Smart List Filters in iOS 15 Reminders

Apple significantly upgraded the Reminders app in iOS 15 by introducing custom Smart Lists powered by advanced filtering criteria. While earlier versions restricted users to fixed default views, the iOS 15 update allows users to create dynamic, automated lists based on multiple parameters such as tags, dates, locations, flags, and priority levels. This article breaks down each new filtering parameter introduced in iOS 15 and how it reshaped task organization.

Tags

The introduction of system-wide tags (#tag) was one of the cornerstone additions in iOS 15. When creating a custom Smart List, users can filter reminders based on tags:

  • Selected Tags: Filter by one or multiple custom tags.
  • Tag Matching Logic: Choose between "All Selected" (reminders containing every chosen tag) or "Any Selected" (reminders containing at least one of the chosen tags).

Dates and Relative Ranges

Filtering by date expanded beyond simple scheduled views to include flexible, relative timeframes:

  • Specific Date: Tasks scheduled for an exact calendar day.
  • Relative Ranges: Filters that update dynamically, such as tasks scheduled for "Today," within the "Next 7 Days," or in the "Past Week."
  • Any Date: Filters that isolate all tasks with an assigned date, regardless of when they are due.

Time of Day

Reminders can be organized based on specific segments of the day, allowing tasks to surface when they are most relevant:

  • Filter options include Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Night.

Location

Location-based triggers can be used as criteria for Smart Lists:

  • Filter tasks set to trigger upon arriving at or leaving a specific saved location (such as Home, Work, or a custom address).
  • Isolate all reminders that contain location alerts versus those that do not.

Flagged Status

Users can sort tasks based on whether they have been assigned a flag:

  • Include only tasks marked as Flagged.
  • Include only tasks marked as Unflagged.

Priority Levels

Smart Lists can filter tasks according to their assigned importance:

  • Criteria options include Low, Medium, High, or None, making it easy to generate lists dedicated solely to high-priority items across multiple projects.

Combining Criteria

In iOS 15, these criteria function collaboratively. When multiple filter types are applied (such as a High Priority filter combined with a specific Tag and a Relative Date range), the Smart List automatically surfaces only the reminders that satisfy all specified conditions, providing a fully automated workflow tailored to user habits.