Smart Lists are a way that you can filter your tasks across multiple lists. A good example of this is the “Today” Smart List, which includes tasks from any list with a due date of today.

Other built-in Smart Lists include, “Scheduled”, “All”, “Flagged”, “Completed”, and “Assigned to Me”. You can create your own Smart Lists with the directions below.

1. Create a new List by clicking the “Add List” button.
2. Give the list a name, color, and icon.
3. Change the List Type to “Smart List.”
4. Choose the filter you want to use in your Smart List, (tags, date, time, location, etc).
5. Click the plus sign to add any additional filter criteria
6. Click “Ok” to save your list

Adding Items to a Smart List

As you start using Apple Reminders, tasks will appear on your Smart List automatically, based on the filters you chose above. However, you can add things directly to a Smart List. Tasks added to a Smart List will automatically inherit the same filters that you defined when you set it up.

<aside> 💡 Tasks don’t reside in a Smart List. A Smart List is just a filter view. Therefore, when you add a task directly to a Smart List, it will also appear in your default Reminders list.

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Convert a List to a Smart List

If you have an existing list that you want to use as a Smart List, you can convert it in just a few clicks. Here’s how that works:

1. Click on the list that you would like to convert
2. Go to File > Convert to Smart List
3. Click “Convert” to confirm

Any items that were on your list before you converted it will automatically be tagged with the name of the list, e.g., #work. You cannot convert your default list into a Smart List.

Show or Hide Smart Lists