Apple Reminders

Installation

# Install via Homebrew
brew install steipete/tap/remindctl

# Verify installation
remindctl --version

Setup

Permissions (macOS)

Grant Reminders permission when prompted:

• System Settings → Privacy & Security → Reminders
• Enable for Terminal or your terminal app

Check Status

# Check connectivity and permissions
remindctl status

# Request access if needed
remindctl authorize

Common Commands

View Reminders

remindctl                    # Today's reminders
remindctl today              # Today only
remindctl tomorrow           # Tomorrow only
remindctl week               # This week
remindctl overdue            # Past due reminders
remindctl all                # All reminders
remindctl 2026-02-25         # Specific date (YYYY-MM-DD)

Manage Lists

remindctl list                           # List all lists
remindctl list "Work"                    # Show reminders in specific list
remindctl list "Projects" --create       # Create new list
remindctl list "Old Project" --delete    # Delete list (careful!)

Create Reminders

# Basic reminder
remindctl add "Buy groceries"

# With notes
remindctl add "Call dentist" --notes "Ask about teeth whitening"

# With due date
remindctl add "Submit tax return" --due "2026-04-15"

# With priority (1=high, 5=low)
remindctl add "URGENT: Pay electricity bill" --priority 1

# Into specific list
remindctl add "Finish proposal" --list "Work"

# With start date (don't show until)
remindctl add "Pack bags" --start "2026-03-01" --due "2026-03-05"

# Repeating reminder
remindctl add "Water plants" --repeat "weekly"

Complete/Uncomplete

# Complete by title (fuzzy match)
remindctl complete "Buy groceries"

# Complete by list
remindctl complete "Call dentist" --list "Personal"

# Uncomplete (mark as pending)
remindctl uncomplete "Buy groceries"

Delete Reminders

# Delete by title (fuzzy match)
remindctl delete "Old reminder"

# Force delete (no confirmation)
remindctl delete "Old reminder" --force

Edit Reminders

# Edit interactively
remindctl edit "Buy groceries"

# Change due date
remindctl edit "Submit report" --due "2026-03-01"

# Change list
remindctl edit "Call client" --list "Work"

# Update priority
remindctl edit "Review PR" --priority 2

Advanced Usage

Date Formats

# ISO format (recommended)
remindctl add "Task" --due "2026-02-25"

# Relative dates
remindctl add "Task" --due "tomorrow"
remindctl add "Task" --due "next monday"
remindctl add "Task" --due "in 2 weeks"

# With time
remindctl add "Call at 3pm" --due "today 15:00"

Repeat Patterns

remindctl add "Pay rent" --repeat "monthly"
remindctl add "Water plants" --repeat "weekly"
remindctl add "Team standup" --repeat "daily"
remindctl add "Quarterly review" --repeat "quarterly"
remindctl add "Annual checkup" --repeat "yearly"

Search and Filter

# Search by text
remindctl all | grep "groceries"

# High priority only
remindctl all --priority 1

# Overdue only
remindctl overdue --list "Work"

JSON Output (for scripting)

# Get reminders as JSON
remindctl today --json

# Parse with jq
remindctl all --json | jq '.[] | select(.priority == 1)'

Integration Examples

Add Reminder from Agent

// When user says "remind me to call John tomorrow"
remindctl add "Call John" --due "tomorrow" --list "Personal"

Daily Briefing

# Get today's reminders for morning briefing
remindctl today --json | jq -r '.[] | "- [ ] \(.title)"' 

Overdue Alert

# Check for overdue reminders
OVERDUE=$(remindctl overdue --json | jq 'length')
if [ "$OVERDUE" -gt 0 ]; then
  echo "⚠️ You have $OVERDUE overdue reminders!"
  remindctl overdue
fi

Troubleshooting

Permission Denied

# Check permissions
remindctl status

# Reset permissions
tccutil reset Reminders com.apple.Terminal

Reminders Not Syncing

• Ensure iCloud sync is enabled for Reminders
• Check Apple ID is signed in on all devices
• Wait a few moments for iCloud sync

List Not Found

# List all available lists
remindctl list

# Create if missing
remindctl list "NewList" --create

Examples

Personal Task Management

# Morning routine
remindctl add "Take vitamins" --due "today 08:00" --repeat "daily"
remindctl add "Check email" --due "today 09:00" --list "Work"

# Shopping
remindctl add "Milk" --list "Shopping"
remindctl add "Eggs" --list "Shopping"
remindctl add "Bread" --list "Shopping"

Work Projects

# Project deadlines
remindctl add "Submit Q1 report" --due "2026-03-31" --priority 1 --list "Work"
remindctl add "Team retrospective" --due "2026-03-15" --list "Work"

# Meeting prep
remindctl add "Prepare slides" --due "2026-02-28" --notes "Focus on Q4 metrics"

Health & Wellness

# Medication reminders
remindctl add "Take medication" --due "today 08:00" --repeat "daily" --priority 1
remindctl add "Take medication" --due "today 20:00" --repeat "daily" --priority 1

# Exercise
remindctl add "Gym session" --due "tomorrow 18:00" --repeat "weekly" --list "Health"

Best Practices

1. Use Lists: Organize reminders by context (Work, Personal, Shopping, etc.)
2. Set Priorities: Use priority 1 for urgent items
3. Add Notes: Include important details in notes
4. Use Repeats: For recurring tasks, set repeat patterns
5. Clean Up: Complete or delete old reminders regularly
6. Start Dates: Use start dates to avoid cluttering today's view

Security Notes

• Reminders sync via iCloud - ensure 2FA is enabled
• Don't store sensitive information in reminder titles
• Use notes for private details (still iCloud synced)

References

• remindctl GitHub
• Apple Reminders App