I'm not getting notifications/reminders of my meetings coming up in my calendar.

Question

I used to get pop ups about meetings starting in 15 minutes but i'm not longer getting them and i've almost missed 2 meetings. What is going on?

Answer 1

In classic Outlook for Windows, meeting reminders can stop appearing if reminder display is turned off or if a Group Policy setting is controlling reminders.

Check and re-enable reminders in Outlook:

1. In Outlook, select File > Options.
2. Select Advanced.
3. In the Reminders section, make sure Show reminders is checked.
4. Select OK.

If reminders are still not appearing, they may be disabled by your organization via Group Policy. In that case, the reminder options will be grayed out and cannot be changed locally; contact the IT administrator to review the policy.

Also verify default reminder settings for meetings:

1. Select File > Options > Calendar.
2. Under Calendar options, ensure Default reminders is checked.
3. Set the default reminder time (for example, 15 minutes) so new meetings get a reminder.
4. Select OK.

For existing meetings that are not showing reminders, open one of the meetings from the calendar and check its individual reminder:

1. Open the meeting from the Calendar.
2. On the Appointment (or Recurring Event) tab, use the Reminder dropdown to choose a time (for example, 15 minutes). If it is set to None, change it to the desired reminder time.
3. Save and close the meeting.

If you do not want to see reminders for past events only (for example, after being away), but still want future reminders, also check:

1. File > Options > Advanced.
2. In Reminders, either select or clear Automatically dismiss reminders for past events depending on preference.

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References:

• Reminders in Outlook do not appear
• Add or delete notifications or reminders in Outlook

Answer 2

Hi @Shields, Janeen M, 

Thank you very much for reaching out regarding the missing “15‑minute before meeting” pop‑ups. I really appreciate your patience and for flagging this meeting reminders are critical.

A - What’s likely going on 
The reminder system relies on the built‑in Outlook reminder window. If the “Show reminders” option in File > Options > Advanced is turned off, the 15‑minute meeting pop‑up will not appear. This is a common issue. Additionally, if Windows has Do Not Disturb / Focus enabled or if notifications for Outlook are turned off, the reminder pop‑ups can be suppressed.  

B - Recommended next steps 

Here are my recommendations, please follow the steps below: 

1/ Enable reminders (and keep them on top of other windows) 

• Outlook > File > Options > Advanced > in Reminders, check Show reminders. 
• Check Show reminders on top of other windows so the reminder window doesn’t hide behind other apps (Recommended). 
• 

2/ Set a default reminder time for calendar items 

• File > Options > Calendar > enable Default reminders and set 15 minutes (or your preference). 
• 

3/ Refresh the reminder cache if needed 

• Close Outlook. Press Windows+R, run: outlook.exe /cleanreminders 
• If reminders still don’t appear, run: outlook.exe /resetfolders 

(Then reopen Outlook and test.)  

4/ Quick extra checks 

Microsoft Teams status: if it’s set to Do not disturb, Windows may suppress Outlook notifications set it back to Available. 

For additional information, you can refer to these articles: 

• Reminders in Outlook do not appear - Outlook | Microsoft Learn 
• Calendar Or Task Reminders Do Not Appear In Outlook for Windows 

Please note that this information is being provided by the moderator solely for your convenience. The referenced sites are not managed or overseen by the moderator, and therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy, security, or suitability of any software or content available there. We recommend reviewing all information carefully and ensuring you understand any associated risks before following suggestions from the provided link.  

C - Contact support 

If the issue still continues, please contact your IT administrator so they can help verify whether any organization‑wide policies, notification restrictions, or Outlook configuration controls are preventing reminders from appearing. 

In case your IT department cannot access the necessary information or make the required changes, I recommend asking them to open a request with Microsoft Support team through the Microsoft Admin Center. They have access to backend configurations and can perform a more in-depth investigation. At the very least, they can provide the most effective workaround to ensure your experience remains smooth and secure.          

We kindly ask for your understanding that, as moderators, we do not have access to the administrative tools or permissions required to investigate or modify these configurations. We also do not have the capability to initiate remote sessions for direct assistance. Our role is to guide users to the appropriate resources and support channels.    

I hope this information is helpful. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reach out.   

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this. 

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