Set Time All Day Reminders iPhone: Full Guide
To set an all-day reminder on your iPhone, you use the Reminders app and set a date with no specific time, or you use the built-in Calendar app to create an all-day event. This guide explains both methods, how to make reminders repeat daily, and how to manage notifications so you actually see them.
What “All-Day Reminder� Means on iPhone
An all-day reminder is a notification that is tied to a specific date but not to a specific hour and minute. On the iPhone, the Reminders app treats a reminder with a date but no time as an all-day item: it appears at the top of the day’s list, and the notification is delivered at a time you choose (by default, 9:00 AM). The Calendar app has a dedicated “All-day� toggle that creates an event spanning the entire day. Both approaches are useful for things like birthdays, bills, or daily habits that don’t have a precise deadline.
How to Set an All-Day Reminder in the Reminders App
- Open the Reminders app and tap the + button to create a new reminder.
- Type the reminder text (e.g., “Take out recycling�).
- Tap the i (info) button next to the reminder.
- Turn on Date & Time.
- Set the date you want, but leave the time field blank (tap “No Time� if it shows a time).
- Tap Done.
The reminder now appears under “Today� or the specific date, with no time shown. The notification will arrive at your default reminder notification time (usually 9:00 AM), which you can change in Settings > Reminders > Default List, but the default time is set in Settings > Notifications > Reminders.
How to Make an All-Day Reminder Repeat Daily
If you want a reminder that repeats every day (like “Take medication� or “Water plants�), you can set a repeating schedule in the Reminders app:
- Create a new reminder and set a date (no time) as described above.
- In the info screen, tap Repeat.
- Choose Every Day (or a custom interval like every 2 days).
- Tap Done.
The reminder will now appear every day at the top of your list. Note that if you set a time, the repeat will also include that time; for an all-day repeat, leave the time blank.
Using Calendar for All-Day Events
The Calendar app is a better choice if you want a visual block on your schedule. To create an all-day event:
- Open Calendar and tap the + (or long-press a date).
- Enter a title (e.g., “Project deadline�).
- Turn on All-day (the switch is right below the start/end date fields).
- Set the start and end dates (for a single day, set both to the same date).
- Add a reminder alert if you want one (e.g., “On day of event� or “1 day before�).
All-day events appear at the top of the calendar day, and they do not show a time. Unlike Reminders, Calendar events can have multiple alerts (like a notification the day before).
Why Your All-Day Reminder Might Not Notify You
Many users complain that all-day reminders don’t show a notification. The most common reason is that the reminder is set to a date but the notification time is set to “None� or the default time has passed. Check these:
- In Reminders, open the reminder and ensure Date & Time is on, and that a time is NOT set to “None� (if you set a time, it becomes a timed reminder).
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Reminders and make sure “Allow Notifications� is on, and that the alert style is set to “Alerts� (not “Banners� only).
- If you’re using Calendar, check the event’s alert setting: by default, all-day events have no alert unless you add one.
- Check that your iPhone is not in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode that silences notifications.
Also note that if you set a reminder for “today� without a time, the notification will fire at the default time (9:00 AM). If you set it after 9:00 AM, it will still fire at 9:00 AM the next occurrence.
Comparing Reminders and Calendar for All-Day Tasks
Both apps handle all-day items, but they differ in key ways:
- Reminders is task-oriented: you can check off completed items, set subtasks, and assign to lists. Repeating is more flexible (every day, week, month, or custom).
- Calendar is time-oriented: it shows a visual block, supports multiple alerts, and can invite others. However, you cannot “check off� an event; you have to delete it.
- Integration: Both sync with iCloud, so they appear on your Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch.
For a daily habit, Reminders is usually better. For a one-time all-day deadline, Calendar is clearer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set an all-day reminder to notify me at a specific time?
Yes. In Reminders, if you set a date and a time, it becomes a timed reminder, not an all-day one. To get a notification at a specific time while still showing as all-day, you would need to use Calendar: create an all-day event and add a custom alert with a time (e.g., “At time� and choose 5:00 PM).
Why does my all-day reminder show up but not notify me?
Most likely the notification time is set to “None� or the default time has passed. In Reminders, open the reminder and tap “Date & Time� – if it says “No Time,� that means no notification will fire. Set a time (even a random one) to get a notification, but then it’s no longer all-day. Alternatively, use Calendar with an alert.
How do I change the default all-day reminder notification time?
In the Reminders app, go to Settings > Reminders (the app’s settings, not the system settings). There is an option for “Default List� but not for default time. The default time is actually 9:00 AM and is not user-configurable in iOS. To change it, you must set a specific time on each reminder.
Can I set an all-day reminder to repeat every weekday?
Yes. In Reminders, when you set a repeat, choose “Custom� and then select “Every weekday� (or pick specific days). This works with all-day reminders as long as you leave the time blank.
Does an all-day reminder sync to my Apple Watch?
Yes, both Reminders and Calendar sync to Apple Watch. On the watch, all-day reminders appear in the Reminders app, and all-day events appear in the Calendar app. Notifications will appear on the watch if they are enabled in the Watch app’s notification settings.
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