How to Set a Reminder for Someone Else: 5 Methods That Actually Work
The easiest way to set a reminder for someone else is to send them an SMS reminder via a service like YouGot. Enter their phone number, write the reminder in plain English, and it texts their phone at the scheduled time — with zero action needed from them. But SMS is just one of five methods. Here's when each approach works and when it fails.
Why Setting Reminders for Others Is Harder Than It Sounds
Reminder apps are designed for self-use. Most apps deliver notifications only to the account holder's devices — which means there's no built-in "remind someone else" button in Apple Reminders, Google Tasks, or most consumer reminder tools.
The workarounds depend on what the other person has:
- An iPhone? → iCloud shared lists (limited)
- Any smartphone? → Calendar invite + email alert
- Any phone at all? → SMS reminder (no smartphone required)
- No reliable phone access? → Email reminder or phone call automation
Pick the method that matches the recipient's setup and tech comfort level.
Method 1: SMS Reminder via YouGot (Best for Any Phone)
How it works: You set up the reminder in YouGot from your account. Enter the recipient's phone number, write the reminder text, set the date and time (or recurring schedule), and save. The recipient receives a plain SMS at the scheduled time — from a reminder service, not from your personal number.
Why this is the best default option:
- Works on any phone — iPhone, Android, or basic/flip phone
- No app required for the recipient
- One-time setup, then fires automatically forever (for recurring reminders)
- You can send to multiple recipients at once
Best for: Parents reminding teenagers, adult children reminding elderly parents, caregivers managing multiple reminders, managers reminding team members.
Examples you can set up today:
Remind 555-0100 every morning at 8am to take morning medication before breakfast.
Text 555-0101 every Sunday at 6pm to plan the week ahead and prep for Monday.
Remind 555-0102 2 days before April 30th to file their quarterly taxes.
Send 555-0103 a reminder every Friday at 4pm to submit their weekly status update.
For multi-person and caregiver setups, see yougot.ai/parents. Plans and pricing at yougot.ai/#pricing.
Method 2: Calendar Invite with Email Alert
How it works: Create a calendar event in Google Calendar or Outlook, invite the other person, and configure reminder alerts. The invitee receives an email invitation; if they accept, the event and its reminders appear in their calendar.
Strengths: Works cross-platform (email reaches anyone), good for scheduled appointments, professional context.
Limitations: Requires the recipient to accept the invite and have a calendar app that fires alerts. Many people don't check calendar alerts reliably.
Best for: Work appointments, formal meetings, reminders to people who live by their calendar.
How to set it up in Google Calendar:
- Create an event
- Add the recipient's email in the Guests field
- Add event reminders (e.g., 1 day before, 1 hour before)
- Save — Google sends the invitation email automatically
Method 3: Apple Reminders Shared List (iPhone to iPhone)
How it works: Share a reminder list via iCloud with another Apple user. They see all reminders in the list and can check them off. You can assign specific reminders to specific people.
Strengths: Native Apple experience, real-time sync, supports task assignment.
Limitations: Both parties must be on Apple devices with iCloud. Works for ongoing shared lists (groceries, household tasks) but not for one-off reminders to someone's phone.
Best for: iPhone households managing ongoing shared lists (chores, shopping, household tasks).
Method 4: Scheduled Text Message (Manual)
How it works: Use your phone's scheduled text feature (iOS 18+ supports scheduling in Messages; Android supports it natively) to send a text at a specific time.
Strengths: Simple, personal, the reminder arrives from your number.
Limitations: One-time only — you have to reschedule manually each time. Doesn't support recurring reminders. You also have to remember to set up the scheduled text, which somewhat defeats the purpose.
Best for: One-off situations where a personal touch matters ("Hey, don't forget our meeting tomorrow!") rather than systematic recurring reminders.
Method 5: Shared Household Apps (Cozi, OurHome, Alexa)
How it works: Family-focused apps like Cozi or OurHome let you create shared task lists and reminders that all household members can view in the app.
Strengths: Full household coordination feature set — calendars, task lists, meal planning.
Limitations: Requires everyone to download and actively use the app. If the recipient doesn't check the app, they miss the reminder.
Best for: Households that are committed to using one shared family app and check it regularly.
Choosing the Right Method
| Scenario | Best Method |
|---|---|
| Elderly parent (any phone) | SMS via YouGot |
| Teenager (any phone, won't install apps) | SMS via YouGot |
| Work colleague (calendar user) | Calendar invite |
| iPhone family (all Apple) | Apple Reminders shared list |
| One-off personal reminder | Scheduled text |
| Committed household | Cozi or OurHome |
| Multi-person recurring reminders | SMS via YouGot |
The Setup That Covers 90% of Cases
For most people who need to remind others, the highest-leverage setup is:
- Use SMS via YouGot for any reminder that needs to be reliable, recurring, and reach someone without tech friction
- Use calendar invites for formal appointments where email confirmation is appropriate
- Use Apple Reminders shared lists only if the entire household is iPhone-based
That covers parents reminding kids, caregivers reminding elderly relatives, managers reminding team members, and partners coordinating household tasks — without depending on the other person to download anything or check a specific app.
Try These "For Someone Else" Reminders
Set these up in YouGot — enter the other person's phone number as recipient:
Text 555-0100 every Monday morning at 8am: team standup at 9am today — add your updates to the doc before then.
Remind 555-0101 every Friday at noon to submit their timesheet before the 3pm payroll deadline.
Send a reminder to 555-0102 every 3 months to schedule a check-in appointment with their specialist.
Alert 555-0103 every morning at 7am to take morning medication before leaving the house.
The best reminder for someone else is one they can't miss. Push notifications get silenced. SMS messages sit in the thread until they're read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a reminder on someone else's iPhone for them?
Not directly — you can't remotely add a reminder to someone's Apple Reminders app unless they share a list with you via iCloud. The practical workaround: use a service like YouGot to send an SMS reminder to their phone number. The reminder arrives as a text message at the scheduled time, with no action needed from the recipient except to have a phone. You set it up on your side; they just receive the text.
How do I send a recurring reminder to someone else?
With YouGot, you can set up recurring reminders to any phone number — daily, weekly, monthly, or custom schedules. Type the recipient's number and write the reminder in plain English: 'Remind 555-0100 every Monday at 9am to submit their timesheet.' The recipient receives an SMS every Monday at 9am with no setup on their end. This is useful for caregivers, managers, parents, and anyone coordinating reminders for others.
What is the best app for sending reminders to someone else?
YouGot is the most direct option — it sends SMS reminders to any phone number, including people who haven't installed any app. Google Calendar lets you invite someone to an event with reminders attached. Apple Reminders shared lists work for two-person coordination within the Apple ecosystem. For the broadest reach (any phone, any carrier, no app needed), SMS via YouGot is the most reliable choice.
Can I set a reminder for my elderly parent without them using an app?
Yes. With YouGot, you set up the reminder from your account and enter your parent's phone number as the recipient. The reminder delivers as a plain SMS at the scheduled time. Your parent doesn't need to sign up, download anything, or understand how it works — they just receive a text message. This is specifically designed for caregiver and family use cases where the recipient isn't tech-savvy.
How do I set a reminder for a team member at work?
For work teams, calendar invites with email alerts are the standard — create a recurring Google Calendar or Outlook event, invite the team member, and configure alert timing. For one-off SMS reminders without calendar events, YouGot's Business plan supports team reminders and webhooks. For a quick nudge to a colleague's phone, texting them directly still works — but for systematic recurring reminders, a scheduled tool is more reliable than manual texts.
Never Forget What Matters
Set reminders in plain English (or any language). Get notified via push, SMS, WhatsApp, or email.
Try YouGot Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a reminder on someone else's iPhone for them?▾
Not directly — you can't remotely add a reminder to someone's Apple Reminders app unless they share a list with you via iCloud. The practical workaround: use a service like YouGot to send an SMS reminder to their phone number. The reminder arrives as a text message at the scheduled time, with no action needed from the recipient except to have a phone. You set it up on your side; they just receive the text.
How do I send a recurring reminder to someone else?▾
With YouGot, you can set up recurring reminders to any phone number — daily, weekly, monthly, or custom schedules. Type the recipient's number and write the reminder in plain English: 'Remind 555-0100 every Monday at 9am to submit their timesheet.' The recipient receives an SMS every Monday at 9am with no setup on their end. This is useful for caregivers, managers, parents, and anyone coordinating reminders for others.
What is the best app for sending reminders to someone else?▾
YouGot is the most direct option — it sends SMS reminders to any phone number, including people who haven't installed any app. Google Calendar lets you invite someone to an event with reminders attached. Apple Reminders shared lists work for two-person coordination within the Apple ecosystem. For the broadest reach (any phone, any carrier, no app needed), SMS via YouGot is the most reliable choice.
Can I set a reminder for my elderly parent without them using an app?▾
Yes. With YouGot, you set up the reminder from your account and enter your parent's phone number as the recipient. The reminder delivers as a plain SMS at the scheduled time. Your parent doesn't need to sign up, download anything, or understand how it works — they just receive a text message. This is specifically designed for caregiver and family use cases where the recipient isn't tech-savvy.
How do I set a reminder for a team member at work?▾
For work teams, calendar invites with email alerts are the standard — create a recurring Google Calendar or Outlook event, invite the team member, and configure alert timing. For one-off SMS reminders without calendar events, YouGot's Business plan supports team reminders and webhooks. For a quick nudge to a colleague's phone, texting them directly still works — but for systematic recurring reminders, a scheduled tool is more reliable than manual texts.