How to set a reminder in Slack on Mac: message, to-do and channel steps

This guide covers the Slack desktop app on a Mac. You can set three kinds of reminder, and each one fits a different job. Start with the one that matches the task in front of you.

Message, to-do and channel reminders

A message reminder points back to one message, so you return to it at a set time. A to-do reminder lives in your own list and does not need a message. A channel reminder uses the /remind command and sets a reminder for a channel.

• Message reminder: best when a message holds the task, such as a question you still owe an answer to.
• To-do reminder: best for your own tasks that have no message attached.
• Channel reminder: best for a prompt that repeats by day, such as a standing check-in.

Set a reminder on a message in Slack

This is the fastest route for most people. Hover over the message, click the three-dots icon at the top right, and choose Remind me about this. Then pick a preset time or choose Custom.

Slack's help article does not list the preset times. The list may differ from what you expect, so read it before you choose. If no preset fits, choose Custom and set the day and time yourself.

Here is a common case. A teammate asks you to review a draft by Thursday. Hover over their message, open the three-dots menu, choose Remind me about this, and pick Custom. Set Thursday and a time that leaves you room to read the draft.

A message reminder is tied to the message it came from. That keeps the context with the task. You know exactly which message to open when the reminder comes back.

Set a to-do reminder in Slack on Mac

Use a to-do reminder when the task is yours and no message fits. Slack's What's New page says the October 2026 release combined to-dos into one list and added a Saved page. Slackbot can also create, complete, and update to-do reminders.

1. Click To-dos in the sidebar.
2. Click Add To-do.
3. Enter the details of the task.
4. Click Add reminder.
5. Choose a time from the list, or choose Custom.
6. Click Add.

Write the task in the details so it still makes sense later. A line such as review the vendor contract reads better than a vague note. That matters when the reminder pops up in the middle of other work.

Some third-party guides say the October 2026 release replaced Later with To-dos. Slack's own What's New page does not say that. It says to-dos are combined into one list. If you still see Later in your sidebar, look there before you assume it has gone.

Set a channel reminder with /remind

Channel reminders use a slash command in the message box. The format is /remind [#channel] [what] [when]. Replace each part with the channel name, the text of the reminder, and the time you want.

Slack repeats channel reminders by day only. Plan the time with that in mind. Write the time in plain words, with a day and an hour, so Slack has no doubt about what you mean.

Two limits matter. Channel reminders cannot be edited after you create them, so the fix is to delete and recreate. Guests also cannot create them, so a guest should ask a full member.

To delete one, type /remind list, find the reminder in the list, and choose Delete. Then send a new /remind command with the corrected details.

Use the M shortcut for reminders in Slack

If you work from the keyboard, press M while a message is focused. Slack creates a reminder about that message. The shortcut acts on the focused message, so move focus onto the message before you press M.

Slack does not support custom keyboard shortcuts, so you use the built-in keys. Slack's screen reader article lists Ctrl+5 as the To-dos shortcut on Mac, written here as ⌃5. That article is about accessibility, and we have not confirmed the shortcut in the app. Check Slack's keyboard shortcut list if it does nothing.

Set your default reminder time in Slack

Date-specific reminders arrive at 9 a.m. in your time zone by default. Slack's help article says you can change that default from your profile picture, then Preferences.

If you work with people in other time zones, check your own zone first. A time that suits you may land at a bad hour for someone else. Pick a time that works for their morning if the task depends on them.

Mistakes people make with Slack reminders

• Moving the pointer off the message before clicking the three-dots icon. Keep the pointer on the message row until the menu opens.
• Expecting to edit a channel reminder. You delete it and create a new one.
• Asking a guest to set a channel reminder. Guests cannot create them.
• Pressing M with no message focused. Move focus onto the message first.
• Assuming Later and To-dos are the same list. Check your sidebar, since sources differ on this.
• Setting a date reminder for a teammate without checking their time zone.

Why a Slack reminder does not reach you

Two common causes stop notifications. The first is a pause. A snooze icon next to your name means notifications are paused. The second is macOS. Banners or Alerts must be allowed for Slack in macOS Notifications, and Do Not Disturb must be off.

Open System Settings, choose Notifications, and find Slack in the list. Slack's troubleshooting article still uses older System Preferences names, so your screen may look a little different.

For a full checklist, see how to fix Slack notifications on Mac. To pause alerts on purpose, see how to pause notifications in Slack on Mac.

Find your reminders after you set them

Check your To-dos list for to-do reminders. Slack's What's New page says the October 2026 release added a Saved page, so look there for saved items. For channel reminders, use /remind list.

Search helps when you cannot remember which message you flagged. For search steps, see how to search messages in Slack on Mac.

Which Slack version these steps match

Slack's Mac release notes list version 4.53.280, dated November 3, 2026, as the latest build dated before this guide. None of the 2026 entries on that page mention reminders, To-dos, or menus. A later build on the page is dated after today, so this guide does not rely on it.

How Lazur helps while you set a reminder

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask about anything on your screen, and Lazur answers out loud. Ask where a button is, and Lazur draws a circle and a label around it on your screen.

Ask how to do something, and Lazur guides you one click at a time, waiting for each click before it goes on. Lazur does not click for you. Try asking where the To-dos button is, or ask it to walk you through the three-dots menu.

Lazur listens and looks at the screen only while you hold the shortcut. Audio and the screenshot are sent to AI providers to answer you, and they are not stored.

Next steps after your reminder is set

Once the reminder works, you may want to tell people you are busy. See how to set your status in Slack on Mac. If sounds bother you, see how to turn off Slack notification sounds on Mac.