How to Set a Reminder in Slack (Messages, To-dos, Channels)

Slack reminders now live in a To-dos tab, sitting alongside the old /remind command that many people still use. That's good news, because you can attach a reminder to almost anything: a message, a file, a to-do or even a date in a canvas. Here's each way to do it, the channel reminder format, and the limits that trip people up.

Remind yourself about a message

1. Hover over the message or file.
2. Click the three dots icon in its top-right corner.
3. Select Remind me about this.
4. Choose a time, or Custom to set your own.

On your phone, tap and hold the message, then tap Remind me. This is the one I'd use most: when someone asks for something you can't do right now, set a reminder on their message and it comes back at the right moment, with all the context attached.

Create a reminder from scratch

1. Click the To-dos tab in your sidebar.
2. Click Add To-do at the top right.
3. Type what you need to do, then click Add reminder.
4. Choose a time from the list, or Custom.
5. Click Add.

On mobile, go to Home, tap To-dos, tap the plus sign, enter the details and choose a date and time. When the reminder is due, Slack sends a notification and puts a badge on your To-dos and Activity tabs.

Set a reminder for a whole channel

Team reminders still use the slash command. Type /remind in the message box, select it, then follow this format:

Part	Example
The command	/remind
The channel	#marketing-team
What	to submit expenses
When	every Thursday

Put together, that's /remind #marketing-team to submit expenses every Thursday. Send it, and Slack posts the reminder in the channel at that time. Slack says channel reminders suit simple team nudges; for anything more detailed, it suggests a scheduled-message workflow instead. Note that guests can't create channel reminders.

Repeating reminders: the rule people miss

You can repeat a reminder by the day, such as every Monday or every Thursday, but not by time intervals like every hour. Slack also recommends writing dates and times in American English format, so 'every Thursday at 9am' and month-day dates work best. If a reminder doesn't fire when you expected, check the date format first.

Other places to add reminders

• In a canvas: type a date such as 'Tuesday' or 'tomorrow', select it, hover and click Add reminder.
• From a list item: open the item, click More Actions and choose Remind me about this.
• By asking Slackbot to create a reminder for you.

Change or cancel a reminder

For personal reminders, open the To-dos tab, hover over the item and click Edit reminder. Choose a new time, or click Clear due date to remove it. You can also filter your to-dos to show overdue ones, upcoming reminders or those with no reminder, and sort by due date.

Channel reminders are different: Slack says they can't be edited. To change one, delete it and set it again. In the channel where it posts, type /remind list and send it, then delete the reminder from the list that appears.

Reminder or scheduled message?

They solve different problems. A reminder nudges you (or a channel) at a set time. A scheduled message is something you write now that sends later, for example a note to a colleague in another time zone that lands at the start of their day. Slack itself points people towards workflows with a scheduled-message template when a channel reminder needs to say more than a line. As a rule: if you need to act, set a reminder; if someone else needs to read something, schedule a message.

Message reminders beat to-dos for requests

When a colleague asks you for something in a thread, a reminder on their message is better than a separate to-do. The reminder brings you back to the exact conversation, with their wording, any files and the replies around it. A to-do you typed yourself strips all that away, and you end up searching for the original message anyway.

Reminder habits that work

• Use Remind me about this on requests you can't answer yet, instead of leaving them unread.
• Set channel reminders for recurring admin, like timesheets or weekly reports, so nobody has to nag.
• Review your To-dos tab first thing each morning and clear what's done.
• Keep reminders specific: 'Send Sam the revised quote' beats 'Sam'.

If you're tidying up Slack generally, my guides on archiving a Slack channel and leaving a Slack channel help cut the noise, and my guide to AI tools for personal productivity covers smarter ways to manage your day.

My verdict

Use Remind me about this on messages, the To-dos tab for everything else, and /remind #channel what when for team nudges. Repeat by the day, not by the hour, and remember channel reminders can't be edited, only deleted and set again.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set a reminder in Slack?

Hover over a message, click the three dots and choose Remind me about this, or open To-dos, add a to-do and click Add reminder.

How do I set a reminder for a Slack channel?

Type /remind #channel what when, for example /remind #marketing-team to submit expenses every Thursday, and send it.

Can Slack reminders repeat every hour?

No. Slack says reminders can repeat by the day, such as every Monday, but not in time increments like every hour.

How do I delete a Slack channel reminder?

Channel reminders can't be edited. In the channel, type /remind list, send it, then delete the reminder and recreate it if needed.

Can guests set reminders in Slack?

Guests can set personal reminders, but Slack says guests can't create channel reminders.