iOS 15 Reminders Smart Lists Updates

Apple introduced significant upgrades to the Reminders app in iOS 15, headlined by the ability to create and customize Smart Lists. These updates transformed the app from a basic task manager into a dynamic productivity tool by allowing tasks to automatically populate lists based on specific parameters, such as tags, dates, times, locations, flags, and priority levels.

Custom Smart Lists

Prior to iOS 15, users were limited to Apple’s default Smart Lists (Today, Scheduled, All, and Flagged). With iOS 15, you can create entirely custom Smart Lists tailored to your workflow. When creating a new list, you can designate it as a "Smart List" and choose the exact criteria required for reminders to appear within it.

Tag-Based Filtering

The inclusion of tags (#tag) was one of the biggest additions to iOS 15 Reminders. Smart Lists leverage this feature by allowing you to filter tasks using one or more tags. You can set the filter logic to include:

  • All Selected Tags: Displays only reminders that have every tag you specify.
  • Any Selected Tags: Displays reminders that have at least one of the tags you specify.

Multi-Criteria Filters

Beyond tags, custom Smart Lists can filter tasks using several attributes:

  • Date: Filter by specific dates, relative ranges (such as the next 7 days), or overdue items.
  • Time: Organize tasks based on specific parts of the day (morning, afternoon, evening, or night).
  • Location: Automatically display tasks associated with entering or leaving a specific address.
  • Flag: Include only flagged or unflagged items.
  • Priority: Group tasks based on priority tiers (Low, Medium, High, or None).

These filters can be combined, allowing you to create hyper-focused views such as high-priority tasks tagged #work due within the next week.

Managing Default Smart Lists

In addition to custom lists, iOS 15 made it easier to manage the default Smart Lists on the main screen. Users can reorder the default sections or hide unused ones to maintain a clean, uncluttered interface.