Reminders in Outlook do not appear

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Microsoft Outlook 2010, Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, Microsoft Office Outlook 2003, Outlook for Microsoft 365

Original KB number:   2787708

Symptoms

Reminders for meetings, tasks, and follow-up items do not display in Outlook.

Cause

This problem can occur if you have the option to display reminders is turned off either in the Outlook user interface or through a Group Policy setting. When a feature is configured by group policy, the option is disabled (grayed out) in the user interface. Therefore, it cannot be modified.

Resolution

If reminders are not being managed by Group Policy, follow these steps to re-enable reminders.

  • Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, and Outlook for Microsoft 365

    1. On the File tab, select Options.
    2. Select Advanced in the Outlook Options dialog box.
    3. In the Reminders section, select Show reminders.
    4. Select OK.

  • Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003

    1. On the Tools menu, select Options.
    2. On the Other tab, select Advanced Options.
    3. In the Advanced Options dialog box, select Reminder Options.
    4. In the Reminder Options dialog box, select Display the reminder.
    5. Select OK three times.

More information

Warning

Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

The option to control the display of reminders in Outlook is stored in the Windows registry by using the following registry data.

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\office\\<x.0>\Outlook\Options\Reminders
DWORD: Type
Values: 0 = do not display reminders, 1 = display reminder (default behavior of the Type value does not exist)

Note

In this registry path, <x.0> represents the version of Outlook (16.0 = Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, or Outlook for Microsoft 365, 15.0 = Outlook 2013, 14.0 = Outlook 2010, 12.0 = Outlook 2007, and 11.0 = Outlook 2003)

Note

If the option to display reminders is being managed by Group Policy, the registry key path is slightly different.
Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\Policies\microsoft\office\<x.0>\Outlook\Options\Reminders

Contact your domain administrator if you must have this setting changes from the current value deployed by Group Policy.