How to add a reminder widget on iPhone or Android
To add a reminder widget on iPhone, touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen, tap Edit, then Add Widget, choose Reminders, pick a size and tap Add Widget. On Android, touch and hold the home screen, tap Widgets, and choose Google Tasks or, on a Samsung phone, Reminder. On both, you can tick reminders off from the widget without opening the app.
A widget keeps your list in sight, which helps most with tasks that have no fixed time. For things that must happen at a set time, rely on notifications as well. We build Pokobot, a WhatsApp reminder service that has no widget of its own, and explain below how to keep its reminders easy to see too.
Steps were checked against Apple, Google and Samsung help pages on 7 October 2026. Menu names can vary slightly with your software version.
On this page
Which reminder widget to use
Use the widget for the app where your reminders already live. If you're not sure, it's usually Apple Reminders on iPhone, Google Tasks on Android and Samsung Reminder on Galaxy phones.
| Phone | Widget | Where it can go | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple Reminders | Home Screen, Today View, Lock Screen and StandBy | Tap an item to check it off |
| iPhone with Google | Google Tasks | Home Screen and Today View | Best if your tasks live in Gmail and Google Calendar |
| Android | Google Tasks | Home screen | A resizable List widget and a quick New Task button |
| Samsung Galaxy | Samsung Reminder | Home screen and Lock screen | One UI 7 or later can show selected reminders only |
How to add a Reminders widget to your iPhone Home Screen
The Reminders widget comes in several sizes. Small ones show a count or a few items; larger ones show more of a list.
Touch and hold an empty area
Hold an empty part of the Home Screen, or any widget, until the apps start to jiggle.
Tap Edit, then Add Widget
Edit is in the upper-left corner of the screen.
Choose Reminders and a size
Search for or scroll to Reminders, then swipe left or right to see the sizes.
Tap Add Widget, then Done
Drag the widget where you want it before tapping Done.
Choose which list it shows
Touch and hold the widget, choose Edit Widget, and pick a list, such as Today, Scheduled or one of your own lists.
Tick reminders off from the widget
Tap the circle next to a reminder to check it off without opening the app.
Add reminders to your iPhone Lock Screen and StandBy
On iOS 16 or later, touch and hold the Lock Screen until Customize appears, tap Customize, then Lock Screen, and tap Add Widgets. Choose Reminders and tap Done. Lock Screen widgets are small, so they suit a count or the next item rather than a full list.
StandBy turns your iPhone into a bedside display when it is charging on its side. Connect it to a charger, turn it to landscape and tap the screen, then swipe to the widgets view, where the Reminders widget can sit beside a clock or calendar. You can tap an item to check it off there too.
Anyone who picks up your phone can see Lock Screen and StandBy widgets, so choose a list that you don't mind showing, and keep private reminders inside the app.
How to add a Google Tasks widget on Android
Most Android phones keep reminders in Google Tasks, which offers two widgets: a List widget that shows and manages your tasks, and a New Task shortcut for adding one quickly.
Touch and hold the home screen
Hold an empty space until the home screen options appear.
Tap Widgets, then Tasks
Scroll the list or search for Tasks.
Choose List or New Task
List lets you find, create and tick off tasks from the widget. New Task adds a shortcut that opens a new task in the app.
Drag it into place
Drop it in an empty space and release.
Resize the List widget
Touch and hold it, release, then drag the dots on its edges. Only the List widget can be resized.
How to add the Samsung Reminder widget
On a Galaxy phone, touch and hold the home screen, tap Widgets, find Reminder, choose a widget style and tap Add. To put it on the Lock screen, touch and hold the Lock screen, tap Widgets and choose Reminder.
With One UI 7 or later, you can make the widget show only certain reminders. Touch and hold it, tap Settings, choose Category, then Selected reminders, tick the ones you want and tap Done.
If your reminder widget isn't updating
Widgets refresh in the background, so they can lag behind the app. Work through these in order.
Open the app once
Opening Reminders, Tasks or Reminder usually refreshes the widget straight away.
Check the list and account
Make sure the widget is set to the list you expect, and that the app is signed in to the account your reminders are saved in.
Turn off battery saving
Low Power Mode on iPhone or battery saver on Android can limit background activity. Try again with it off.
Remove and add it again
Delete the widget and add it back. On Samsung phones, Samsung's widget troubleshooting guide covers further fixes.
Keeping WhatsApp reminders in view
Pokobot doesn't have a home-screen widget; its reminders arrive as WhatsApp messages at the time you set. To keep them easy to find, pin the Poko chat to the top of WhatsApp, and send “list” whenever you want to see your pending reminders.
A widget and a message do different jobs. A widget is a list you glance at; a message interrupts you at the moment something is due. Many people use a widget for undated tasks and a timed reminder for anything that must happen at a set time. Pokobot is free for 7 days with no card required, then a paid subscription.
Remind me in 2 minutes to check where this reminder arrivesOpen in WhatsApp - How to set reminders on WhatsAppSet, list, change and cancel reminders in the chat.
- The WhatsApp to-do listA list for tasks with no time, shown when you ask for it.
listtodo listQuestions, answered
- How do I add a reminder widget on iPhone?
- Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen, tap Edit, then Add Widget, choose Reminders, pick a size and tap Add Widget. To choose which list it shows, touch and hold the widget and tap Edit Widget.
- Can I put reminders on my iPhone Lock Screen?
- Yes, on iOS 16 or later. Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, then Lock Screen, tap Add Widgets and choose Reminders. Remember that anyone holding your phone can see Lock Screen widgets.
- Can I check off reminders from the widget?
- Yes. On iPhone, tap an item in the Reminders widget to check it off without opening the app, including in StandBy. The Google Tasks List widget on Android also lets you manage tasks directly.
- How do I add a reminder widget on Android?
- Touch and hold the home screen, tap Widgets, then Tasks, and drag the List widget into place. On a Samsung phone, you can choose the Reminder widget instead, on the home screen or the Lock screen.
- Why is my reminder widget not updating?
- Open the app once to refresh it, check the widget is set to the right list and account, turn off Low Power Mode or battery saver, or remove the widget and add it again.
- Does Pokobot have a widget?
- No. Pokobot reminders arrive as WhatsApp messages. Pin the Poko chat to the top of WhatsApp and send “list” to see what's pending.