and it fires via SMS each week — no Slack required.
Method 4: Google Calendar reminders For meetings and scheduled events, Google Calendar reminders fire as email or push notifications across devices. Better for calendar-bound tasks than ad-hoc reminders.
Building a Reliable Team Reminder System
For teams with both Slack and non-Slack participants, the most effective system combines tools:
- Slack
/remindfor internal team nudges (stand-up agenda, task follow-ups) - SMS reminders via YouGot for time-sensitive external communications (client appointments, contractor deadlines)
- Email reminders for formal communications (invoices, compliance deadlines)
This covers the full channel spectrum — push notification, SMS, email — without relying on any single platform.
Slack Reminder Best Practices
Be specific in the task description. /remind me to "follow up on the Acme contract — check if they've reviewed the proposal" is more actionable than /remind me about Acme.
Use channels for team-wide reminders. /remind #channel-name sends the reminder to everyone following that channel — no @mentions required.
Set recurring reminders for repeating workflows. Weekly check-ins, monthly reports, quarterly reviews — set these once and let Slack handle the recurrence.
Don't rely solely on Slackbot for critical reminders. If something genuinely can't be missed, add a parallel SMS reminder so it reaches you even if Slack is closed or muted.
Slack reminders are a good first layer. For anything business-critical, add a second channel that doesn't require the recipient to be online.
For more on team and work reminder systems, see YouGot for small businesses and teams and the work follow-up reminders guide. Check YouGot's plans for team pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set a reminder in Slack?
Type /remind me to [task] at [time] in any Slack channel or DM. Slack supports natural language: 'tomorrow at 3pm,' 'every Monday at 9am,' 'on June 15.' The reminder fires as a Slackbot direct message. To see all pending reminders, type /remind list.
Can I send a Slack reminder to someone else?
Yes — use /remind @username to [task] at [time]. The reminder appears as a Slackbot message in that person's DMs. For public channels, use /remind #channel-name. Note: the recipient must be active in Slack to receive it effectively — if they're offline, the message waits as unread.
Does Slack support recurring reminders?
Yes — Slack parses phrases like 'every day at 9am,' 'every Monday,' 'every weekday,' and 'every week on Friday at 4pm.' More complex patterns (e.g., 'every second Tuesday') may not be parsed reliably. For complex recurring schedules, use a dedicated reminder app with more flexible parsing.
Can Slack reminders send to people via text message?
No — Slack reminders only fire within Slack as Slackbot messages. For SMS delivery, use a separate service like YouGot, which delivers reminders via SMS and WhatsApp and can reach people who aren't consistently active in Slack.
What's the difference between a Slack reminder and a Slack notification?
A Slack reminder is explicitly scheduled by you to fire at a specific time. A Slack notification is triggered by activity — a message mention, a channel post, a reaction. Reminders are proactive and task-oriented; notifications are reactive and collaboration-oriented. They serve different purposes.
Never Forget What Matters
Set reminders in plain English (or any language). Get notified via push, SMS, WhatsApp, or email.
Try YouGot Free →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set a reminder in Slack?▾
Type /remind me to [task] at [time] in any Slack channel or DM. Slack supports natural language: 'tomorrow at 3pm,' 'every Monday at 9am,' 'on June 15.' The reminder fires as a Slackbot direct message. To see all pending reminders, type /remind list.
Can I send a Slack reminder to someone else?▾
Yes — use /remind @username to [task] at [time]. The reminder appears as a Slackbot message in that person's DMs. For public channels, use /remind #channel-name. Note: the recipient must be active in Slack to receive it effectively — if they're offline, the message waits as unread.
Does Slack support recurring reminders?▾
Yes — Slack parses phrases like 'every day at 9am,' 'every Monday,' 'every weekday,' and 'every week on Friday at 4pm.' More complex patterns (e.g., 'every second Tuesday') may not be parsed reliably. For complex recurring schedules, use a dedicated reminder app with more flexible parsing.
Can Slack reminders send to people via text message?▾
No — Slack reminders only fire within Slack as Slackbot messages. For SMS delivery, use a separate service like YouGot, which delivers reminders via SMS and WhatsApp and can reach people who aren't consistently active in Slack.
What's the difference between a Slack reminder and a Slack notification?▾
A Slack reminder is explicitly scheduled by you to fire at a specific time. A Slack notification is triggered by activity — a message mention, a channel post, a reaction. Reminders are proactive and task-oriented; notifications are reactive and collaboration-oriented. They serve different purposes.