Feature handbook

Recurring Tasks, Date Alerts and Location Reminders

Set a repeating task, choose scheduled or completion-based repeats, and add date or location reminders with help for missing fields.

By Mustafa Yusuf3 min read

Set up a reminder once so Tasks can bring the work back at the right time. First choose whether it repeats on a schedule or after you finish it.

1. Pick the repeat that matches the task

If the task means… Choose… Example
Do this on the same schedule Repeat from the scheduled date Take the bins out every Monday
Wait this long after I finish Repeat from the completion date Water the plant three days after watering it
  1. Scheduled: every MondayFinish this week’s task on Tuesday. The schedule still points to Monday.
  2. After completion: every 3 daysFinish on Tuesday. The next task is due Friday.
The choice changes where Tasks starts counting. Pick the calendar for a fixed routine, or completion for a gap between actions.

2. Add the date and repeat

  1. Open a task such as Take the bins out.
  2. Open its Date field and choose the first due date. Add a time if you want a timed reminder.
  3. Open the repeat options. Choose the scheduled date as the basis, then a weekly repeat on Monday.
  4. Save the repeat and the date. Reopen the date to check that the schedule says what you intended.

For Water the plant, choose completion as the basis and a daily interval of 3 instead. After you next finish the task, check its new date once.

Repeat task editor with Scheduled date and Completion date choices in the Based on menu.View full size (opens in a new tab)↗
Based on lets you choose whether the next repeat follows the scheduled date or the completion date.

3. Use a place when the clock does not help

A location reminder is useful for Buy a travel adapter when you arrive at the shop, or Take the parcel when you leave home.

  1. Open the task’s Location field.
  2. Find the place and check it on the map.
  3. Choose an arrival or departure alert, then save the location.
Location editor with Target, When I Arrive, a radius slider and a map.View full size (opens in a new tab)↗
Check the place on the map, choose the arrival or departure trigger, and adjust the reminder radius.

4. Check the reminder once

For a date reminder, create a small test task a few minutes ahead and check that the alert arrives. If it does not, check the task’s date and alert setting, then allow Tasks notifications in your device settings.

For a location reminder, also check Tasks’ location permission. Focus settings can affect alerts. These are device settings; adding another task field will not change them.

Need just a one-off reminder? Leave the repeat option off. A saved date or location can be useful on its own.

Explore all 15 related features

Browse the related features below for more detail.

Fixed recurrence

Repeat on a calendar schedule such as every Monday.

Completion-based recurrence

Repeat a set time after the task is actually completed.

Daily rules

Repeat tasks on daily schedules.

Weekly rules

Repeat tasks on chosen weeks or weekdays.

Monthly rules

Repeat tasks on a monthly pattern.

Advanced calendar rules

Use more specific recurrence selectors when a simple interval is not enough.

Date and time notifications

Receive a reminder when a task date arrives.

Alarm reminders

Use an alarm for a timed task on supported systems.

Arrival reminders

Receive a task alert when arriving at a saved place.

Departure reminders

Receive a task alert when leaving a saved place.

Location radius

Control the useful area around a saved task location.

Rich notifications

Act on useful task information from a notification.

Time Sensitive alerts

Use Apple's Time Sensitive notification level where appropriate.

Upcoming repeat alerts

Schedules upcoming reminders for recurring work instead of waiting on one completion.

Notification settings

Control how Tasks alerts appear.