Task reminders
The Ultrathink desktop app can remind you of tasks that are due today or overdue. Reminders arrive as normal notifications on your computer, at the times you choose, and clicking one opens the task. They are free on every plan.
Reminders are off until you turn them on.
What you need
- The desktop app, installed and connected with a device key on each computer you want reminders on.
- Tasks with due dates. See Due dates, waiting on and links.
Reminders come only from the desktop app. The web app and the browser extension do not show them.
Turn reminders on
- In the web app, go to Settings > Notifications.
- Under Desktop reminders, switch on Remind me about my tasks.
- Under When to remind me, check the Reminder times. New accounts start with 10:00, 13:00 and 16:00.
- Click Send a test reminder to see one straight away on this computer.
Settings save as soon as you change them.
What a reminder shows
A reminder lists up to three tasks, each with when it is due, and “and N more” if there are others. Its title says how many tasks are due, for example “4 tasks due”.
- Which tasks: your open tasks with a due date of today or earlier. A task whose status counts as done is never included. See Statuses and workflows.
- No tasks due, no reminder. A reminder time with nothing due passes quietly.
- Clicking it: with one task, the task opens in the web app. With more, the Tasks page opens.
Settings > Notifications
Desktop reminders
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Remind me about my tasks | Turns reminders on or off for every computer |
| Your computers | Reminders come from each computer’s device key. See device keys takes you to Settings > Device keys |
When to remind me
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Reminder times | The times of day to remind you, in 24-hour time. Pick a time and click Add; click the cross on a time to remove it. Up to 12 a day. With no times set, there are no reminders |
| Weekdays only | No reminders on Saturday or Sunday |
| Send a test reminder | Shows a sample reminder now, on this computer. It needs the desktop app installed here |
Widget
These change the desktop app’s window while tasks are overdue.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Flash the widget | Flashes the window’s border while tasks are overdue. On by default |
| Overdue count | Shows “N overdue” in the window’s title bar. Click it to open your tasks. On by default |
Quiet hours
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Quiet hours | No reminders between two times |
| From and Until | The start and end of the quiet time. An Until earlier than From runs overnight, such as 22:00 until 08:00 |
More than one computer
If the desktop app is on more than one of your computers, only one of them shows each reminder: one you have used in the last few minutes. You do not get the same reminder twice.
A computer you have not touched for about ten minutes waits, so a reminder does not pop up on an empty desk while you are working on another machine.
To stop one computer showing reminders at all, open the tray menu on that computer and untick Show reminders on this computer. Your other computers carry on.
Pause reminders
In the desktop app’s tray menu, choose Pause notifications for an hour. While paused, the menu says when reminders start again and offers Resume notifications to end the pause early.
Your computer’s own focus or do not disturb settings also silence reminders, as they do for any other app.
If reminders do not appear
| Check | Where |
|---|---|
| Remind me about my tasks is on | Settings > Notifications |
| There is at least one reminder time, and it is not in your quiet hours | Settings > Notifications |
| The task has a due date of today or earlier and is not done | The task’s detail panel |
| The desktop app is running, with a current device key | The tray icon. If unsure, set the key again with Set Device Key from Clipboard |
| Show reminders on this computer is ticked | The tray menu |
| Notifications are paused | The tray menu shows Resume notifications while paused |
| Your computer allows notifications from Ultrathink | Notification settings in Windows or macOS |
Send a test reminder is the quickest check. If the test arrives, the app and your computer’s notifications are working, and the answer is in your settings or your tasks.
If the test reminder says Ultrathink could not get your tasks, the computer is offline or its device key has been revoked. Make a new key and set it again. See Connect an app with a device key.