How-to

How to Configure the Reminders Widget on Mac and iPhone

By Vyshakh Nair, Founder, Ultra Reminders · Updated May 10, 2026 · 8 min read
Part of the master guide: The Quick Capture Bible for Mac

The Apple Reminders widget displays a chosen list, smart list, or Today view on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS home screens, lock screen, and Notification Center. Ultra Reminders does not ship its own widget because the underlying data lives in Apple Reminders, so the same widget you set up here will reflect Ultra's changes too.

The widget is one of those features Apple buried so well that most people never use it. Honestly, it is also slightly buggy on every iOS version I have tested since iOS 17, but when it works, it is the cheapest productivity upgrade you can make. A reminder you actually see at 7am because it is on your lock screen is a reminder that gets done.

This guide is the per-device setup, the size matrix, and the bug fixes that make the widget actually appear. Last tested on iOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1 in May 2026. If you are here because the widget already broke, jump straight to reminder widget not showing on iPhone.

What you'll achieve

By the end of this guide you will have a Reminders widget showing the right list on your iPhone home screen, lock screen, Mac desktop, and Notification Center. You will know which size to pick for which use case, and how to handle the most common "why is the widget blank?" failure.

What you'll need

  • iPhone running iOS 17 or later (iOS 26 recommended for lock-screen widgets)
  • Mac running macOS Sonoma or later (macOS 26 recommended)
  • iCloud Reminders enabled in Settings (otherwise the widget shows nothing)
  • At least one list with active reminders
  • 5 minutes

Step 1: Pick the right list to display

Before you add the widget, decide what list it should show. The widget can display:

  • A specific list (like "Work" or "Groceries")
  • A smart list (like "Today" or a custom one)
  • The default Today view

For most people the answer is Today view. It auto-pulls anything due today regardless of which list it lives in. If you want the widget to show only a specific project (like "Vacation Prep" two weeks before a trip), pick that list instead.

If you do not have a custom Today smart list set up, the definitive Apple Reminders guide covers smart list creation in the Smart Lists section. The default Today view (built-in) works fine for most cases.

Step 2: Add the widget on iPhone home screen

  1. Long-press any empty area on the home screen until icons start jiggling.
  2. Tap the "+" button in the top-left corner.
  3. Search for "Reminders" or scroll down to find it.
  4. Pick a size: small (1 list, 3 items), medium (1 list, 5 items), or large (1 list, 8 items, plus quick-add button).
  5. Tap "Add Widget."
  6. The widget lands on your home screen. Tap and hold to drag it to where you want it.

To change which list the widget shows: tap and hold the widget, choose "Edit Widget," then tap "List" and pick. Tap outside to confirm.

"I added the medium widget on my home screen and it took me 3 weeks to realize it was showing the wrong list. The default was 'Reminders' which is not the same as my main list."
paraphrased from r/apple, October 2025

Step 3: Add the widget on iPhone lock screen (iOS 16+)

Lock-screen widgets are smaller and only show 1 to 3 items. Useful for the day's top priority.

  1. Long-press your lock screen.
  2. Tap "Customize."
  3. Tap "Lock Screen."
  4. Tap one of the widget areas (above the time or below the time).
  5. Search for "Reminders."
  6. Pick the rectangular variant (shows 2 items) or the inline (shows 1).
  7. Tap "Done" then exit customization.

Lock-screen widgets cannot be configured to show a custom list as easily as home-screen widgets. As of iOS 26.1 they default to the system Today view. To force a different list, you have to edit the widget by tapping it during lock-screen customization, then choosing "List" from the picker.

This is one of the more annoying limitations. Apple could fix it tomorrow but for now, the lock-screen widget is mostly a Today display.

Step 4: Add the widget to Notification Center

Notification Center widgets show when you swipe down from the top-left of your iPhone.

  1. Swipe down on the lock screen or home screen from the top-left corner to open Notification Center.
  2. Scroll all the way to the bottom.
  3. Tap "Edit."
  4. Tap the green "+" next to "Reminders."
  5. Drag to reorder.
  6. Tap "Done."

This widget shows up to 8 items in a stack. Good for at-a-glance scanning without unlocking the phone.

Step 5: Add the widget on Mac desktop

macOS Sonoma and later support widgets directly on the desktop, not just in Notification Center.

  1. Right-click any empty area of the desktop.
  2. Choose "Edit Widgets."
  3. In the gallery that opens, scroll or search for "Reminders."
  4. Pick a size.
  5. Drag the widget to where you want it on the desktop.
  6. Configure the list by clicking the widget and using the small "i" or "Edit Widget" option.

Mac desktop widgets sit behind your windows by default but become visible when you click the desktop wallpaper. You can also force them to always show by tweaking macOS Stage Manager and desktop settings.

Step 6: Add the widget to Mac Notification Center

If you do not want widgets on your desktop, the Mac Notification Center can host them too.

  1. Click the date/time in the top-right of the menu bar to open Notification Center.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and click "Edit Widgets."
  3. Find Reminders, pick a size, drag it into the Notification Center column.
  4. Click "Done."

Step 7: Configure the widget to show the right list

For each widget you added, you need to set which list it pulls from.

On iPhone home screen:

  1. Long-press the widget.
  2. Tap "Edit Widget."
  3. Tap "List."
  4. Choose the list, smart list, or "Today" view.
  5. Tap outside the widget to save.

On Mac:

  1. Click the widget once.
  2. Choose "Edit [widget name]" from the menu that appears.
  3. Pick the list.

If you do not see your custom list in the picker, your iCloud sync is not done yet. Wait a few minutes and reopen the picker.

Common pitfalls

  • Widget shows blank. Most common cause: iCloud Reminders is off. Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Reminders > toggle on. If already on, toggle off and back on.
  • Widget shows wrong list. Edit widget > List > pick correctly. Default is often "Reminders" not your main list.
  • Lock-screen widget cannot show custom list. As of iOS 26.1 this is a system limitation. Lock-screen widgets default to Today view. Workaround: just use Today view and tag everything you want shown.
  • Widget does not update after marking item complete. iOS widget refresh has rate limits. Usually updates within 5 minutes. If it has been longer, force-quit and reopen Reminders, then check the widget.
  • Widget disappears after iOS update. Known iOS 17.4 and 18.0 bug. Re-add the widget. The old one was orphaned by the update.

For deeper troubleshooting on widget failures, see reminder widget not showing on iPhone. For sync issues, see Apple Reminders not syncing fixes.

Verification

You know the setup worked if:

  • The widget shows real items, not "No reminders."
  • Tapping a reminder in the widget opens it in the Reminders app.
  • Tapping the empty area of the widget opens the configured list, not the default Reminders home.
  • Marking a reminder complete in the app updates the widget within 5 minutes.

Widget size matrix

Size Platform Items shown Best for
Small iPhone home 3 Single project at-a-glance
Medium iPhone home 5 Today view
Large iPhone home 8 + quick-add Power user main list
Inline iPhone lock 1 Top of mind item
Rectangular iPhone lock 2 Today + tomorrow
Notification Center iPhone 8 Scan without unlocking
Small Mac desktop 3 Quick reference corner
Medium Mac desktop 5 Daily plan
Large Mac desktop 8 Active project board

Widget capacity scales with size. Large widgets also include a quick-add button at the bottom that opens a capture sheet directly. For faster Mac capture without using a widget, see reminders keyboard shortcuts on Mac or check the best Mac menu bar task apps.

A note on Ultra Reminders and widgets

Ultra Reminders does not ship its own widget. The reason: it reads from and writes back to Apple Reminders via iCloud. So the standard Apple Reminders widget reflects everything Ultra captured. Your widget is your widget regardless of which app you used to add the task.

This is also why Ultra Reminders works on iPhone even though Ultra is a Mac-only app. The captures sync via iCloud and show up in Apple Reminders on iPhone, and the widget pulls from there.

If you want a faster capture experience on Mac that does not require opening the widget, task inbox setup covers the menu bar approach Ultra uses.

FAQ

Q: Why does my widget show "No reminders" when I have items?

A: Three likely causes. iCloud Reminders is off in Settings. The widget is pointed at the wrong list (often the default "Reminders" instead of your main one). Or the items have a future date and the widget is set to Today view only. Check each in order.

Q: Can I show two lists in one widget?

A: No. Apple's widget supports one list per widget. To show multiple, add multiple widgets or use a smart list that combines them via filters (like "tag is work OR tag is personal").

Q: Does the widget work on Apple Watch?

A: Apple Watch has a Reminders complication, not a widget per se. Add it via the Watch face customization. It shows the next-due reminder.

Q: Why does the widget not update immediately after I check off an item?

A: iOS widget refresh is rate-limited by the system to save battery. Usually updates within 5 minutes. If it never updates, force-quit Reminders, reopen it, and the widget should refresh.

Q: Can I use the widget to add a new reminder?

A: Yes, the large widget on iPhone and Mac includes a quick-add button at the bottom that opens an input field. Smaller widgets are display-only.

Ultra Reminders solves a widget that actually shows today's list instead of going blank. Free 14-day trial at ultrareminders.com.