How to Set up and Manage Google Reminders

Wrangle your to-dos with Google Calendar Reminders

image showing Google Reminders on phone or laptop
by Jennifer Karner
Jen Karner is a freelance tech writer and expert on VR and Android phones. Her work has appeared on AndroidCentral, iMore, WindowsCentral and others.
Updated September 26, 2019

Google Calendar is an efficient way to stay on top of a busy schedule filled with appointments. Google Reminders, which is part of the Calendar app, offers a way to ensure you don't forget the little things either. Reminders can be set for a specific date and time or for any time during the day, and the feature has plenty of autofill options to make it as easy as possible.

Reminders carry forward until you cancel them or mark them as done. When you create a reminder, Google uses what it knows to predict your reminders and keep entry quick. If you set a reminder to call your sister for her birthday, for example, Google pulls the phone number associated with her name.

Instructions in this article apply to the Google Calendar mobile apps for Android and iOS, and to Google Calendar on the web.

How to Set a Google Reminder on the Mobile App

If you want to remember to pick up eggs from the store on your way home from work, add a reminder for today. If you don't mark a reminder as complete on the day you originally scheduled it, the reminder recurs the next day.

Here's how to set up reminders:

  1. Open the Google Calendar app on your phone.

  2. Tap the plus sign at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap Reminder.

  4. Enter a descriptive name for the reminder.

    Plus button, Reminder icon, Go to dinner meeting event

  5. To set a reminder that lasts for an entire day, turn on the All-day toggle switch and choose a date for the reminder.

  6. To select a specific time for the reminder, turn off the All-day toggle switch, select a day from the calendar, then select a time using the scroll wheels.

  7. To repeat a reminder, tap Does not repeat and select one of the options or customize your own repeat schedule.

    Calendar day, time, checkbox for Repeat in Google Reminders mobile

  8. Tap Save.

How to Edit a Google Reminder

To change a reminder:

  1. Open the Google Calendar app.

  2. Tap the reminder in your calendar to select it.

  3. Tap the pencil to edit the reminder.

  4. Change the name, date, time, or repeat of the reminder.

  5. Tap Done.

    Reminder, Pencil icon, Done button

How to Cancel A Google Reminder

Canceling or editing a reminder is done inside the Google Calendar app. When you complete the task covered in the reminder, open the reminder, tap Mark as Done, and it stops notifying you.

To delete a reminder:

  1. Open the Google Calendar app.

  2. Tap the reminder in your calendar.

  3. Tap the More icon (it looks like three horizontal dots).

  4. Tap Delete, then tap Delete reminder to confirm the deletion.

    Reminder, three horizontal dot menu, Delete button

Add and Edit Reminders in Google Calendar on the Web

The reminders you add or change on your mobile device sync with your Google Calendar on the web and vice versa, as long as Reminders is checked in the left panel of the Calendar interface.

To add a Reminder to the web interface of Calendar:

  1. Open Google Calendar in a web browser.

  2. Click any time slot on the calendar.

  3. Select Reminder.

  4. Enter the name, date, time (or select All day) and choose any repeats.

  5. Select Save.

    Save button in Google calendar

  6. To delete or change a reminder, click it once and select either the trash can to delete it or the pencil to edit it. The pencil opens the same screen you use to enter a reminder.

    Edit or Trash icon in Google reminders via calendar

  7. Make your changes and select Save.