the-calendar.net

Google Calendar

Google Calendar Tasks vs Reminders — Which to Use?

Google has been steadily merging its old Reminders feature into Tasks. In 2026, Tasks is the recommended path — Reminders is being phased out for new users.

Step-by-step

  1. To add a Task: click an empty slot on the calendar, choose Task instead of Event, give it a title and (optional) due date and time.
  2. Tasks appear in your calendar grid with a checkbox. Click the checkbox to mark done — it stays in your calendar with a strikethrough.
  3. To view your full task list: open Google Tasks from the right side panel (the blue circle icon).
  4. Reminders, if you still have them, appear as separate red items. Migrate them to Tasks via the side panel's Move all reminders to Tasks prompt.

Task vs Reminder differences

Tasks support subtasks, due dates, and lists; Reminders supported recurrence and location-based triggers (which Tasks doesn't fully replicate). The location-trigger feature is the main thing being lost in the migration.

Recommended setup

Use Tasks for to-dos with deadlines (everything that needs doing but isn't a meeting). Use Events for time-blocked work and meetings. Skip Reminders — they're legacy.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Will Reminders be deleted?
Google has been auto-migrating Reminders to Tasks in batches since 2023. New Reminders can no longer be created in Google Calendar.
Can I see Tasks on iPhone Calendar?
Yes — Tasks sync via the Google account in Settings, but they show as plain events without the checkbox UI. For the full task experience, install the Google Tasks app.