Missing option to set custom remider time in Outlook calendar

Question

Missing option to set custom remider time in Outlook calendar

Zernitsky, Alex 61

In the new Outlook Look&Feel there is only closed list of options for reminders (screenshot below).
How can I set a custom reminder time?
Let's say I'd like to be reminded 12 hours before.
Am I missing something?

Graeme Crawley 26 Reputation points

2022-07-02T20:26:10.04+00:00

I have the same problem but I am using a windows computer just purchased. I cannot enter a bespoke reminder time and none of the drop-downs suit me. My old computer ran office 2016 outlook without this issue it allowed any reminder time to be set?
Graeme Crawley 26 Reputation points

2022-07-02T20:30:55.573+00:00

Sorry should have added that I cannot get outlook to connect via Imap and had to connect via Imap with internet browser (something like that) . I hate the browser presentation of my mail but simply could not get the plain Imap option to connect. No error message, just never pickes up any emails after a sync
Original message:
I have the same problem but I am using a windows computer just purchased. I cannot enter a bespoke reminder time and none of the drop-downs suit me. My old computer ran office 2016 outlook without this issue it allowed any reminder time to be set?
sparky 16 Reputation points

2022-07-05T14:20:57.497+00:00

I just want to use 2 hours as the default on the browser outlook but there is nothing between 1 and 12 hours which is completely ridiculous... I am forced to use the browser because other versions do not allow me to categorize the event with my custom categories. Why I am not able to just type a custom time and select between minutes, hours, and days is beyond me.
Debbie Sackman 20 Reputation points

2024-01-08T14:35:47.19+00:00

Agreed, I am also using "new Outlook" windows client and cannot enter a custom reminder time. This is REALLY annoying!
Force Rs 35 Reputation points

2024-01-10T14:45:32.98+00:00

Please fix the "New Outlook" to allow a custom reminder time.
Debbie Sackman 20 Reputation points

2024-01-10T18:39:18.23+00:00

I've tried the new Outlook client for Windows, the Outlook client for Android, and web client, and all of them use the same interface - only allow to select from a list. I use lots of other values - when I book airline flights, I set a 22 hour reminder notice to check in for my flights. Certain meetings that I want to remember to do extra prep for I'll set a reminder anywhere from 3 - 5 hours before. I HATE that I cannot type in an option to override what's on the list like the old Outlook client for Windows allowed. And I definintely don't want an email reminder, I get enough emails already, that's useless.
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:12:21.49+00:00

Google Calendar has a "Custom" option. Why can't Microsoft have the same? As it is, I can set a custom alert/reminder time in Google Calendar and since I have Google synced with Outlook, it's automatically set in Outlook. But it IS very annoying that I have to backdoor this functionality through Google. I guess Microsoft wants you to use Google Calendar in lieu of the New Outlook. Really? Doesn't Microsoft have a software engineer on staff who is smart enough to make such a simple change?
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:12:45.8733333+00:00

(deleted)
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:35:34.35+00:00

Here is a useful answer: I suggest you not use Outlook period. The New Outlook simply does not provide a Custom setting for alert time. Use Google Calendar instead. You will find a pulldown option for a "Custom" setting there. You can also sync Outlook with Google Calendar because it will register the custom setting but you can't go the Outlook --> Google Calendar route. So stop using New Outlook unit/if Microsoft catches up with Google.
Fraser Johnson 0 Reputation points

2024-01-28T23:55:55.65+00:00

Please restore the ability to enter a custom reminder time.

3 answers

Your answer

Graeme Crawley 26 Reputation points

2022-07-02T20:26:10.04+00:00

I have the same problem but I am using a windows computer just purchased. I cannot enter a bespoke reminder time and none of the drop-downs suit me. My old computer ran office 2016 outlook without this issue it allowed any reminder time to be set?
Graeme Crawley 26 Reputation points

2022-07-02T20:30:55.573+00:00

Sorry should have added that I cannot get outlook to connect via Imap and had to connect via Imap with internet browser (something like that) . I hate the browser presentation of my mail but simply could not get the plain Imap option to connect. No error message, just never pickes up any emails after a sync
Original message:
I have the same problem but I am using a windows computer just purchased. I cannot enter a bespoke reminder time and none of the drop-downs suit me. My old computer ran office 2016 outlook without this issue it allowed any reminder time to be set?
sparky 16 Reputation points

2022-07-05T14:20:57.497+00:00

I just want to use 2 hours as the default on the browser outlook but there is nothing between 1 and 12 hours which is completely ridiculous... I am forced to use the browser because other versions do not allow me to categorize the event with my custom categories. Why I am not able to just type a custom time and select between minutes, hours, and days is beyond me.
Debbie Sackman 20 Reputation points

2024-01-08T14:35:47.19+00:00

Agreed, I am also using "new Outlook" windows client and cannot enter a custom reminder time. This is REALLY annoying!
Force Rs 35 Reputation points

2024-01-10T14:45:32.98+00:00

Please fix the "New Outlook" to allow a custom reminder time.
Debbie Sackman 20 Reputation points

2024-01-10T18:39:18.23+00:00

I've tried the new Outlook client for Windows, the Outlook client for Android, and web client, and all of them use the same interface - only allow to select from a list. I use lots of other values - when I book airline flights, I set a 22 hour reminder notice to check in for my flights. Certain meetings that I want to remember to do extra prep for I'll set a reminder anywhere from 3 - 5 hours before. I HATE that I cannot type in an option to override what's on the list like the old Outlook client for Windows allowed. And I definintely don't want an email reminder, I get enough emails already, that's useless.
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:12:21.49+00:00

Google Calendar has a "Custom" option. Why can't Microsoft have the same? As it is, I can set a custom alert/reminder time in Google Calendar and since I have Google synced with Outlook, it's automatically set in Outlook. But it IS very annoying that I have to backdoor this functionality through Google. I guess Microsoft wants you to use Google Calendar in lieu of the New Outlook. Really? Doesn't Microsoft have a software engineer on staff who is smart enough to make such a simple change?
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:12:45.8733333+00:00

(deleted)
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:35:34.35+00:00

Here is a useful answer: I suggest you not use Outlook period. The New Outlook simply does not provide a Custom setting for alert time. Use Google Calendar instead. You will find a pulldown option for a "Custom" setting there. You can also sync Outlook with Google Calendar because it will register the custom setting but you can't go the Outlook --> Google Calendar route. So stop using New Outlook unit/if Microsoft catches up with Google.
Fraser Johnson 0 Reputation points

2024-01-28T23:55:55.65+00:00

Please restore the ability to enter a custom reminder time.

Answer 1

Rob Kohlhepp 21

I came here for the same question and very annoyed as well. I don't necessarily need a free-form to use any reminder length. But, I just switched to the "New Outlook" and the number of options was reduced by at least half. The old Outlook Mac used to include quite a few more, including 12 hours, 8 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days.

EDIT: As a work around, I have been modifying the reminder in my phone app, Nine.

Eric Whip 1 Reputation point

2022-03-17T20:53:19.57+00:00

Same compliant here... I used a 3 day and 18 hour reminder all (all) the time.
Also can't believe how many times I need to "click" to enter a calendar appointment (open, more options, edit event....)
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:11:57.2966667+00:00

(deleted)
Longiotti, J. Douglas 0 Reputation points

2025-05-21T13:01:55.99+00:00

Agree, I use reminders other than the limited options in New Outlook.

Answer 2

Andy David - MVP 157.8K MVP Volunteer Moderator

Outlook Web Access 365 has a confined list including 12 hours:

If you are referring to the Outlook Windows Client, you can type in any time reminder you want manually

I typed in 12 hours and it was converted to half a day

Zernitsky, Alex 61 Reputation points

2020-12-30T08:43:08.697+00:00

Thanks for the comment, but 12 hours was just an example I'd like to be able to put custom time.
I'm on Mac and it doesn't have such free-text box.
The workaround I found was to change it in my Calendar app on mobile, but seems to me that such a basic functionality should be part of any Outlook client.
ScottG 10 Reputation points

2023-04-19T12:19:04.5833333+00:00

@Andy David - MVP your screenshot is NOT "New Outlook." That's the basis of this conversation. That option is not available in "New Outlook," so your response is irrelevant.
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:30:37.63+00:00

Read the initial question that was posted. This is not an answer to it. It is instead wasting my time.

Answer 3

JeffYang-MSFT 6,261 Moderator

Hi @Zernitsky, Alex ,
In New Outlook for Mac, you could get those reminder time you want by changing the default reminder via Outlook > Preferences > Calendar > Calendar Options > set the default reminder to your time needed(12 hours for example).

If an Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
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Zernitsky, Alex 61 Reputation points

2020-12-30T08:49:30.697+00:00

12 hours was just an example and I really don't want the 12 hours be to be my default :) .
What I need is to be able to put a custom time.
I understand that I can follow your suggestion and I then change the default back to what it was, but just was hoping to get the real solution and not a workaround.
JeffYang-MSFT 6,261 Reputation points Moderator

2020-12-30T09:19:03.513+00:00

Hi @Zernitsky, Alex ,

Thanks for your reply.

Well, I can fully understand your needs. However, in the New Outlook for Mac, features like that seems indeed not available yet, which is quite different from the Old version of Outlook for Mac.

And if you have a demand to add this function back to New Outlook for Mac, I would suggest you to create a thread in User voice, then other users will could vote on it for you, Microsoft may notice it and add it in the later version.
JeffYang-MSFT 6,261 Reputation points Moderator

2020-12-31T09:41:58.707+00:00

Hi @Zernitsky, Alex ,
Just checking in to see if above information was helpful.
By the way, if an Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it. Thanks for your understanding and support.
Joe Ellerbrock 10 Reputation points

2024-01-23T19:31:11.8933333+00:00

Read the initial question that was posted. This is not an answer to it. It is instead wasting my time.

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Missing option to set custom remider time in Outlook calendar

3 answers

Your answer