Default event reminders in New Outlook Calendar

Question

Default event reminders in New Outlook Calendar

Andy Lowe 30

Hi everyone,

For one-off events in (New) Outlook Calendar, is it possible to add or change the default reminder periods to add '2 weeks before' and '1 month before'? The existing defaults seem to be:

At time of event / Day before event at 0900 / Day before event at 1700 / 1 week before event at 0900

I would like to set reminders for a fortnight before and a month before (specific clock time not req'd).

Thanks,

Andy

Nick Ramos 15 Reputation points

2025-10-29T13:23:19.2533333+00:00

The accepted answer doesn't work. There's no "custom" option in outlook, and the earliest reminder is 1 week ahead of the event. The "custom" email reminders within the "email reminders" menu is absolutely not a solution either. It's a workaround at best. It requires that you go in and manually set up reminders for each meeting occurrence, and it doesn't carry to the series or other users. It's only for you.

Answer accepted by question author

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Your answer

Nick Ramos 15 Reputation points

2025-10-29T13:23:19.2533333+00:00

The accepted answer doesn't work. There's no "custom" option in outlook, and the earliest reminder is 1 week ahead of the event. The "custom" email reminders within the "email reminders" menu is absolutely not a solution either. It's a workaround at best. It requires that you go in and manually set up reminders for each meeting occurrence, and it doesn't carry to the series or other users. It's only for you.

Answer 1

Arlene D 36,295 Independent Advisor

Hi Andy, thanks for your question!

Right now, the (new) Outlook doesn't let you change the default reminder options like adding “2 weeks” or “1 month” before the event. But you can still set those manually, just click the reminder dropdown and choose “Custom”, then enter your preferred time like 2 weeks or 1 month before.

Hope it helps!

Warm Regards,

Arlene D.

Andy Lowe 30 Reputation points

2025-07-28T14:09:12.5+00:00
Hi Arlene, thanks for the answer. I'm not seeing the 'Custom' option you refer to in New Outlook. In the 'Options' cluster, I only see the following listed:

Don't remind me

At time of event

Day of event at 09:00

Day before at 09:00

Day before at 17:00

1 week before at 09:00

Add email reminder

No 'Custom' option in New Outlook it seems. I've tried changing it in Settings, but again nothing for one-off events, only recurring.

Thanks,

Andy
TravesT 5 Reputation points

2025-08-01T12:39:41.0333333+00:00

Same experience as Andy above, no Custom option. Now, within 'Add email reminder' there is a custom option.
Nick Ramos 15 Reputation points

2025-10-29T13:23:46.5766667+00:00

This doesn't work. There's no "custom" option in outlook, and the earliest reminder is 1 week ahead of the event. The "custom" email reminders within the "email reminders" menu is absolutely not a solution either. It's a workaround at best. It requires that you go in and manually set up reminders for each meeting occurrence, and it doesn't carry to the series or other users. It's only for you.
Andy Lowe 30 Reputation points

2025-11-09T17:09:59.28+00:00

Quite correct. This really should be sorted by now.