Add, change, or delete reminder lists on Mac
Create separate lists to organize all your to-do items into categories, like projects, vacation planning, or movies you want to see.
You can choose a different color and icon for each reminder list.
Note: All Reminders features described in this guide are available when you use updated iCloud reminders. Some features aren’t available if you are using accounts from other providers.
Add a reminder list
Go to the Reminders app
on your Mac.Click
at the top of the sidebar.If you don’t see the sidebar, choose View > Show Sidebar.
If you use several accounts in the Reminders app and you want to add a list to one of them, select a list below that account before you click “Add a new list.”
Enter a name for the reminder list.
Click a color swatch to choose a color for the list.
Do one of the following to choose a list icon:
Use an emoji: Click
, then choose an emoji.Use a Reminders icon: Click
, then choose an icon.
Click the List Type pop-up menu, then choose an option:
Standard: Create a standard reminders list.
Groceries: Create a shopping list that’s automatically organized into sections that correspond to typical grocery store layouts.
Smart List: Create a custom Smart List. See Create custom Smart Lists.
Click OK.
Note: Custom Smart Lists and grocery lists are available only for updated iCloud reminders.
Change a reminder list name, color, or icon
Go to the Reminders app
on your Mac.Double-click the list’s icon in the sidebar.
In the Name field, enter a new name for the list.
Click a color swatch to choose a new color for the list.
Click
to choose an emoji or to choose a new icon for the list.Click OK.
If you only want to change the name of a list, you can also Control-click the name of a reminder list, choose Rename, enter a new name for the list, then press Return.
Delete a reminder list
If you delete a reminder list, all the reminders from the list are moved to Recently Deleted, where you can view and recover reminders for 30 days. After 30 days, reminders are permanently deleted. If you want to keep the reminders, you can move them to another list before deleting the list.
If you delete a custom Smart List, the list is deleted, but the reminders in the list aren’t deleted.
Go to the Reminders app
on your Mac.Select a list in the sidebar, then press the Delete key.
If the list contains reminders, click Delete to confirm that you want to remove all the reminders in the list.
Remove a standard Smart List
You can’t delete the standard Smart Lists, but you can remove them from your sidebar.
Go to the Reminders app
on your Mac.Choose View > Show Smart List, then deselect the ones you want to remove.
Checkmarks appear next to the standard Smart Lists that appear in the Reminders app.