iPhone Calendar Alerts Not Working? 7 Ways to Fix It

If iPhone Calendar alerts aren’t working, check these settings first: make sure notifications are on in Settings > Notifications > Calendar (with Allow Notifications on), that the event actually has an alert (open it and check Alert), and that Default Alert Times aren’t set to None in Settings > Apps > Calendar. Also check that a Focus or Do Not Disturb mode isn’t silencing Calendar, and that the alert sound isn’t set to None in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Calendar Alerts.

Work through the fixes below in order. Most people find the problem in the first three.

Fix 1: Turn on Calendar notifications

1. Open Settings > Notifications > Calendar.
2. Turn on Allow Notifications.
3. Under Alerts, select Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners.
4. Turn on Sounds.
5. Tap Customize Notifications and make sure Upcoming Events is on, along with the calendars you use.

Setting Banner Style to Persistent keeps alerts on screen until you dismiss them.

Fix 2: Check the event’s alert

1. Open the event in the Calendar app and tap Edit.
2. Check Alert. If it says None, choose a time, such as 15 minutes before.
3. Tap Done.

Fix 3: Set default alert times

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Calendar (on iOS 17 and earlier, Settings > Calendar).
2. Tap Default Alert Times.
3. Set Events, All-Day Events, and Birthdays to the timing you want.

Default alert times apply to new events you create on this iPhone. Existing events, and events from invitations, keep their own alert settings.

Fix 4: Check Focus and Do Not Disturb

1. Open Control Center and see whether a Focus (moon, bed, or other icon) is on. Tap it to turn it off.
2. To keep Focus on but allow Calendar, go to Settings > Focus, choose the Focus, tap Apps under Allow Notifications, and add Calendar. You can also turn on Time Sensitive Notifications.
3. Check Settings > Notifications > Scheduled Summary. If Calendar is included, its alerts may be delayed until the summary. Remove it.

Fix 5: Check the alert sound and ringer

• Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Calendar Alerts and choose a tone other than None.
• If the side switch (or Action button) has your iPhone on silent, alerts will still appear, but without sound.
• Turn up the Ringtone and Alert Volume slider.

Fix 6: Check calendar sync and time zone

• Shared or subscribed calendars: Alerts from subscribed calendars may be turned off. In the Calendar app, tap Calendars, tap the i next to the calendar, and check its alert options if shown.
• Google or Outlook calendars: Go to Settings > Apps > Calendar > Calendar Accounts > Fetch New Data and make sure the account updates automatically.
• Time Zone Override: In Settings > Apps > Calendar, turn off Time Zone Override unless you need it. A wrong override can make alerts fire at the wrong time.

Fix 7: Restart and update

1. Restart your iPhone.
2. Install updates in Settings > General > Software Update.
3. If nothing else works, turn the calendar account off and on again in Calendar Accounts, or as a last resort, Reset All Settings under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. This resets settings but not your data.

Too many alerts instead? See how to turn off calendar notifications on iPhone.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I get Calendar alerts on my Mac or Apple Watch but not my iPhone?

Alerts go to the device you’re using. If your Apple Watch is on your wrist and unlocked, alerts may appear there instead of the iPhone. Also check the iPhone’s notification settings above.

Why are my alerts late?

Scheduled Summary, Low Power Mode, or slow calendar syncing can delay alerts. Remove Calendar from Scheduled Summary and set accounts to fetch automatically.

Can I get two alerts for one event?

Yes. Edit the event, set Alert, then set Second Alert.