iCloud: Troubleshooting iCloud Reminders and Tasks

• Make sure there are not any current issues listed in the System Status affecting the iCloud Reminders. The iCloud System Status is listed on the iCloud Support webpage. 
• Make sure you have fully enabled iCloud Calendar & Reminders for the client you are using (for more setup and troubleshooting information on iOS, OS X, Windows and iCloud.com, see the additional details below).
• Check to see if the issue you are seeing is covered in iCloud Help. To search iCloud Help, visit help.apple.com/icloud.
• Check your settings and preferences as something may not be set up correctly. For example, having incorrect date and time settings can cause issues which are easily resolved by entering the appropriate settings.
  

Note: For instructions on setting up iCloud Calendar and Reminders with the Reminders application, see iCloud Setup.

If you are having trouble with Reminders on a Mac and using iCloud Calendar and Reminders, try each of these steps, testing after each to see if the issue is resolved:

• Make sure you are using OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or later. Click here for help verifying the version of OS X you are using.
• Make sure your computer is online. Attempt to view www.apple.com and iCloud.com. If you can't connect to the Internet, your iCloud Reminders will not update in Calendar. Click here for more information about troubleshooting your Internet connection.
• Verify that your iCloud membername is entered into the iCloud preference pane in System Preferences and the Calendars & Reminder setting is selected. See iCloud Setup for more information about setting up iCloud on a Mac.
• Quit and then re-open Calendar and Reminders. This single step can address many issues. 
• If recent changes don't appear, try forcing the app to refresh. Open Calendar and choose Refresh Calendars from the View menu to refresh your calendars and your reminders. 
• Turn off iCloud Calendar and Reminders, and then turn them back on.
  1. Quit Calendar and Reminders.
  2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple () menu, and click iCloud.
  3. Click the checkbox to deselect Calendars & Reminders.
  4. Close System Preferences, and wait about a minute.
  5. Open System Preferences and click iCloud.
  6. Click the checkbox to select Calendars & Reminders.
  7. Close System Preferences.
  8. Open Reminders, and test to see if the issue has been resolved.
• Restart your computer. This may sound simple, but it does reinitialize your network and application settings and can frequently resolve issues.

Note: For instructions on setting up iCloud Calendar and Reminders with iCal, see iCloud Setup.

If you are having trouble with iCal on a Mac and using iCloud Calendar, try each of these steps, testing after each to see if the issue is resolved:

• Make sure you are using OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later. Click here for help verifying the version of OS X you are using.
• Make sure that iCal is set to display Reminders. To show Reminders in iCal choose Show Reminders from the iCal View menu.
• Make sure your computer is online. Try to visit www.apple.com and iCloud.com. If you can't connect to the Internet, your iCloud Reminders will not update in iCal. Learn more about troubleshooting your Internet connection.
• Verify that your iCloud member name is in the iCloud preference pane in System Preferences. See iCloud Setup for more information about setting up iCloud on a Mac.
• If recent changes simply don't appear, try forcing iCal to refresh by choosing Refresh All from the iCal Calendar menu. 
• Quit and re-open Calendar and Reminders. This single step can address many issues.
• Make sure your account was successfully created in iCal. After upgrading to iCloud Calendar, you may need to quit and reopen iCal. To confirm your account is configured correctly in iCal:
  1. Open iCal.
  2. Choose Preferences from the iCal menu.
  3. Click Accounts. You should see an account with your iCloud membername entered.
• Turn iCloud Calendar off and back on
  1. Quit iCal.
  2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple () menu, and click iCloud.
  3. Click the checkbox to deselect Calendars.
  4. Close System Preferences, and wait about a minute.
  5. Open System Preferences, and choose iCloud.
  6. Click the checkbox to select Calendars.
  7. Close System Preferences.
  8. Open iCal and test to see if the issue has been resolved.
• Restart your computer. This may sound simple, but it does reinitialize your network and application settings and can frequently resolve issues.

• If you're having trouble with the web-based iCloud Reminders at icloud.com/#reminders, the first place to start troubleshooting is your browser. This article details how to troubleshoot browser issues for a variety of web browsers for multiple operating systems. Browser troubleshooting should never be skipped for web-based issues.
• If you encounter an issue while using iCloud Reminders on the web, a message may appear with a "Send to Apple" button. Clicking this helps iCloud to track issues and create fixes.

If you are having trouble with Reminders on an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch) and iCloud Calendar, try each of these steps, testing after each to see if the issue is resolved:

• Make sure you've updated to iOS 5 or later and that your iCloud account is configured correctly in Settings. For instructions on setting up the iOS for iCloud, see iCloud Setup. 
  • Reminders is a separate data type on iOS, which must be enabled via the Reminders slider in Settings > iCloud.
  • In iOS 5, Reminders appear in the Reminders app. They do not appear in the Calendar app.
• Make sure your iOS device is online. Attempt to view www.apple.com and iCloud.com. If you can't connect to the Internet, your iCloud calendars and events will not update in your Calendar application. Click here for more information about troubleshooting your Internet connection.
• Open a secure website from your iOS device to test if you are online as is necessary for iCloud Reminders. This also tests if the main ports 80 and 443 are accessible. Reminders requires port 443 access to iCloud in order to push and pull updates to and from the iCloud Calendar servers.
• If recent changes simply don't appear in Reminders, try forcing a refresh:
  • Open the Calendar app.
  • Tap Calendars in the top-left corner to load the Calendars list.
  • Tap the Refresh button in the lower-left corner of the Calendars list.
• Quit and restart the Reminders app on your iOS device:
  1. Press the Home button.
  2. Double-press the Home button to open the multitasking menu.
  3. Tap and hold the Reminders icon until it jiggles.
  4. Tap the red circle in the upper-left corner to remove the app from the list.
  5. Press the Home button to get back to your Home screen. Wait a minute before reopening the Calendar app.
• Change the Sync settings for your calendars:
  1. On iOS 6, tap Settings > Reminders. On iOS 5, tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
  2. In iOS 5, scroll down to the bottom to the Reminders section.
  3. Tap Sync. If this is set to All Reminders, set it to a specific duration, such as Events 1 Month Back. However, if it's set to a specific duration, set it to All Events.
  4. Wait several minutes and try forcing a refresh again (as described above). Then, open the Reminders app again.
• Turn iCloud Reminders off and back on:
  1. Tap Settings > iCloud.
  2. Turn the Reminders slider off. Choose to delete data only if your data exists at icloud.com/#reminders and/or one or more of your computers. Otherwise, choose Keep Data. 
  3. Wait a few minutes before turning the Reminders slider back on.
     
• Restart your iOS device by holding down the Sleep/Wake button and then swiping the screen when prompted to power off. This may sound simple, but it does reinitialize your network and application settings and can frequently resolve issues.

If you are having trouble with iCloud Calendar and Tasks on a PC (with Outlook 2007 or 2010), try each of these steps, testing after each to see if the issue is resolved:

• Verify that you are using a Windows configuration that is supported by iCloud. Click here for more information about the iCloud System Requirements.
• Make sure your computer is online. Attempt to view www.apple.com and iCloud.com. If you can't connect to the Internet, your iCloud calendars and events will not update in Outlook. Click here for more information about troubleshooting your Internet connection.
• Open a secure website to test if you are online as is necessary for the iCloud Reminders. This also tests if ports 80 and 443 are accessible.
• Verify that your iCloud membername is entered into the iCloud Control Panel. See iCloud Setup for more information about setting up iCloud on Windows.
• Completely close and reopen the iCloud Control Panel.
• If you recently made changes in Outlook and they are not moving to your other devices or vice-versa, click the Refresh button in Outlook.
• Turn iCloud Calendar off and back on:
  
  1. Quit Outlook.
  2. Open the Windows Control Panel:
     • In Windows 8, move the pointer to the upper-right corner of the screen to show the Charms bar, click the Search charm, and then click the iCloud Control Panel on the left.
     • In Windows 7 or Vista, choose Start menu > All Programs > iCloud > iCloud.
  3. Remove the checkmark in the checkbox next to Mail, Contacts, Calendars & Tasks, and click Apply. Wait a few seconds, then replace the checkmark, and click Apply.
  4. Open Outlook, and test to see if the issue has been resolved.
• Ensure the iCloud Outlook Add-in is active within Outlook:
  • For Outlook 2010:
    1. Open Outlook 2010.
    2. Click the File menu.
    3. Click Options in the left panel of the Outlook window.
    4. Click Add-Ins in the left panel of the Outlook Options window.
    5. Look at the list of add-ins beneath "Active Application Add-Ins" and verify that the "iCloud Outlook Add-in" is listed.
  • For Outlook 2007:
    1. Open Outlook 2007.
    2. From the Tools menu, choose Trust Center.
    3. Select Add-ins from the left column.
    4. Look at the list of add-ins beneath "Active Application Add-Ins" and verify that the "iCloud Outlook Add-in" is listed.
  • For additional information about managing Add-ins with Microsoft Outlook, see this Microsoft support document.
• Restart your computer. This may sound simple, but it does reinitialize your network and application settings and can frequently resolve issues.