Google Reminders: How to Add One and Actually See It
Google reminders do not work the way they used to, which is why so many people add one and then never see it. Here is what a Google reminder is today, how to add one, and what to do when a silent notification is not enough.
What is a Google reminder now?
Google folded the old Reminders feature into Tasks in 2023. Today a "reminder" is one of two things: a notification on a calendar event ("10 minutes before"), or a task with a date and time. Events give you more control over when you are alerted, so use an event when timing matters.
How to add a reminder in four steps
- Open Google Calendar and click the day and time you want.
- Choose Task for a simple reminder, or Event for one with notification settings.
- Give it a clear title and a time. A reminder with no time has nothing to fire on.
- For an event, click Add notification and add two: one well ahead, one close to the start.
Need the exact clicks on iPhone or Android, or want to change the default? See How to Set a Reminder in Google Calendar. For task alerts specifically, read Google Tasks Reminders.
Why you still miss them
A Google reminder is a silent banner. It lands among dozens of other alerts, one swipe dismisses it, and it only reaches devices where you are signed in. If yours never showed up at all, work through Google Calendar Notifications Not Working: 9 Causes and Fixes.
Can Google send a reminder as a text?
Not any more. Google removed text message notifications from Calendar in 2019. Here is what you can use instead.
Get a phone call instead
For something you cannot miss, DoNotify connects to your Google Calendar and phones you before the events you choose. It reads the event title aloud, works on any phone including a landline, and tries again if you do not pick up.
A call vibrates and lights up the screen by default. To have it ring out loud on silent, save the number as a contact and enable Emergency Bypass on iPhone, or mark it a priority contact on Android. New accounts get free calls to try it, and the plans are on the pricing page. For the full setup, see How to Get Voice Calls for Google Calendar Events.
Tips for reminders you will see
- Put the action in the title. "Client presentation at 2 PM, Room B" beats "Meeting".
- Set two notifications. A missed alert then has a backup.
- Leave time to prepare. An alert as the event starts is already too late.
- Test it once. Set a reminder for five minutes from now before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Google Reminders?
Google folded Reminders into Tasks in 2023. A reminder is now either a notification on a calendar event or a task with a date and time. Both are created from Google Calendar.
How do I add a reminder in Google Calendar?
Click the date and time in Google Calendar and choose Task for a simple reminder, or Event if you want control over notifications. For an event, click Add notification and choose how long before it should alert you. The full steps for desktop and phone are in our step-by-step guide.
Can Google Calendar send me a text message?
Not any more. Google removed text message notifications from Calendar in 2019, so the built-in options are email, a popup and a push notification. See what you can use instead.
Will a DoNotify call ring when my phone is on silent?
By default a call vibrates and lights up the screen, which is harder to miss than a banner. To make it ring out loud on silent or Do Not Disturb, save the DoNotify number as a contact and turn on Emergency Bypass on iPhone, or mark it a priority contact on Android.
Ready to Transform Your Google Reminders?
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