Apple Reminders Management via MCP Skill

Apple Reminders Management via MCP

When to Use This Skill

Invoke this skill when you need to:

Create reminders for time-sensitive tasks or follow-ups
Search existing reminders to check task status
Update reminder priorities or due dates
Organize reminders across different lists (Work, Personal, Projects)
Mark reminders complete after task completion
Integrate reminders with Folio context by default; use legacy Obsidian sync only when explicitly requested
Set up recurring or time-based task tracking

Core Principles

List Organization: Use appropriate reminder lists for different contexts (Work vs Personal)
Priority Management: Set priorities (high=1, medium=5, low=9) for task importance
Due Date Discipline: Set due dates for time-sensitive tasks, leave open for aspirational tasks
Search First: Check existing reminders before creating duplicates
Completion Tracking: Mark reminders complete to maintain clean lists
Integration: Link reminders to Folio notes or other source records for full context; use Obsidian links only for legacy vault work

Available MCP Tools

Core Operations

list_reminder_lists: Get all available reminder lists (start here)
get_reminders: Get reminders from specific list or all lists (with optional filtering)
search_reminders: Search reminders by name or body content
create_reminder: Create new reminder with priority, due date, and notes
update_reminder: Update existing reminder (priority, due date, completion status)
delete_reminder: Delete reminder by ID

Reminder List Organization

Typical List Structure

Work Lists:
- "Work" - General work tasks
- "Example Company" - Business Project business tasks
- "Partner Project" - Partnership development tasks
- "Projects" - Active project tasks

Personal Lists:
- "Reminders" - Default personal list
- "Shopping" - Shopping and errands
- "Reading" - Articles and books to read
- "Someday" - Aspirational tasks

Pattern: Discover Available Lists

Use: mcp__reminders__list_reminder_lists

Result: Array of {id, name} for all available lists

When to use: Starting point before creating reminders, understanding organization

Creating Reminders

Pattern: Simple Task Reminder

Use: mcp__reminders__create_reminder

Parameters:
- name: "Follow up with Partner Contact on Partner Project partnership"
- listName: "Partner Project"
- priority: 1 (high priority)
- dueDate: "10/20/2025 09:00 AM"

Pattern: Task with Context

Use: mcp__reminders__create_reminder

Parameters:
- name: "Update email campaign messaging for Business Project"
- listName: "Example Company"
- body: "Update remaining 6 emails in drip sequence. Reference: Folio note or project record for the email campaign."
- priority: 1
- dueDate: "10/22/2025 02:00 PM"

Pattern: Recurring Task Placeholder

Note: MCP doesn't currently support recurring reminders via API
Workaround: Create individual instances with sequential due dates

Example - Weekly Review:
create_reminder(name: "Weekly Review", listName: "Work", dueDate: "10/20/2025 05:00 PM")
create_reminder(name: "Weekly Review", listName: "Work", dueDate: "10/27/2025 05:00 PM")
create_reminder(name: "Weekly Review", listName: "Work", dueDate: "11/03/2025 05:00 PM")

Searching and Filtering Reminders

Pattern: Search by Name or Content

Use: mcp__reminders__search_reminders

Parameters:
- searchTerm: "Partner Project"

Result: All reminders mentioning "Partner Project" in name or body

Pattern: Get Reminders from Specific List

Use: mcp__reminders__get_reminders

Parameters:
- listName: "Example Company"
- completed: false (only show incomplete)

Result: All incomplete reminders in Business Project list

Pattern: Find All Incomplete High Priority Tasks

Use: mcp__reminders__get_reminders

Parameters:
- completed: false

Then filter results where priority === 1 (high)

Updating Reminders

Pattern: Change Priority

# Step 1: Search for reminder
results = mcp__reminders__search_reminders(searchTerm: "market research")

# Step 2: Update priority
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(
  reminderId: results[0].id,
  priority: 1  # Escalate to high priority
)

Pattern: Reschedule Due Date

# Step 1: Find reminder
results = mcp__reminders__get_reminders(listName: "Partner Project", completed: false)

# Step 2: Update due date
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(
  reminderId: results[0].id,
  dueDate: "10/25/2025 10:00 AM"  # Push out deadline
)

Pattern: Mark Complete

# Step 1: Search for completed task
results = mcp__reminders__search_reminders(searchTerm: "email campaign setup")

# Step 2: Mark complete
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(
  reminderId: results[0].id,
  completed: true
)

Pattern: Add Context to Existing Reminder

# Step 1: Find reminder
results = mcp__reminders__search_reminders(searchTerm: "partnership proposal")

# Step 2: Add body text with context
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(
  reminderId: results[0].id,
  body: "Draft partnership terms. Reference market research in Folio or the current project knowledge store."
)

Integration Workflows

Integration: Folio → Reminders

Goal: Create reminders from Folio notes, project records, or action items

Workflow:
1. Search Folio for relevant action items or project notes
2. Parse action items from note content
3. For each time-sensitive action:
   mcp__reminders__create_reminder(
     name: "[action from Folio/project context]",
     listName: "[appropriate list]",
     body: "Source: [Folio note/project record]",
     priority: [based on task context],
     dueDate: [if specified in note]
   )
4. Update the source record when the workflow supports writeback

Integration: Reminders → Folio

Goal: Sync reminder completion back to Folio or project task tracking

Workflow:
1. Get completed reminders: mcp__reminders__get_reminders(completed: true)
2. Filter for reminders with "Source: [Folio note/project record]" in body
3. For each completed reminder:
   - Extract the source reference from body
   - Update the source record when writeback is available
   - Mark task as complete with completion date
4. Archive or delete synced reminders: mcp__reminders__delete_reminder

Integration: Task Sync Workflow (syncing-task-completions skill)

Workflow: Two-agent sync pattern

@sync-scanner agent:
1. Get all incomplete reminders: mcp__reminders__get_reminders(completed: false)
2. Get all Folio/project action items
3. Cross-reference to find:
   - Reminders without source entries (orphaned)
   - Source TODOs without reminders (untracked)
4. Generate sync report

@sync-updater agent:
1. For orphaned reminders: create source action items
2. For untracked TODOs: create reminders
3. Update master task list with completion dates
4. Mark synced reminders complete

Integration: Time-Based Task Delegation

Goal: Create reminders for delegated sub-agent tasks

Workflow:
1. Coordinator Claude delegates task to sub-agent
2. Create reminder for follow-up:
   mcp__reminders__create_reminder(
     name: "Check @implementer progress on [task]",
     listName: "Work",
     body: "Delegated to @implementer at [time]. Expected completion: [estimate]",
     priority: 5,
     dueDate: "[estimated completion + 1 hour]"
   )
3. When reminder triggers: check sub-agent output
4. Mark reminder complete when sub-agent finishes

Priority Management Guidelines

Priority Levels

High (1): Time-sensitive, blocking other work, high-impact
- Example: "Follow up with client before deadline"
- Example: "Fix production bug affecting users"
Medium (5): Important but not urgent, scheduled work
- Example: "Update email campaign messaging"
- Example: "Review market research findings"
Low (9): Nice-to-have, aspirational, low-priority
- Example: "Read article about new AI framework"
- Example: "Organize project files"
None (0): No specific priority, informational
- Example: "Remember to check MJ's draft later"

Pattern: Triage Existing Reminders

Workflow:
1. Get all incomplete reminders: mcp__reminders__get_reminders(completed: false)
2. For each reminder:
   - Evaluate urgency and impact
   - Update priority: mcp__reminders__update_reminder(reminderId, priority)
   - Add or update due dates for time-sensitive items
3. Focus on high-priority items first

Due Date Best Practices

When to Set Due Dates

Set specific due dates for:

Client follow-ups with deadlines
Event-based tasks (meetings, presentations)
Time-sensitive dependencies (blocking other work)
Recurring reviews (weekly, monthly)

Leave due dates unset for:

Aspirational learning tasks
Exploratory research
"Someday/Maybe" items
Tasks with flexible timelines

Due Date Format

Format: "MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM AM/PM"

Examples:
- "10/20/2025 09:00 AM"
- "11/15/2025 02:30 PM"
- "12/01/2025 05:00 PM"

Common Use Case Workflows

Use Case: Client Follow-Up System

Scenario: Track follow-ups with Partner Project partnership

Step 1: Create initial reminder
mcp__reminders__create_reminder(
  name: "Follow up with Partner Contact on partnership terms",
  listName: "Partner Project",
  body: "Discuss equity structure and timeline. Reference: Folio or project knowledge record for Partner Project.",
  priority: 1,
  dueDate: "10/22/2025 10:00 AM"
)

Step 2: After follow-up, create next reminder
mcp__reminders__create_reminder(
  name: "Send partnership proposal to partner contact",
  listName: "Partner Project",
  body: "Based on discussion on 10/22. Include market research findings.",
  priority: 1,
  dueDate: "10/25/2025 09:00 AM"
)

Step 3: Mark previous reminder complete
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(reminderId: [id], completed: true)

Use Case: Project Milestone Tracking

Scenario: Track Business Project email campaign milestones

Step 1: Create milestone reminders
mcp__reminders__create_reminder(
  name: "Complete email 2-3 messaging updates",
  listName: "Example Company",
  priority: 5,
  dueDate: "10/23/2025 03:00 PM"
)

mcp__reminders__create_reminder(
  name: "Complete email 4-7 messaging updates",
  listName: "Example Company",
  priority: 5,
  dueDate: "10/25/2025 03:00 PM"
)

Step 2: As milestones complete, mark done
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(reminderId: [id], completed: true)

Step 3: Update Folio or the project task record with progress when writeback is available

Use Case: Daily Review System

Scenario: Morning review of priorities

Step 1: Get today's due reminders
results = mcp__reminders__get_reminders(completed: false)
Filter for dueDate === today

Step 2: Get all high-priority incomplete
Filter results for priority === 1

Step 3: Triage and reschedule if needed
For each reminder:
  if still_valid:
    keep or update due date
  else:
    mark complete or delete

Use Case: Research Task Management

Scenario: Track research tasks that don't have hard deadlines

Step 1: Create low-priority reminders
mcp__reminders__create_reminder(
  name: "Research AlphaFold competitors for Partner Project market analysis",
  listName: "Partner Project",
  body: "Use Perplexity API skill. Save results to Folio or the current project knowledge store.",
  priority: 9,  # Low priority - do when time allows
  # No due date - flexible timing
)

Step 2: When starting research, escalate priority
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(
  reminderId: [id],
  priority: 5,  # Medium - actively working
  dueDate: "10/24/2025 05:00 PM"  # Set completion target
)

Step 3: Mark complete and link to Folio/project results
mcp__reminders__update_reminder(
  reminderId: [id],
  completed: true,
  body: "Research completed. Results: Folio/project knowledge record for Competitive Landscape Synthesis."
)

Bulk Operations Patterns

Pattern: Weekly Cleanup

Workflow:
1. Get all completed reminders from last week
   results = mcp__reminders__get_reminders(completed: true)

2. Review and archive
   For each completed reminder:
     if important_context:
       Extract to Folio or project knowledge record
     if no_longer_relevant:
       mcp__reminders__delete_reminder(reminderId: [id])

3. Triage incomplete reminders
   incomplete = mcp__reminders__get_reminders(completed: false)
   For each:
     Evaluate: still relevant? Update priority? Reschedule?

Pattern: List-Specific Review

Workflow: Review specific project list

Step 1: Get all reminders for project
reminders = mcp__reminders__get_reminders(listName: "Partner Project", completed: false)

Step 2: Sort by priority and due date
Sort results by: priority ASC, dueDate ASC

Step 3: Update or complete as needed
For each reminder:
  Evaluate status and update accordingly

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Handle: Reminder Not Found

# Search returns no results
results = mcp__reminders__search_reminders(searchTerm: "obscure task")
if not results or len(results) == 0:
  # Create new reminder instead
  mcp__reminders__create_reminder(...)

Handle: Duplicate Prevention

# Before creating, search for existing
existing = mcp__reminders__search_reminders(searchTerm: "Follow up with partner")
if existing and len(existing) > 0:
  # Update existing instead of creating duplicate
  mcp__reminders__update_reminder(
    reminderId: existing[0].id,
    dueDate: "[new date]"
  )
else:
  # Create new
  mcp__reminders__create_reminder(...)

Handle: List Doesn't Exist

# Before creating, verify list exists
lists = mcp__reminders__list_reminder_lists()
list_names = [l.name for l in lists]

if "ProjectName" not in list_names:
  # Fall back to default list
  listName = "Work"
else:
  listName = "ProjectName"

mcp__reminders__create_reminder(listName: listName, ...)

Reminders Management Checklist

Before creating or updating reminders:

[ ] Duplicate Check: Have I searched for existing reminders on this topic?
[ ] List Selection: Am I using the appropriate list for this task context?
[ ] Priority Setting: Have I set priority based on urgency and impact?
[ ] Due Date Decision: Does this task need a specific due date, or is it flexible?
[ ] Context Addition: Have I added body text with links to Folio, project records, or other resources?
[ ] Integration Plan: Should this reminder be synced to Folio, Workboard, or other systems?
[ ] Completion Tracking: Will I remember to mark this complete when done?

Common Patterns Summary

| Goal | Primary Tool | Parameters | Notes | |------|-------------|------------|-------| | Discover lists | list_reminder_lists | None | Start here | | Create task | create_reminder | name, listName, priority, dueDate, body | Always set priority | | Find reminders | search_reminders | searchTerm | Search name and body | | Get list tasks | get_reminders | listName, completed | Filter by list | | Change priority | update_reminder | reminderId, priority | 1=high, 5=med, 9=low | | Reschedule | update_reminder | reminderId, dueDate | Format: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM AM/PM | | Mark complete | update_reminder | reminderId, completed: true | Always mark done | | Add context | update_reminder | reminderId, body | Link to Folio or project records | | Delete reminder | delete_reminder | reminderId | Use sparingly |

Integration with Other Skills

With coordinating-sub-agents

Create reminders for follow-up on delegated tasks
Track sub-agent progress with time-based reminders
Mark reminders complete when sub-agent delivers

With syncing-task-completions

Bi-directional sync between Reminders and Folio/project task records
Update master task lists with completion dates
Create reminders for untracked source TODOs

With processing-paia-tags

Create reminders for time-sensitive @paia actions
Link reminders back to source Folio notes or project records
Mark @paia complete when reminder is done

With obsidian-vault-intelligence

Use only for explicit legacy Obsidian vault work
Reference legacy Obsidian notes in reminder body text
Create reminders from legacy Obsidian action items
Update legacy Obsidian when reminders complete

Apple Reminders as Task Management Layer

Think of Apple Reminders as:

Time-Based Task Tracking: Due dates and notifications for time-sensitive work
Priority Queue: High/medium/low priority organization
Cross-Device Sync: Tasks accessible on all Apple devices
Integration Hub: Bridge between Folio/project context, agents, and daily workflow
Completion Tracking: Clear record of what's done and when

Use it proactively for:

Client follow-up tracking
Project milestone reminders
Weekly/monthly review triggers
Time-sensitive task delegation
Bi-directional sync with Folio/project task records when available

Agent Skills: Apple Reminders Management via MCP

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