How to Set Up Reminders in Windows

You could use a little help if you have a large, diverse to-do list. Set up reminders, including recurring reminders, on Windows with various built-in tools and third-party apps. This tutorial will share different methods to help you quickly set reminders in Windows 10 and 11.

Also read:How to turn off computer notifications on Windows

Set reminders with Cortana

Cortana is one of the best features of Windows. It can perform multiple tasks, one of which is reminder.

Organizing your schedule with a huge to-do list is tedious, but Cortana makes it easier. To set up a reminder with Cortana, follow these simple steps:

1. Say “Hey Cortana” when your speech recognition is set up, or click the “Cortana” icon in your taskbar. You can also search for “Cortana” in the Start menu by pressing Win key on your keyboard.

2. Say more commands or type the reminder you want to set. For example, you can say something like “Set a birthday reminder for August 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM.” Cortana adds a reminder right inside Microsoft To-Do.

Set up recurring reminders

Cortana can also help you set recurring reminders:

1. Find and open Cortana, or just say “Hello Cortana‘ to enable Cortana in Windows.
2. Speak or type your reminder. For example, “Remind me to take Grandma to the doctor every Thursday at 6pm.” Cortana stores your reminder in Microsoft To-Do.

Also read:7 Microsoft To-Do tips to help you get more done

Set reminders with Microsoft To-Do

Microsoft To-Do is a simple, easy-to-use app that lets you set reminders for your tasks. You can also set due dates and priorities for each task, among other things.

Follow these steps to set up reminders with Microsoft To-Do:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.
2. Enter your reminder task in the Add Task section at the bottom of Microsoft To-Do and click Enter.

3. Click on the task you just created and select the “Remind me” option.

4. Choose from the preset date and time options, or click Choose a date and time to set a custom reminder.

5. Similarly, click on the created task to set a recurring reminder. Go to the Repeat option and choose from the repeat options.

6. Another method requires you to enter details in the task. For example, type “Medication daily at 10am‘ creates a recurring reminder for each day at 10:00 AM.

7. Microsoft To-Do will remind you of the task at the specified date and time.

Also read:How to create and use location-based reminders on Android

Set reminders with the calendar

Windows Calendar is a great way to add tasks and reminders if you’re already using it to manage your schedule. It is recommended to sync your Google account with Calendar to see all your tasks under one roof.

1. Open the Calendar app or click on the time and date stamp at the bottom right of your desktop screen.
2. Click the “+” button on the left.

3. Enter the task details in the field and set the date and time for the reminder.

4. You can also set up a recurring reminder by clicking the snooze button above.

5. Set the start and end dates, how often you want the reminder to appear, and when. Click “Save” when everything is set.

6. When you’re done, you’ll see a recurring reminder scheduled on your calendar.

Also read:10 Calendar Apps That Are Great Google Calendar Alternatives

Set reminders with Any.do

Any.do is an all-in-one to-do app. With the free app you can sync Google Calendar. You can also install the app on your phone to get reminders when you are not in front of the computer screen. Follow the steps below to set up a reminder on Windows using Any.do.

1. Download and install the desktop version.
2. Launch Any.do and sign in with your Google account.

3. Click on “Create task”.

4. Enter your task title and reminder details in the Notes section above.

5. Go to the Custom section on the right under Reminder.

6. Select the date and time and click Set.

7. Click the “Add Task” button to complete the process and you’re all set. Any.do will remind you of your task at the scheduled date and time.

Set reminders with Task Scheduler

Task Scheduler isn’t the ideal way to set reminders since you already have options like Microsoft To-Do. You can no longer view a message or send an email as an action for a trigger like you could in previous versions of Windows. However, you can still use Task Scheduler to set reminders by following the steps below:

1. Open Notepad on your Windows computer.
2. Enter the following text in Notepad:

@abmacwanecho off
title "THIS IS YOUR REMINDER TITLE"
echo "THIS IS YOUR REMINDER MESSAGE"
pause

3. Replace the title text with the title you want to use for the reminder, and replace the text next to “echo” with the text of the message.

4. Press ctrl + change + S or click on the “File” option and select “Save As”. Enter a name for the file and end with “.cmd”

5. Open “Task Scheduler” from the Start menu.
6. Click on “Create task” in the menu on the right.

7. Enter the task name under the General tab. Select Windows 10 or Windows 11 from the Configure for drop-down menu at the bottom.

8. Go to the “Triggers” tab and create “New”.

9. Choose when you want the reminder to appear via the Begin Task option. We choose the task “On a schedule”.

10. Set the date and time for the one-time reminder and click OK to continue.

11. Go to the “Actions” tab and click “New” to create the action for your task.

12. Visit the Action dropdown menu and select Start a program.

13. In the Program/Script option, locate and open the .cmd file you created with Notepad. Click OK twice”.

14. Find your reminder under the “Task Scheduler Library”. Right click on it and click “Run” to test if it works.

15. Your task reminder is set.

Also read:How to automate and schedule tasks in Windows

frequently asked Questions

Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash All screenshots by Dharini Udani

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