Reminders

In the Reminders app, you can save a list as a template to reuse it for routines, packing lists, and more. You can create a link to publish and share a template with others, or download templates that others have shared.

After you make a template from a list, changes to that list don’t affect the template, and changes to a template don’t affect lists you already created from it. You can make a new list from a template, and edit or delete a template, too.

Save a list as a template

1. Start the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Above a list, tap the More button and tap Save as Template.
3. Enter a name for the template.
4. Turn on or off Include Completed Reminders and tap the Done button.

Changes you make to a list after turning it into a template don’t affect the template.

Make a new list from a template

1. Start the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Above your lists, tap the More button and tap Templates. Tap the name of a template.
3. Enter a name for the list and then tap Create.

Edit or delete a template

Any changes you make to a template don’t affect lists previously created from the template.

1. Start the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Above your lists, tap the More button and tap Templates. Tap the Edit button.
3. Choose one of the following:
   • Edit Template: Add, edit, or delete any items in the template. You can also change the name, color, and icon for the template.
   • Delete Template: Remove the template.

Share a template

Apple servers have access to a template you share, which lets anyone with the link download a copy on a device running iPadOS 16, iOS 16, macOS 13, or later. Images are removed, but you can choose whether the shared template keeps any dates, tags, or locations.

1. Start the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Above your lists, tap the More button, tap Templates and tap the Edit button next to the template you want to share.
3. Tap Share Template and choose a method for sharing.

To manage a shared template, tap the More button, tap Templates, tap the Edit button, then tap Manage Link.

Changes you make to the template after sharing can go into an update of the shared version, but people who downloaded the previous version have to download the template again to get the updates.

Anyone who has already downloaded a template isn’t affected if you stop sharing it.

See also

• Organize multiple lists in Reminders on iPad
• Share lists and collaborate in Reminders on iPad

You can print a grocery list, checklist, to-do items, project tasks, and more. You just go to the Reminders app on your iPad, view the list you want to print, and print it. That works for grocery lists, checklists, and to-do items alike.

1. Go to the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. View the list you want to print.
3. Tap the More button and tap Print.

See also

• Print from iPad
• Share lists and collaborate in Reminders on iPad

You can permanently delete items from your Reminders lists. If you accidentally delete an item, you can recover it within 30 days from the Recently Deleted list.

Items left in Recently Deleted are removed automatically and permanently after 30 days. A recovered item moves to the default list, while a permanently deleted item is removed immediately from all your devices.

Here’s how to delete or recover items in Reminders on iPad.

Delete an item

1. Go to the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. While viewing a list, swipe left on an item. Tap Delete.

To undo immediately, tap with three fingers or shake your iPad.

Recover or permanently delete recently deleted items

1. Open the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. In the list view, tap Recently Deleted.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Recover an item: Tap the item, then tap Recover. The item moves to the default list.
   • Permanently delete an item: Swipe left on the item, tap Delete, and tap Delete again. The item is removed immediately from all your devices.

Items left in Recently Deleted are automatically and permanently removed after 30 days.

In a Reminders list, you can check off items to hide them, or you can permanently delete items. With the Reminders widget, you can complete items from the iPad Home Screen or Lock Screen.

Completed items are hidden on your list, but you can unhide them or clear them to delete them. The widget lets you complete items without opening the Reminders app.

Here’s how to complete items in Reminders on iPad.

Mark items as completed

1. Go to the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. While viewing a list, tap the empty circle next to an item to mark the item as completed.

   Completed items are hidden on your list.

To unhide completed items, tap the More button, then tap Show Completed. To delete the completed items, tap Clear.

Use the Reminders widget

With the Reminders widget, you can complete items from the Home Screen or Lock Screen without opening the Reminders app.

1. On the iPad Home Screen or Lock Screen, add the Reminders widget.
2. To change the list shown in the widget, touch and hold the widget and tap Edit Widget. Then choose a list.
3. To complete an item, tap the item in the widget.

See also

• Edit and organize a list in Reminders on iPad
• Use Smart Lists in Reminders on iPad

You can customize your preferences for the Reminders app in Settings. Choose the default list for new items, adjust notifications, and more.

You can add or remove accounts, allow content from Reminders to appear in Search and widgets, and change the sound for reminder alerts. Siri can make suggestions based on how you use Reminders, and you can choose your preferred languages when you’ve added more than one.

Here’s how to change your Reminders settings on iPad.

Customize your Reminders settings

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps and tap Reminders.
3. Adjust any of the following:
   • Accounts: Add or remove accounts in Reminders.
   • Siri: Allow Siri to make suggestions across apps based on the way you use Reminders.
   • Search: Allow suggestions and content from Reminders to appear in Search and widgets.
   • Notifications: Change notification settings.
   • Language: Choose your preferred languages (option only appears when multiple languages are added).
   • Default List: Choose the list for new reminders you create outside of a specific list, such as reminders you create using Siri.
   • Today Notification: Set a time to see notifications for all-day reminders that have been assigned a date without a time.
   • Show as Overdue: The scheduled date turns red for overdue all-day reminders.
   • Time Zone: Set the time zone used to display and create reminders.
   • Include Due Today: The badge count includes overdue items and items due today.
   • Mute Notifications: Turn off notifications for assigned reminders.
   • Show Suggestions: If you type text that matches a previously completed reminder, that reminder appears as a suggestion.
   • Add Language: Set an additional language that Reminders uses to automatically place grocery items into categories.
   • Reset Categories: Clears the categorization that was learned as you manually moved items in grocery or auto-categorized lists. This applies to new items you add on any of your devices, including in lists you’ve shared. Existing items and lists shared with you won’t be affected.

Change the sound for reminder alerts

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Reminder Alerts.
3. Choose a sound from the list.

You can also choose None if you don’t want to hear a sound when you receive a reminder alert.

See also

• Find settings on iPad

You can add details to your reminders such as notes, links, due dates, and photos.

Reminders can come on a certain date, at a set time or place, or while you’re texting someone in Messages, and you can set a flag and priority, too. Reminders that have a due date show up in Calendar as an all-day event. You can add a photo or scanned document as well, though some features aren’t available when using other accounts.

Note: All Reminders features in this guide are available with updated reminders in iCloud, but some aren’t available when using other accounts.

Add a note, URL, and other details to a reminder

1. Go to the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Tap an item.
3. Tap Add Note and then add more information.
4. Tap the Edit Details button to edit the item details. For example, you can set a date and time, set a location-based reminder, flag an important item, or attach a photo.

Set when and where to be reminded

You can get reminded at a specific time or location, on a certain date, or when you’re texting someone in Messages.

1. Open the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Tap an item and then do any of the following:
   • Schedule a date and time: Tap the Date and Time button, then choose an option.

     Tip: Reminders with a due date appear as an all-day event in Calendar. See Use Reminders in Calendar.

   • Mark a reminder as urgent: Tap the Edit Details button. Then turn on Urgent to get an alarm when the reminder is due. If Date and Time aren’t already set, they default to the next hour. You can edit Date and Time to change when the alarm activates.
   • Set a recurring reminder: Tap the Edit Details button, turn on Date or Time, tap Repeat, and choose the frequency.
   • Get an early reminder before the scheduled date and time: Tap the Edit Details button, tap Early Reminder, and choose when you want to be reminded. For example, “5 minutes before,” “2 days before,” or another choice.
   • Add a location: Tap the Location button. Then choose where you want to be reminded—for example, when you arrive home or get into a car with a Bluetooth® connection to your iPad.

     Note: To receive location-based reminders, you must allow Reminders to use your precise location. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Turn on Location Services, tap Reminders, choose While Using the App, then turn on Precise Location.

   • Get a reminder in Messages: Tap the Edit Details button and turn on When Messaging. Then choose someone from your contacts list. The reminder appears the next time you chat with that person in Messages.
3. Tap the Done button.

Set a flag and priority

1. Open the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Tap an item.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Flag an important item: Tap the Flag button.
   • Set a priority: Tap the Edit Details button, tap Priority, and then choose Low, Medium, or High.

Add a photo or scan a document

1. Open the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Tap an item and tap the Edit Details button.
3. Tap Add Image and then do any of the following:
   • Take a new photo.
   • Scan a document.
   • Choose a photo from your photo library.

See also

• Complete items in Reminders on iPad
• Use Smart Lists in Reminders on iPad

In the Reminders app, you can create a grocery list to make shopping easier. Items are automatically sorted into categories such as Produce and Seafood.

On supported devices, Apple Intelligence sorts your items even when the list uses more than one language. You can change how items are grouped, and the list remembers how you like it. If you’ve already got a list going, you’ll be able to convert it to a grocery list, too.

Note: Some Reminders features in this guide need updated reminders in iCloud, since they aren’t available when using other accounts.

Create a new grocery list

1. Start the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Add List button.
3. Enter a name for the list, tap List Type, and choose Groceries.
4. Choose a color and symbol for the list (optional).
5. Tap the Done button.

Reminders can use Apple Intelligence to automatically build a list of suggested grocery items from text in other apps, like an online recipe in Safari; for more, read our article, Get suggested reminders.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.

Convert an existing list to a grocery list

1. Start the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. Tap a list and tap the More button. Tap Show List Info.
3. Tap List Type, then choose Groceries.
4. Tap the Done button.

Add an item to your grocery list

1. Start the Reminders app on your iPad.
2. In your grocery list, tap the New Item button. Enter a description.
3. To enter more information, tap Add Note.
4. Tap the Edit Details button to edit the item details. For example, you can attach a photo, set a location-based reminder, or flag an important item.
5. Tap the Done button.

Items added to the list are automatically placed in categories. If you enter grocery items in a language different from the system language of your iPad, you can add an additional language in Settings. (Grocery categorization is available for supported languages.)

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

• Complete items in Reminders on iPad
• Edit and organize a list in Reminders on iPad
• Share lists and collaborate in Reminders on iPad