The best capture method is whichever one you’ll actually use. This page covers every option in the Apple ecosystem so you can pick the ones that fit how you work.

iPhone

Native Reminders app

Open the app and tap the “+” button in the bottom right corner.

From the Home Screen, long-press the Reminders icon to get a shortcut menu. You can jump straight to a specific list, or tap New Reminder without opening the app.

Siri

Hold the side button or say “Hey Siri”:

  • “Remind me to (title)”
  • “Remind me to (title) at (time)”
  • “Remind me to (title) on (date)”
  • “Remind me when I get home to (title)”
  • “Add (title) to my (list name) list”
  • “Remind me about this” — creates a reminder with a deep link back to whatever is on screen (works in Safari, Mail, Maps)

Control Center

Add the Reminders control in Settings › Control Center. Once added, you can start a new reminder from any app or the Lock Screen with a swipe and a tap.

Action Button (iPhone 15 Pro and later)

Map the Action Button to Reminders or a Shortcuts automation in Settings › Action Button. One press, no unlock required.

iPad

All iPhone methods work on iPad. The iPad also adds:

Apple Pencil and Scribble

Write directly into any Reminders text field with an Apple Pencil – the system converts handwriting to text in real time. On Apple Pencil Pro, the Squeeze gesture can be mapped via Shortcuts to open a new reminder prompt without putting the pencil down.

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Cmd+N New reminder
Shift+Cmd+N New list
Shift+Cmd+H Show completed reminders
Cmd+Space Spotlight (type “nr” for quick entry)

Mac

Native Reminders app

Press Cmd+N, type the title, press Return. The app understands natural language: type “Lunch with Alex Friday at 1pm” and it highlights the date and time as a clickable suggestion to set the alert automatically. Press Return on an existing task to add a new one directly below it.

Spotlight

Press Cmd+Space, type new reminder or just nr followed by the task title. Spotlight adds it to your default list immediately — the Reminders app does not need to be open.

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Cmd+N New reminder
Shift+Cmd+N New list
Option+Cmd+N New section
Cmd+T Set due today
Option+Cmd+T Set due tomorrow
Cmd+K Set due this weekend
Option+Cmd+K Set due next week
Shift+Cmd+F Flag / unflag
Cmd+] Indent (create subtask)

Drag and drop

Select text in any app: an email, a document, a web page. Drag it onto the Reminders icon in the Dock. It lands as a new reminder, and emails dragged this way include a link back to the original message.

Share menu

In Safari, Mail, Finder, or Notes, use the Share button and choose Reminders. The page title, email subject, or filename becomes the reminder title.

Apple Watch

Raise your wrist or press the Digital Crown and say “Siri, remind me to (title) at (time).” The reminder syncs to your iPhone immediately.

Add a Reminders complication to your watch face for one-tap access to your list and an Add Reminder button.

HomePod

Enable Personal Requests in the Home app so HomePod can reach your iCloud account. Then say:

  • “Hey Siri, add (item) to my shopping list”
  • “Hey Siri, remind me to (title) at (time)”
  • “Hey Siri, create a new list called (name)”

Shortcuts automation

The Shortcuts app lets you build custom capture flows triggered by the Action Button, Back Tap, a Siri phrase, or an automation.

Useful patterns:

  • Quick remind: prompts for text, parses dates and hashtag-based tags, sends to the right list automatically.
  • Bulk add: splits multi-line text (from a meeting transcript, for example) into individual reminders.
  • Share Sheet shortcut: adds a selected URL, email, or piece of text to Reminders from any app’s Share Sheet.
  • Personal automation: trigger a capture prompt when you arrive somewhere, connect to CarPlay, or open a specific app.