Alexa Reminders Not Working? Fixes That Work

If your Alexa reminders are not firing, the fix is usually a quick check of your device’s Do Not Disturb settings, notification permissions, or the reminder’s time and device assignment. This guide walks through the most common causes and step-by-step solutions to get your reminders back on track.

How Alexa Reminders Work

Alexa reminders are voice-activated alarms that you set by saying, “Alexa, remind me to take out the trash at 7 PM,” or by creating one in the Alexa app. When the time arrives, the designated Echo device plays a chime and announces the reminder. You can also receive reminders as push notifications on your phone if you have the Alexa app installed and notifications enabled.

Reminders are stored in the cloud and tied to your Amazon account, so they work across all your Echo devices. However, each reminder is assigned to a specific device by default — the one you set it on — unless you specify a different one. This device assignment is a common source of confusion when reminders seem to vanish.

Why Reminders Might Not Go Off

Several factors can prevent a reminder from sounding. The most frequent culprits are:

• Do Not Disturb (DND) is on — DND silences all notifications, including reminders, on the affected device.
• Notification settings are disabled — In the Alexa app, reminders can be turned off for specific devices or for the app itself.
• Wrong device selected — The reminder may be set for a device that is off, unplugged, or in another room.
• Time or date confusion — A reminder set for “tomorrow” might be scheduled for an unexpected date, or the device’s clock might be wrong.
• Volume is too low — If the Echo’s volume is at zero or very low, you might miss the chime.
• Outdated app or firmware — Older versions of the Alexa app or device software can have bugs that affect reminders.

Less common but possible: your internet connection is down, which prevents Alexa from syncing the reminder, or the reminder was accidentally deleted.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Before diving into detailed settings, try these fast solutions:

1. Check Do Not Disturb — Say “Alexa, turn off Do Not Disturb” or check the device’s status in the Alexa app (Devices > select your Echo > Do Not Disturb).
2. Raise the volume — Say “Alexa, volume 5” or use the physical buttons on the device.
3. Restart your Echo — Unplug it for 10 seconds and plug it back in. This clears minor glitches.
4. Say a test reminder — “Alexa, remind me to test in 1 minute.” If it works, the issue is with the specific reminder, not the device.
5. Check the Alexa app — Open the app, go to Reminders & Alarms, and confirm the reminder is there and set for the right time.

Detailed Fix: Notification Settings in the Alexa App

If quick fixes don’t work, the most likely culprit is a notification setting. Here’s how to check and adjust it:

1. Open the Alexa app on your phone.
2. Tap the More tab (three lines) at the bottom right.
3. Select Settings.
4. Scroll down and choose Notifications.
5. Tap Reminders.
6. Ensure the toggle for Reminders is enabled (green). Also check that Do Not Disturb is off in this menu.

This setting controls whether the Alexa app sends push notifications for reminders. If it’s off, you won’t get phone alerts, but the Echo should still chime. If you want reminders on your phone, keep this on.

Additionally, check per-device settings: Go to Devices > select your Echo > Device Settings > Do Not Disturb and make sure it’s off. Also, under Sounds, verify the volume is not muted.

How to Set Reminders Correctly

To avoid future issues, set reminders with clear language:

• Specific time — “Alexa, remind me to call the dentist at 3 PM.”
• Relative time — “Alexa, remind me in 30 minutes to stretch.”
• Day and time — “Alexa, remind me to water the plants every Monday at 8 AM.”
• Device-specific — “Alexa, remind me on the kitchen Echo to preheat the oven at 5 PM.”

You can also create reminders in the app: tap More > Reminders > Add Reminder. Here you can set the time, date, and choose which device should announce it. If you leave the device as “This Device,” it will use the phone you’re on, which may not be an Echo.

Advanced Troubleshooting

If the above doesn’t resolve the issue, try these deeper steps:

1. Update the Alexa app — Go to your phone’s app store and check for updates.
2. Update your Echo’s firmware — Say “Alexa, check for software updates” or wait for automatic updates overnight.
3. Check your internet connection — Ensure your Wi-Fi is stable. You can say “Alexa, are you connected?” to test.
4. Delete and recreate the reminder — Sometimes a corrupted reminder can be fixed by removing it and adding it again.
5. Reset the device — As a last resort, you can factory reset your Echo (hold the action button for 25 seconds). This will erase all settings, so use it only if nothing else works.

Also, check if the reminder is set for a time in the past. If you set a reminder for “tomorrow” but it’s already past midnight, it might be scheduled for the next day. Always verify the date in the app.

Alexa Reminders vs. Alarms vs. Routines

Many users confuse reminders with alarms and routines. Here’s the difference:

• Alarms — One-time or recurring sounds that go off at a set time. They don’t announce a message. You set them with “Alexa, set an alarm for 7 AM.”
• Reminders — Include a spoken message and can be one-time or recurring. They are tied to a device and can also send phone notifications.
• Routines — Automations that trigger multiple actions with a single phrase or schedule. For example, a routine can turn on lights and play music at sunset. Routines can include reminders as an action.

If your “reminder” doesn’t speak, you might have set an alarm by mistake. To check, say “Alexa, what alarms are set?” and “Alexa, what reminders are set?”

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Alexa reminder not go off today?

The most common reasons are Do Not Disturb being on, the device being unplugged, or the reminder being set for a different device. Check the Alexa app’s Reminders section to see which device it’s assigned to and whether DND is active on that device.

How do I make Alexa remind me on my phone?

Enable push notifications in the Alexa app: go to Settings > Notifications > Reminders and turn on the toggle. Also, ensure your phone’s system notifications for the Alexa app are allowed. Then set a reminder and it will appear as a notification on your phone.

Can I set a reminder for a specific Echo device?

Yes. Say “Alexa, remind me on [device name] to [task] at [time].” Or in the app, when creating a reminder, select the device under “Notify on.” If you don’t specify, it defaults to the device you set it on.

Why does my Alexa reminder show up in the app but not sound?

This usually means the device’s volume is muted or Do Not Disturb is on. Check the device’s volume and DND status in the app. Also, ensure the device is connected to Wi-Fi and powered on.

How do I delete all reminders at once?

There’s no bulk delete in the Alexa app. You must delete each reminder individually. Say “Alexa, delete my reminders” and follow the prompts, or go to More > Reminders and swipe to delete each one.

Will Alexa reminders work without Wi-Fi?

No. Alexa needs an internet connection to process and deliver reminders. If your Wi-Fi is down, reminders won’t fire. You can still use alarms, which are stored locally on the device, but reminders require cloud access.

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