How to Set Recurring Reminders That Actually Repeat the Way You Want

A recurring reminder repeats automatically on a schedule you define — daily, weekly, monthly, or a custom pattern. Instead of re-entering the same reminder every week, you set it once and it runs indefinitely (or until you delete it).

Here's how to set them on every major platform, plus what each one can and can't handle.

Option 1: iPhone (Apple Reminders + Siri)

Using the Apple Reminders app:

1. Open Reminders on your iPhone
2. Tap the + button to create a new reminder
3. Type the reminder text (e.g., "Take vitamin D")
4. Tap the calendar icon or the (i) info button
5. Enable "Remind me on a day"
6. Set the date and time
7. Tap Repeat
8. Choose from: None, Daily, Weekdays, Weekends, Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, Yearly
9. Tap Done

Using Siri (faster):

Say: "Hey Siri, remind me every day at 8am to take my medication"

Siri creates the recurring reminder automatically. For weekdays only, say: "Remind me every weekday morning at 9am to send my status update."

What Apple Reminders can't do well: Custom intervals (every 10 days), multiple recipients, SMS or WhatsApp delivery.

Option 2: Android (Google Calendar + Google Assistant)

Using Google Calendar:

1. Open Google Calendar
2. Tap + to create a new event
3. Set the title and time
4. Tap "Does not repeat"
5. Choose: Daily, Every weekday (Mon-Fri), Every weekend, Weekly on [day], Monthly on [date], Annually, or Custom
6. Custom options include: every X days/weeks/months, specific days of the week
7. Add a notification reminder (email or push) in the notification section
8. Save

Using Google Assistant:

Say: "OK Google, remind me every Monday at 9am to call my accountant"

Google Assistant confirms the schedule. For complex patterns, use Google Calendar's custom repeat.

What Android/Google can't do well: SMS delivery (Google has reduced this over time), reminders to other people's phones.

Option 3: YouGot (Natural Language, Any Device)

YouGot accepts recurring reminders in plain language — no menus, no date pickers.

How to set a recurring reminder in YouGot:

1. Sign up at yougot.ai (free)
2. Tap + to create a new reminder
3. Type in natural language:
   • "Every morning at 7am: take blood pressure medication"
   • "Every Monday at 9am: send weekly team update"
   • "On the 1st of every month: pay credit card bill"
   • "Every 2 weeks on Friday: review monthly budget"
4. Choose delivery channel: SMS, WhatsApp, email, or push
5. Tap Save

What YouGot adds: SMS and WhatsApp delivery (reminders arrive even when the app is closed), shared reminders (send a recurring reminder to someone else's phone), and Nag Mode on paid plans (keeps reminding until you confirm).

Useful recurring patterns you can describe in natural language:

• "Every weekday" / "Every weekend"
• "Every 3 days"
• "On the last Friday of each month"
• "Every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm"
• "Twice a day at 8am and 8pm"

See what each plan includes →

Option 4: Google Assistant on Nest/Google Home

If you have a Google Home or Nest device, recurring household reminders can be announced aloud:

Say: "Hey Google, remind me every evening at 6pm to take out the dog"

The reminder announces on the speaker at the scheduled time. Good for household routines. Not useful when you're away from the speaker.

Common Recurring Reminder Patterns and How to Set Them

What you want	How to set it
Every day same time	Apple: Daily repeat. Google: Daily event. YouGot: "every day at [time]"
Weekdays only	Apple: Weekdays. Google: Every weekday. YouGot: "every weekday at [time]"
Every other week	Apple: Biweekly. Google: Every 2 weeks. YouGot: "every two weeks on [day]"
First of the month	Apple: Monthly on 1st. Google: Monthly on date 1. YouGot: "on the 1st of every month"
Every 90 days	Apple: Custom (not available). Google: Custom, every 3 months. YouGot: "every 90 days"
Twice a day	Apple: Not natively (requires two reminders). Google: Two events. YouGot: "twice a day at 8am and 8pm"

Tips for Making Recurring Reminders Stick

• Choose the right delivery channel: A push notification you'll see vs. an SMS that interrupts matters. If you regularly silence your phone, SMS wins.
• Pair with the action: Set the reminder 10-15 minutes before you want to act, not at the exact moment.
• Use Nag Mode for critical reminders: YouGot's Nag Mode (paid tier) escalates until you confirm — useful for medication or high-stakes deadlines.
• Review recurring reminders quarterly: Delete the ones you've built into habit.

Ready to get started? YouGot works for Reminders — see plans and pricing or browse more Reminders articles.

Try these reminders

These are real reminders you can copy into YouGot — just tap the Try button on the card above the article.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set a recurring reminder on iPhone?

Open Apple Reminders, create a new reminder, tap the info button (i), enable 'Remind me on a day', set the date and time, then tap 'Repeat' to choose daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, or yearly. You can also say 'Hey Siri, remind me every day at 8am to take my medication' for a faster setup.

How do I set a recurring reminder on Android?

Google Calendar is the most reliable option on Android. Create an event, set the time, and tap 'Does not repeat' to choose a repeat schedule (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.). Google Assistant also accepts voice commands: 'OK Google, remind me every weekday at 9am to check my email.'

Can I set a reminder that repeats every other week?

Yes. Apple Reminders calls this 'Biweekly.' Google Calendar lets you set 'Every 2 weeks' under custom repeat. YouGot accepts natural language like 'remind me every two weeks on Monday at 10am' and handles it automatically.

What's the easiest way to set recurring reminders?

Natural language input is the fastest method. Apps like YouGot let you type 'remind me every weekday at 8am to take my medication' and schedule it instantly. No tapping through date pickers or repeat menus. YouGot also delivers via SMS or WhatsApp, not just push notifications.

Can recurring reminders be sent to someone else?

Most reminder apps don't support this. YouGot does — you can set a recurring reminder that gets delivered to another person's phone via SMS or WhatsApp. Useful for medication reminders for elderly parents or recurring check-ins with family members.