Add an urgent reminder with the Todoist iOS app


There are tasks you just can’t miss, like paying bills before they're due or picking up your kid at the exact time they're dismissed from school. In Todoist, add urgent reminders to any task, and on top of your other reminders. Urgent reminders display a full-screen alarm on your mobile device that cuts through both silent and Do Not Disturb modes, so you'll never miss what matters most.

Warning

Urgent reminders are only available on Todoist for iOS in version 26.1.17. You won’t see this option if you’re using the Todoist Android, web or desktop apps.

Add an urgent reminder

Let’s start by setting your first urgent reminder:

  1. Tap the Dynamic Add button at the bottom-right to add a new task. If you’re editing a task, tap it to open the task view
  2. Type your task like “Call Peter !13:00!” to add an urgent absolute reminder.
  3. Alternatively: Tap the Reminders chip.
  4. Select Custom Date & Time to add a time-based reminder.
  5. Toggle Urgent on. A prompt will appear once asking you to enable urgent reminders.
  6. Tap Enable Urgent Reminders to confirm. 
  7. Tap Allow when your Apple device prompts you to enable alarms and timers.
  8. Tap Save at the top-right. You’ll see the orange URGENT badge beside the reminder.
  9. Tap the checkmark icon at the top-right to confirm.

If a task already has a date and time:

  1. Tap the Reminders field
  2. Select Add to add a Before task reminder.
  3. Select how long before the task is due before Todoist sends a reminder.
  4. Toggle Urgent on. 
  5. Tap Save at the top-right.

The urgent reminder is now set. When the time comes, you'll see a full-screen alarm even if your device is locked, in Silent mode, or in Focus mode.

Note

When a user creates an urgent reminder on a device that supports it (currently iOS), other devices will get regular reminders.

Change the time of an urgent reminder

If you need to quickly change the time of an urgent reminder, tap the dismiss icon next to the reminder to remove it from the task. Then, add a new one with the updated time.

Note

Urgent reminders only work with time-based reminders, not location reminders.

Respond to an urgent reminder

Perfect timing! That reminder’s given you enough time to wrap up and prepare for your next task. Here’s how to respond to the urgent reminder:

When an urgent reminder alarm goes off, it’ll appear on your device’s lock screen. You can either tap Complete or slide right to turn the alarm off.

iOS-urgent-reminders-help-center.png

Remove an urgent reminder

If you no longer need the urgent reminder, here's how to remove it from the task:

  1. Tap the task with an urgent reminder. This opens the task view.
  2. Tap the Reminders field.
  3. Tap the dismiss icon next to the urgent reminder to remove it.

Get in touch

If you're having trouble setting an urgent reminder, responding to it, or removing it from a task, get in touch with us. We – Stef, Marco, Galina, or any of our other teammates – are eager to help!

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