Microsoft Teams can remind you about two things: a meeting and a message you need to come back to. They work very differently. Meeting reminders are mostly controlled from Outlook, not Teams, which is why so many people look for the setting in Teams and never find it. Message reminders are a new Teams feature that is still rolling out. Here is how to set each one, and how to make sure it reaches you.
The short version: set meeting reminders in Outlook, keep Meeting start notifications on in Teams, use Remind me on messages if you have it, and use a phone call reminder for the meetings you cannot afford to miss.
1. Set a Reminder for a Teams Meeting
A Teams meeting is also an event on your Outlook calendar, so that is the place to choose how early you are warned.
Open the meeting in Outlook, on the desktop, on the web or in the phone app.
Find the reminder dropdown. In new Outlook and Outlook on the web it is labelled Remind me. In classic Outlook it is Reminder.
Choose how early, such as 15 minutes or 1 hour before, then save.
This applies to one meeting at a time. Our guide to setting a reminder in Outlook covers each version in more detail.
2. Turn On Meeting Start Notifications in Teams
Teams has its own alert for when a meeting begins. It is separate from the Outlook reminder, and it comes at the start rather than ahead of time.
Open Settings in Teams on your computer, then choose Notifications and activity.
Go to Meetings and make sure Meeting start notifications is switched on.
On your phone, tap your profile picture in the Teams app and choose Notifications to review the same kinds of alerts.
Watch out: people widely report that Teams has no default reminder setting of its own, and that the Outlook default does not always carry over to meetings created in Teams. If a meeting matters, open it and check the reminder rather than assuming your default applied.
3. Set a Reminder on a Teams Message
Useful when a chat or channel message needs a reply later and you do not want to lose it.
Open the actions menu on the message and choose Remind me.
Pick a time, such as later today, tomorrow or next week.
Find it again in the Reminders view, where you can edit, complete or delete it. A notification appears when it is due.
Reminders are private, so nobody else in the chat can see them. Microsoft is rolling this out on desktop, web, iPhone and Android, with general availability expected to finish in December 2026, so do not worry if you do not see Remind me yet. It is built for quick follow-ups rather than for managing tasks.
Which One Should You Use?
| Best for | How it alerts | Warns you ahead of time? | Easy to miss? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outlook reminder | Teams meetings | Pop-up or phone notification | Yes | Yes, if notifications are muted |
| Meeting start notification | Joining on time | Teams notification | No, it comes at the start | Yes, if Teams is closed or muted |
| Remind me on a message | Replies and follow-ups | Teams notification and badge | At the time you pick | Yes, one short alert |
| Remindavo call | Meetings you cannot miss | Your phone rings | Yes | Hard to miss |
Why Teams Reminders Still Get Missed
- You are looking for the setting in the wrong app. The advance reminder usually lives in Outlook, so changing notifications in Teams alone will not give you an earlier warning.
- Do Not Disturb or Focus is on. Windows, Mac and phones can silence notifications automatically, including while you are presenting. See our guides for Windows and Mac.
- Notifications are off for Teams or Outlook on your phone. Check your device settings as well as the settings in each app.
- You are deep in other work. A notification that disappears after a few seconds is easy to overlook, especially in a busy day of back-to-back calls.
For a full checklist, see Outlook Calendar notifications not working.
Get a Phone Call Before Your Teams Meetings
For the meetings that matter, a ringing phone is much harder to miss than a notification. Remindavo connects to Outlook Calendar, where your Teams meetings appear, and calls your phone before each event with a voice that reads the event name, for example "Client review in 30 minutes". It follows your calendar, so when a meeting moves, the call moves with it. More detail in phone call reminders for Microsoft Teams.
Sign in at web.remindavo.com with your Microsoft account. Microsoft 365 and work or school accounts both work.
Connect Outlook Calendar. Every timed event gets a reminder automatically, including ones you add or move later.
Verify your phone number and choose how early you want the call. Add the iPhone or Android app for instant alerts too.
The free plan includes 5 real reminder calls or 14 days, whichever comes first, with no credit card. App alerts stay free after that, and Premium is $10 a month for unlimited calls. Rolling this out to a whole team? See Remindavo for business.