To use the new Reminders features in iOS 13 or later — grocery lists, templates, and more — you need to update the reminders in iCloud.
After you update, your reminders aren't compatible with earlier versions of iOS and macOS. If you update Reminder on your iPhone with iOS 13 or later, your other devices — like your iPad and Mac — can’t access the reminders until you update your iPad to iPadOS or your Mac to macOS 10.15 Catalina. You can always see your reminders on a Mac or PC by signing into iCloud.com with a compatible web browser. Learn what to expect until all your devices have the latest software.
Make sure that your device is connected to the Internet before you open the Reminders app for the first time after updating to iOS 13 or later.
When you open the app, a Stay Up To Date screen gives you the options to Update Now or Update Later. Reminders will also tell you if you have shared Reminders lists that will be affected, or other devices that also need to be updated.
Tap Update Now to begin the process. If you tap Update Later, the app's main screen appears and shows an Update Reminders option or a blue Upgrade button above your lists. Tap it when you're ready to update your reminders.
The update process affects existing reminders in your primary iCloud account only. Reminders in all other accounts, such as secondary iCloud accounts and CalDAV and Exchange accounts, aren't changed.
To update your reminders, you need to turn on Reminders for iCloud:
In the Settings app, tap your name or icon.
Tap iCloud.
Tap Saved to iCloud.
Turn on Reminders.
After you update Reminders, you can view your reminders in these places:
The Reminders app on your other Apple devices if they're running iOS 13 or later, iPadOS, macOS 10.15 Catalina, or watchOS 6 or later, and signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
A web browser on a Windows PC or an Apple device, even if it's running an earlier version of iOS or macOS. Go to Reminders on iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
Shared lists require that both the creator of the list and the people who can view it have updated their reminders.
If you have a Family list that was created through Family Sharing, it's converted to a standard shared list when the family organizer updates. You can invite anyone to join the converted Family list, even if they're not in your family.
Here's what you can expect after you update Reminders:
iCloud reminders are available on your other devices only if they're running the latest software.
iCloud reminders created on a device that's running earlier software are visible only on other devices running earlier software. When you update a device to the latest software, new reminders on that device will be merged with the upgraded reminders and will be available on all updated devices.
If you create new iCloud reminders on a secondary device that's running iOS 13 or later or macOS Catalina, but you haven't yet opened the new Reminders app on that device — for example, if you used Siri to create reminders — those reminders will be lost when you open the app for the first time. To avoid this, open the Reminders app once before you create any new reminders on an updated device.
You can't see iCloud reminders in Outlook when using iCloud for Windows on your PC.
If you delete a reminder after you update, you can't recover it at iCloud.com.
After you update, learn more about Reminders on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.