Windows 11 ships with built-in tools that let you create custom notifications on a schedule you set, turning routine alerts into a simple productivity system. Whether you want reminders to take breaks, block out time for specific projects, or get an alert when it’s time to pick up the kids, the operating system can handle it without any third-party software.
Below is how to configure scheduled reminders using native Windows utilities, along with a couple of preinstalled apps that offer alternative approaches.
Using Task Scheduler for Custom Notifications
The Task Scheduler is the utility to reach for if you want scheduled notifications without installing anything extra. Type “task scheduler” into the search box on the taskbar or Start menu, then select it when it appears.
Open the Action menu and choose Create Basic Task. Give it a clear name and description so you can identify it later, then click Next to set the frequency. Options include Daily, Weekly, Monthly, One time, When the computer starts, When I log on, and When a specific event is logged, which offers plenty of flexibility.
Click Next again, and if you picked a recurring task, you can set exactly when it repeats, such as 4 pm each afternoon. Click Next, choose Start a program, and select Next once more to open the dialog for building your notification.
In the Program/script field, enter “msg,” and in the Add arguments (optional) field, type your actual message, for example “Reminder: get up and do some stretching.” One more click on Next lets you review the notification, and Finish confirms it. The alert will then pop up at the specified time whether or not Task Scheduler is open.
To edit or delete a task later, return to Task Scheduler and look under the Task Scheduler Library heading. Right-click the task to make changes.
Setting Reminders Through Built-In Apps
Task Scheduler’s advantage is that it lives inside the Windows operating system, so no additional apps need to run. Still, preinstalled apps can do the job too. The Microsoft Clock app, included with Windows, lets you set custom alarms.
Launch it from the Start menu or search box, select Alarm, then click the plus button in the lower right corner to create a new one. You can give the alarm a name, which serves as your notification text, set the time, and choose how often it recurs.
If that doesn’t fit your needs, Microsoft To Do is another app that comes with Windows. Search for it from the taskbar or Start menu, click Add a task, and give the task a name. From there you can attach a reminder, choosing the time and date for the alert and whether the notification should repeat on a schedule.
