Location-Based Reminders: How They Work and When to Use Them (vs. Time-Based)

The idea behind location-based reminders is intuitive: instead of firing at 4pm regardless of where you are, the reminder fires when you arrive at the pharmacy. Your brain is in errand mode, you're already there — it's the right moment to act.

For certain tasks, this is clearly better than time-based reminders. For others, time-based is more reliable. Here's how to set up location reminders and how to decide which type to use for what.

How Location-Based Reminders Work

Your phone's GPS (and cell tower location when GPS isn't available) continuously tracks your approximate position when location services are enabled. A location-based reminder creates what's called a geofence — an invisible circular boundary around a location. When your phone detects you've entered or exited that boundary, the reminder fires.

The size of the geofence matters. A 100-meter radius means the reminder fires when you're roughly a block away. A 500-meter radius fires when you're nearby the general area. Apps let you set this radius, though most default to something between 50-200 meters.

Setting Up Location Reminders on Different Platforms

Apple Reminders (iPhone/Mac)

Apple Reminders has one of the cleanest location reminder implementations:

1. Open Reminders, tap the + to create a new reminder
2. Tap the calendar icon to expand scheduling options
3. Toggle on "At a Location"
4. Search for a location by address or name (e.g., "Whole Foods" or your home address)
5. Choose "Arriving" or "Leaving"
6. Set the radius (large, medium, or small)
7. Add any additional time-based conditions if needed

Requirements: Location Services must be set to "Always" for Reminders in your iPhone settings.

Google Assistant / Android

For Android users:

1. Open Google Maps or the Google Assistant
2. Say or type: "Remind me to pick up dry cleaning when I get to [address]"
3. Confirm the location and save

Alternatively, many Android reminder apps (including Microsoft To Do, TickTick, and Todoist) support location triggers in their settings.

Todoist

Todoist supports location reminders on mobile:

1. Create a task
2. Add a reminder
3. Select "Place" instead of a time
4. Search for the location and set arriving/leaving

When Location Reminders Excel

Errand triggers: Anything you need to do when you're at a specific place.

• Remind me to buy olive oil when I get to the grocery store
• Remind me to refill the prescription when I'm near the pharmacy
• Remind me to check the mail when I get home

Habit anchoring: Tasks tied to being in a certain environment.

• Remind me to review my calendar when I arrive at work
• Remind me to do 5 minutes of deep breathing when I leave the office
• Remind me to check in on my task list when I get to the library

Departure triggers: Reminders for things you need to take or do before leaving.

• Remind me to take my gym bag when I leave the house in the morning
• Remind me to turn off the coffee maker when I leave work

When Time-Based Reminders Work Better

Location reminders have real limitations:

• Requires location services always on — battery and privacy implications
• Can be unreliable when GPS is weak (in buildings, rural areas)
• Doesn't work for things not tied to place — medications, calls, scheduled tasks, birthdays
• Can't be delivered via SMS or WhatsApp — the reminder system needs to be on your device

For most reminders — health-related habits, appointments, recurring tasks, anything time-sensitive — a scheduled time-based reminder delivered by SMS or WhatsApp is more reliable. The message arrives at the right time regardless of where you are, what your GPS signal is, or whether the app is backgrounded.

For time-based reminders via SMS, WhatsApp, or email, YouGot handles this. Go to yougot.ai/sign-up, create a reminder with a scheduled time, and it arrives as a text message — no GPS required.

The Hybrid Approach

For tasks that have both a time component and a location component, set both:

• A location reminder for when you arrive at the grocery store (catches you when you're there)
• A time-based SMS reminder for 5pm (in case you didn't go to the store but need to remember to do it this evening)

This redundancy catches the cases where location triggers fail — bad GPS, you went to a different store, you're ordering online instead.

Troubleshooting Location Reminders That Don't Fire

If your location reminders are inconsistent:

1. Check location permissions: The app needs "Always" access, not "While Using." Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

2. Check Low Power Mode: iOS significantly restricts background location in Low Power Mode. If you're in this mode frequently, location reminders become unreliable.

3. Increase the geofence radius: If you're walking quickly past a location or driving through, a small radius may not register. Try a larger radius.

4. Check Background App Refresh: Settings > General > Background App Refresh — the reminder app needs this enabled.

5. Consider whether time-based is a better fit: If a location reminder keeps missing you, a time-based SMS reminder at the hour you'd normally be at that location is often more reliable.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which apps support location-based reminders?

Apple Reminders (iPhone), Todoist, Things 3, and OmniFocus all support location triggers. For SMS/WhatsApp delivery, YouGot handles time-based reminders reliably across all locations.

How accurate are location-based reminders?

Typically 50-200 meters in urban areas with good GPS. Can be less reliable inside buildings or in rural areas with weak GPS signal.

Why didn't my location reminder fire?

Common causes: location permission set to "While Using" instead of "Always," Low Power Mode restricting background location, geofence radius too small, or passing through the location too quickly.

Can I set a reminder to fire when I leave somewhere?

Yes. Apple Reminders and most location-aware apps support both arrival and departure triggers when creating a location reminder.

What's the battery impact of location-based reminders?

Minimal — passive geofencing is designed to be power-efficient. Expect about 1-3% additional battery drain per day from background location monitoring.