How to Set Reminder Alerts Quickly on macOS Using Shortcuts and Terminal

To set reminder alerts quickly on macOS, build a one-tap Shortcut with the Add New Reminder action, then trigger it from Terminal with the shortcuts run command. Shortcuts gives you speed with clicks and Siri, Terminal gives you speed with typing and scripts. Together they cover every fast path.

This guide shows both sides: a two-minute Shortcut you can fire from the menu bar, then Terminal commands that create Reminders directly or run your Shortcut with input.

Key Takeaways

• Shortcuts is fastest for clicks and Siri, Terminal is fastest for typing and automation.
• Pin one Quick Reminder shortcut to the menu bar with preset list, date and alert.
• Use shortcuts run to fire that shortcut from scripts and the command line.
• Use osascript when you want Terminal to create a Reminders item directly.
• Use Tasku if you want a local-first terminal task manager that never touches Apple Reminders.

Methods Compared

Method	Best for	Speed	Needs
Shortcuts App	One-tap reminders, Siri, menu bar	Seconds	Shortcut with Add New Reminder
Terminal + shortcuts run	Typing, scripts, repeatable alerts	Seconds	macOS with shortcuts CLI, exact shortcut name
Terminal + osascript	Direct Reminders control without a shortcut	Seconds	Reminders list that already exists
Tasku	Local-first task capture that stays in the shell	Seconds	Ruby, gem install tasku

Set Up the Quick Reminder Shortcut

Open Shortcuts on macOS and create a new shortcut named Quick Reminder. Add the Add New Reminder action, pick your list, and turn on Ask Each Time for the title so one shortcut handles any reminder.

Set the date to Ask Each Time as well if you want natural input like tomorrow at 9am. Then pin it: in Shortcut Details choose Pin in Menu Bar and Add Keyboard Shortcut. Now you have a two-second path from anywhere.

Test it from the menu bar once before wiring Terminal. If the shortcut asks for title and date and drops the item in the right Reminders list, the rest is plumbing.

Fire It From Terminal

List your shortcuts to confirm the exact name:

shortcuts list | grep -i reminder

Run it by name. Quotes matter when the name has a space:

shortcuts run "Quick Reminder"

If your shortcut accepts input, pass text straight in:

shortcuts run "Quick Reminder" --input "Call dentist tomorrow at 9am"

This is the combo to remember: Shortcuts owns the reminder logic, Terminal owns the trigger. Scripts, aliases and other tools just call shortcuts run.

Create a Reminder Directly With osascript

No shortcut handy? Tell Reminders to make one. The list name must already exist and match exactly, including case:

osascript -e 'tell application "Reminders" to make new reminder in list "Reminders" with properties {name:"Call dentist", due date:(current date) + 1 * hours}'

Change the list, name and offset to fit. For tomorrow morning, use 1 * days and adjust the base date in your script.

If nothing happens, check two things: the list name spelling, and Privacy and Security Automation permission for the Terminal app controlling Reminders. macOS blocks the call silently when either is wrong.

Capture Reminders Without Apple Reminders Using Tasku

If your workflow is already in the terminal and you would rather not involve Apple Reminders at all, Tasku is a free, open-source CLI task manager that keeps everything local. Install it once:

gem install tasku

Then capture a reminder-style task in one command:

tasku add --name "Call dentist" --tags "reminders" --priority high

Tags and priority give you enough structure to filter later without breaking flow. Review everything tagged as a reminder with:

tasku list --tags "reminders" --status todo

Mark it done by ID when complete:

tasku done 42

Tasku stores everything in a local SQLite database, so it works offline and stays fast regardless of network access. For access across multiple machines, Tasku Cloud is an opt-in companion: authenticate once with tasku cloud login TOKEN and sync when you choose with tasku cloud sync. The cloud layer is always optional — the local workflow stands on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to set a reminder on macOS?

Use a Shortcuts shortcut with the Add New Reminder action pinned to the menu bar or a keyboard shortcut. For Terminal users, run that shortcut with the shortcuts run command.

Can I add an Apple Reminders item from Terminal?

Yes. Use osascript to tell the Reminders app to make a new reminder in a list that already exists, with a name and due date.

How do I run a Shortcut from the command line?

Use shortcuts run followed by the exact shortcut name in quotes. Add --input to pass text into shortcuts that accept input.

Why does my osascript reminder fail?

It usually fails because the list name does not match exactly or Reminders has no permission under Privacy and Security Automation. Check both before retrying.

Can I capture reminders from the command line without Apple Reminders?

Yes. Tasku is a free, open-source terminal task manager you can install with gem install tasku. Use tasku add to record a task with tags and priority in one command, without leaving the shell or touching Apple Reminders.

Pick Your Fast Path

Want clicks? Build the Quick Reminder shortcut and pin it. Want typing? Fire it with shortcuts run or drop straight to osascript for one-line Reminders control. Want to skip Apple Reminders entirely? Install Tasku and capture tasks straight from the shell. Either way you stop losing tasks to slow setup.