How to Set Up Custom Scheduled Notifications in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes several built-in options for creating personalized notifications that appear on a set schedule, without needing any extra software.

Using Task Scheduler

The most direct method is the Task Scheduler utility, accessible by typing its name into the taskbar search box. After creating a basic task and naming it, users can choose how often it runs — daily, weekly, monthly, once, at startup, at login, or triggered by a logged event — and set the exact time.

The next step is selecting "Start a program" as the action. In the Program/script field, users type "msg," and in the arguments field, they enter the actual reminder text they want displayed. Once finished, the notification will appear at the scheduled time even if Task Scheduler isn't open. Tasks can later be edited or deleted from the Task Scheduler Library.

Built-in Apps as Alternatives

For those who prefer not to use Task Scheduler, Windows offers other built-in tools. The Clock app lets users create a new alarm under its Alarm section, giving it a name that serves as the notification text and setting the time and recurrence.

Microsoft To Do, primarily a task-management app, also allows reminders to be attached to individual tasks, letting users specify a date, time, and whether the alert should repeat, along with organizing reminders into categories.

Third-party apps such as TickTick can achieve similar results, though they typically come bundled with additional features beyond what's needed for simple scheduled alerts.