iOS 26 Has a Hidden Way to Set Reminders

Adding things to Reminders on the iPhone necessitates several steps. You have to open the app, then find the relevant list, then enter the task. Sure, you can use Siri, but in my experience Siri makes mistakes, and I prefer to type things out. In the past, I’ve used and recommended the RemindMeFaster app, which reduces the work required to one tap. Now, Apple has integrated that concept directly into iOS 26, leading to a superior (and faster) experience for adding tasks to the Reminders app.

iOS 26’s New Reminder control can be added to the Control Center, Lock Screen, or the Action button. No matter where you trigger it, it brings up a quick entry system that floats above everything else, letting you add reminders with due dates, location, and the list of your choice.

Setting up the new quick reminders shortcut

As mentioned above, you can add the New Reminder control to one of three new places. For fastest entry, you can choose the Lock Screen or Control Center option.

Open the Control Center, tap and hold in an empty area, and tap Add a Control. Now, search for and add the New Reminder control. You are then free to put it anywhere in the Control Center, and you can expand its size as well.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Similarly, go to the Lock screen, tap and hold the wallpaper, choose Customize, and then choose one the two Control buttons at the bottom. Switch it to the New Reminder control, and you’re good to go.

To add it to the Action button, got to Settings > Action Button > Controls > Choose a Control > New Reminder.

I’ve personally set the New Reminder toggle in Control Center, right at the bottom. I don’t use any Action button actions, and I like to keep the Torch and Camera icons on the lock screen, so Control Center is the best option for me.

Using the new quick reminders shortcut

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Now that the New Reminder control is front and center, it’s time to test it out.

Tapping on it will reveal a new floating window on the top of the iPhone screen (this will work on iPad and Mac as well).

Here, you can tap on the dropdown icon to select a list—it will remember the list you used last, so you won’t need to change it every single time. Next, type out the reminder, and you can even add notes here (pasting in notes works as expected). Then, you can use natural language to add a due date (e.g., typing “tomorrow at 9 AM” and then choosing the time from the suggestion bar). You an add a location, or Flag it as an important task. Then, tap the Checkmark icon to save the reminder.

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