How to stop your iPhone reminders from syncing to Mac or iPad

In this quick tutorial, we show you how to prevent your iPhone reminders from syncing to your other devices and sending duplicate alerts everywhere.

Most people sign in with their Apple Account when setting up a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, and soon HomeView. Once you sign in, iCloud Reminders is enabled by default, so reminders you add or mark as completed sync across all your devices for a uniform experience.

However, if you want to keep your reminders limited to one device, whether to avoid duplicate alerts or for privacy, there is an easy way to do that.

Simply go to iCloud settings on the device you don’t want your reminders to sync to, then turn off the switch next to Reminders. We have explained the steps for iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and macOS, so you can follow them as needed.

iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS

Follow these steps on the iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro where you don’t want your iCloud reminders to sync:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your account name at the top.
3. Select iCloud.
4. Tap See All.
5. Turn off the switch for Reminders.
6. You can now choose to keep existing reminders on this device or delete all current reminders from this device (it won’t delete from your other devices). But in the latest version of OS 27, selecting either removes everything from the Reminders app on this device; so it doesn’t matter what you pick.

Now, open the Reminders app and tap Not Now in the ‘Enable iCloud Syncing’ popup. Then, tap the X cross icon to dismiss yet another ‘Sync Reminders with iCloud’ banner.

Moving forward, the reminders you create here will remain on this device and won’t sync to your other phones, tablets, computers, or iCloud Web. The opposite is also true: reminders created on other devices won’t appear here either.

macOS

Follow these steps on your MacBook or Mac desktop where you don’t want your reminders to sync:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Click your Apple Account name in the upper left corner.
3. Click iCloud.
4. Click the See All button.
5. Turn off Reminders and choose whether to keep existing reminders on your computer or delete them from this machine. Again, either option seems to remove everything from this device.
6. Open Reminders and dismiss a couple of alerts. Now add to-dos here, and they will stay on this Mac without syncing anywhere else.

If you use a non-iCloud account for Reminders

If you use your Microsoft Outlook or another internet account to save reminders, turn it off in Reminders app settings.

But a better approach is to switch to another account (like your second Outlook account) or sign out of the account on other devices, like your Mac. This way, your tasks will be saved to that internet account’s server, and if you erase your device or switch to a new one, simply signing in to your same internet account will bring back all your reminders. So this is better than using Reminders offline.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Apps.
3. Select Reminders from the list of applications.
4. Tap Reminders Accounts at the top.
5. Select your non-iCloud account, like Outlook.
6. Turn off Reminders and confirm.

macOS

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Internet Accounts.
3. Select your account.
4. Turn off Reminders and confirm by clicking Delete from My Mac.

Earlier, I had iCloud Reminders enabled on all my devices. But since I work from home, getting reminders on my iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, and Mac mini at the same time was a bit too much. So, I have now turned off iCloud Reminders for my iPad and Mac mini. I have left it enabled on my iPhone, as it goes everywhere with me. And on my MacBook, so I can add tasks comfortably from the big screen using the keyboard.

What’s your reason for turning off iCloud Reminders?

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