Mar 29, 2026

How to Set Reminders in Google Calendar (Events, Notifications, and Defaults)

Google Calendar has two separate systems that people call “reminders” — event notifications (pop-ups and emails tied to calendar events) and the standalone Reminders feature (task-like items that roll over day to day). This guide covers both, including how to set them up, change defaults, and fix them when they stop working.

1. Add a Notification Reminder to a Single Event (Desktop)

Every Google Calendar event can have one or more notification reminders attached to it. Here’s how to add or change one:

Go to calendar.google.com.
Click on an existing event, or click + Create to make a new one.
Click More options (or the pencil icon to edit).
Scroll down to the Notifications section. You’ll see a default reminder already set (usually 10 minutes before).
Click the dropdown to choose Notification (a pop-up alert) or Email (sends a message to your Gmail).
Set the timing — minutes, hours, days, or weeks before the event.
Click Save.

Desktop notifications require browser permission — if you’ve never seen one, check your browser’s notification settings for calendar.google.com.

2. Add a Reminder on Mobile

Android

Open the Google Calendar app.
Tap on an event, then tap the pencil icon to edit.
Tap the current reminder time under the notification section.
Change the timing or type (notification vs. email).
Tap Save.

When creating a new event, tap Add notification to set a reminder before saving.

iPhone or iPad

Open the Google Calendar app.
Tap on an event, then tap the pencil icon to edit.
Scroll to the Notifications section.
Tap the existing reminder to change it, or tap Add notification for an additional one.
Tap Save.

Mobile notifications require that the Google Calendar app has notification permissions enabled in your phone’s settings. On iOS, go to Settings > Notifications > Google Calendar and make sure alerts are turned on.

3. Set Default Reminders for a Calendar

Instead of adding reminders event by event, you can set defaults that apply to every new event on a specific calendar.

Go to calendar.google.com.
Click the gear icon in the top right > Settings.
In the left sidebar, under Settings for my calendars, click the calendar you want to change.
Click Event notifications.
Under Notifications, set your preferred default (e.g., 30 minutes before).
Click Add notification to include a second default if you want (e.g., a 30-minute pop-up and a 1-day email).

These defaults apply to all new events created on that calendar going forward. They do not retroactively change existing events. You can override the default on any individual event.

You can also set separate defaults for All-day event notifications on the same settings page — useful for setting a morning-of reminder for birthdays or deadlines.

4. Notification vs. Email Reminder — When to Use Each

Google Calendar gives you two reminder types per event:

Notification (pop-up):

Appears as a browser notification on desktop or a push notification on mobile.
Best for time-sensitive reminders: meetings starting in 10 minutes, a call in 30 minutes.
Disappears after you dismiss it.

Email:

Sends a message to the Gmail address associated with your calendar.
Best for advance reminders: prep work due tomorrow, a flight in two days, a report deadline next week.
Stays in your inbox until you deal with it.

A practical setup for important meetings: set a 1-day email reminder (so you can prepare the day before) and a 10-minute notification (so you don’t miss the start). You can combine both on the same event.

5. Add Multiple Reminders to One Event

You’re not limited to a single reminder. Google Calendar lets you stack several on the same event.

Open the event and click More options (or the pencil icon).
In the Notifications section, click Add notification.
Set each reminder to a different time and type. For example:
- Email, 1 day before
- Notification, 1 hour before
- Notification, 10 minutes before
Click Save.

You can add up to five notifications per event. If you find yourself adding the same combination repeatedly, set them as defaults for that calendar (see Section 3).

If you use Carly for calendar management, it can handle reminder logic alongside scheduling — getting the right alerts to you without manual setup each time.

6. Google Calendar “Reminders” vs. Event Notifications

Google Calendar has a feature literally called Reminders that is separate from event notifications.

Event notifications (covered above):

Attached to a specific calendar event with a start time, end time, and optional guests.
Fire at the time you set relative to the event.
Disappear after the event passes.

Reminders (the standalone feature):

Task-like items that appear on your calendar at a set time.
Do not have an end time or guest list.
If you don’t mark them as done, they roll forward to the next day automatically.
Created by clicking + Create > Reminder (or via Google Assistant).

Google has been phasing out standalone Reminders in favor of Google Tasks. In most accounts, existing Reminders have been migrated to Tasks, and the “Reminder” creation option has been replaced with “Task.” Tasks behave similarly — they appear on your calendar and can have due dates and times — but they sync with the Google Tasks app and have subtasks and list organization.

If you’re looking for a to-do item that shows up on your calendar and nags you until it’s done, use Google Tasks. If you want an alert before a scheduled event, use event notifications.

7. Troubleshooting: Reminders Not Showing Up

Problem	Likely Cause	Fix
No pop-up notifications on desktop	Browser notifications blocked	Go to your browser settings > Site permissions > Notifications > allow calendar.google.com
No notifications on phone	App notification permissions disabled	On Android: Settings > Apps > Google Calendar > Notifications. On iOS: Settings > Notifications > Google Calendar
Reminders set but no alert fires	Calendar is hidden/unchecked	In the left sidebar, make sure the calendar with the event is checked (visible)
Email reminders not arriving	Going to spam or Promotions tab	Check Gmail spam folder; also check if a filter is routing calendar emails elsewhere
Default reminders not applying to new events	Defaults set on wrong calendar	Each calendar has its own notification defaults — make sure you edited the right one in Settings
Old events missing reminders	Defaults don’t apply retroactively	Edit individual past events to add notifications, or recreate them
”Reminders” calendar missing	Google migrated them to Tasks	Check Google Tasks app or the Tasks panel in Gmail; your old reminders may have been converted
Do Not Disturb silencing alerts	Phone-level DND overriding calendar	Add Google Calendar as an exception in your phone’s Do Not Disturb settings