How to Set a Location-Based Reminder: Every Method That Works

A location-based reminder (also called a geofence reminder) fires automatically when you arrive at or depart from a specific location — without needing to know what time that will be. Instead of "remind me at 6pm to pick up dry cleaning," you set "remind me when I pass the dry cleaner on the way home." If your route or timing varies, this is far more reliable than time-based reminders.

Here's how to set them up on every major platform, plus when to use time-based reminders instead.

How Location Reminders Work

Your phone uses GPS, Wi-Fi triangulation, and cell tower data to continuously estimate your location. When you enter or exit a defined geographic area (the geofence), the reminder app detects the change and fires the notification.

The accuracy depends on how your phone's location services are configured. "While using the app" permission is less accurate (the app only checks location when open); "Always" permission allows background location checks and more reliable geofence detection.

Battery impact: Background location services use battery, though modern iPhones and Android phones handle geofencing with relatively efficient low-power chips. Expect a small but measurable impact — roughly 3–7% more daily drain depending on how many geofences are active.

Method 1: Apple Reminders (iPhone/iPad)

Apple Reminders has native geofence support built in.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Reminders app
2. Create a new reminder (tap the + button)
3. Tap the Details button (the i icon)
4. Enable Remind me at a location
5. Enter the address or choose My Location for your current spot
6. Select Arriving or Leaving
7. The geofence radius defaults to about 300 meters — you can't adjust this in the native app
8. Set any additional notes and save

Limitation: The geofence radius is fixed. You can't trigger a reminder when you're within 50 meters vs. 1 kilometer of a place — it's a preset zone.

Tip: For "remind me when I get to work," add your office address to your Contacts and Apple will offer it as a location option.

Example reminders to try:

• Remind me to pick up the prescription when I arrive at the CVS on Oak Street.
• Remind me to turn off the stove when I leave home.
• Remind me to check my mailbox when I arrive home after 3pm.

Method 2: Google Reminders / Keep (Android)

Google Keep supports location-based reminders on Android.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Google Keep
2. Create a new note (tap the + button)
3. Tap the bell (Remind me) icon
4. Select Place (instead of Time or Person)
5. Type or search for the address
6. Choose Arriving or Leaving
7. Save the note

Alternative via Google Assistant:

• Say or type: "Remind me when I get to [location] to [task]"
• Google Assistant will create a geofence reminder automatically

Limitation: Google Reminders are being gradually integrated into Google Tasks, and the location trigger feature availability varies by region and app version. Check that your version supports it.

Method 3: Samsung Reminder (Galaxy Devices)

Samsung Reminder on Galaxy devices supports location triggers natively through the Reminder app:

1. Open Reminder
2. Create a new reminder and tap the Map icon
3. Enter a location or choose on the map
4. Set whether to trigger on Arrive or Leave
5. Adjust the radius (small, medium, large)

Samsung allows radius adjustment, which is more flexible than Apple's fixed zone.

Method 4: Alexa / Amazon Echo

Alexa doesn't support true geofence reminders, but it does support routines that trigger when you arrive home if you have an Alexa device and the Alexa app installed with location permissions.

Setup:

1. Open the Alexa app → More → Routines
2. Add a trigger: Your location → Arrives
3. Add the action: Alexa announces your reminder

This only fires the Alexa-based routine (announcement on the nearest Echo device), not an SMS or independent reminder. It works for household reminders when someone is home.

Method 5: Time-Based Reminders as a Proxy

If your route is predictable, a time-based reminder set slightly before your usual arrival time is a simpler alternative to geofencing. If you always leave work between 5:30 and 5:45pm, a 5:20pm reminder achieves much of the same effect:

YouGot handles time-based reminders with natural language and delivers via SMS or WhatsApp, so they reach you on the road even if your phone's push notifications are muted. See yougot.ai/sign-up to try it.

Try These Location-Style Reminders

Even without geofencing, you can use departure-time-based reminders as practical substitutes:

When to Use Location vs. Time Reminders

Scenario	Best approach
Pick up an item on an unpredictable commute route	Location (geofence)
Remind someone else to do something	Time-based via SMS (YouGot)
Routine stop at a consistent time	Time-based
Reminder that depends on when you arrive at a place	Location (geofence)
Reminder you need to receive even when offline or driving	SMS time-based
Sharing a reminder with someone who doesn't have your location	Time-based SMS

Common Location Reminder Problems and Fixes

Reminder doesn't fire when I arrive:

• Check that the app has "Always" location permission (not "While using")
• Ensure Background App Refresh is enabled for the reminder app
• Battery saver / Low Power Mode can disable background geofencing

Reminder fires too early or too late:

• The geofence radius may be too large — adjust if your app allows it
• Built-in apps often use a 300–500m radius, which can trigger before you physically arrive at a business

Reminder fires multiple times:

• This can happen if you're on the geofence boundary. If the app allows, increase the radius slightly so you cross it cleanly once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a location reminder for someone else's location?

Not directly — location reminders use your phone's GPS. For reminding someone else based on their location, the practical alternative is a time-based SMS reminder via YouGot. See yougot.ai/#pricing for details.

Do location reminders work without internet?

Geofence detection requires the device to be online to process the location trigger via most apps. The phone itself detects the location change, but the app needs connectivity to fire the notification in most cases.

Does Apple Reminders support location reminders on Mac?

No — location reminders in Apple Reminders only trigger on iPhone or iPad. Mac doesn't have the same location tracking capability for geofence triggers.

What apps have the best location-based reminder support?

For personal use on Apple: Apple Reminders. On Android: Google Keep or Samsung Reminder. For apps with both location and SMS delivery, third-party options are limited — most geofencing apps use push notifications only.

How do I set a reminder for when I leave a location?

In Apple Reminders: create a reminder, enable 'Remind me at a location,' and choose 'Leaving' instead of 'Arriving.' The same option exists in Google Keep and Samsung Reminder. This is useful for 'remind me when I leave work to call my dad' scenarios.