How to set up medication reminders on your phone

What you will learn

In this guide, you will learn how to set up daily reminders on your phone to take your medication on time. You do not need to download any special app. Your phone has built-in tools that can alert you every day at the same time with a sound and a message telling you which medication to take.

What you need

• An iPhone or Android phone
• The name of your medication and the time you need to take it
• Your phone charged and turned on at the time of the reminder

Step 1: Decide which method to use

There are two simple ways to set medication reminders. You can use the Clock app to set a daily alarm, or you can use the Reminders app (iPhone) or Google Clock/Calendar (Android) for a named reminder. For most people, a daily alarm with a label is the easiest option.

Step 2: Open the Clock app

Find and tap the Clock app on your phone. On iPhone, it has a white clock face icon. On Android, it may be called Clock with a round clock icon. If you cannot find it, swipe down on your home screen and type “Clock” in the search bar.

Step 3: Create a new alarm

Tap the Alarm tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the + button (or Add alarm) to create a new alarm. Set the time to when you need to take your medication. For example, if you take a pill at 8:00 in the morning, set the alarm to 8:00 AM.

Step 4: Name the alarm with your medication

Tap the Label field (iPhone) or Label option (Android). Type the name of your medication, for example “Blood pressure pill” or “Vitamin D”. This label will appear on your screen when the alarm rings so you know exactly which medication to take.

Step 5: Set the alarm to repeat daily

Tap Repeat and select every day of the week (Monday through Sunday) so the alarm rings at the same time every day. If you only take the medication on certain days, select only those days. Tap Save or Done when finished.

Step 6: Set up additional alarms for other medications

If you take more than one medication at different times, repeat the steps above to create a separate alarm for each one. For example, one alarm at 8:00 AM labelled “Morning pills” and another at 8:00 PM labelled “Evening pills”. Each alarm will have its own label and time.

Step 7: Use Apple Health for medication tracking on iPhone

If you have an iPhone, open the Health app (the white icon with a red heart). Tap Browse at the bottom, then tap Medications. Tap Add Medication and follow the steps to enter the medication name, dosage, and schedule. The Health app will send you reminders and let you log each dose you take.

Tips

• Place your medication next to where you keep your phone at night so when the alarm rings in the morning, the pills are right there
• If you often dismiss alarms without thinking, set two alarms five minutes apart as a backup
• Ask a family member to help you set up the alarms if you find it difficult the first time
• Keep your phone volume turned up so you can hear the alarm, especially if you are hard of hearing

Useful links

• Set an alarm on iPhone - Apple Support
• Track medications in Apple Health - Apple Support
• Set an alarm on Android - Google Help