IPHONE
How to set default alert times for calendar events on an iPhone
In short
Open Settings, tap Apps, then Calendar, scroll down and tap Default Alert Times. Tap Birthdays, Events or All-Day Events and choose when the alert should come. All three are set to None at first, so new events have no alert unless you add one by hand.
Well, it is a horrible feeling to spot a meeting in your calendar only after it has started. In Settings, Default Alert Times lets you choose when to get alerts for different types of events.
3 of 5 steps show a real screenshot from our iPhone 14 Pro.
Steps
- 1
Open Settings and tap Apps
Apps is near the bottom of the main Settings list.
- 2
Tap Calendar
The apps are in alphabetical order, so Calendar is near the top, under C.
- 3
Scroll down and tap Default Alert Times
It is in the lower half of the page, below Sync.
- 4
Tap Birthdays, Events or All-Day Events
Each kind has its own default. The word at the right shows the current one. Tap a row and pick a time from the list.
- 5
Check Time to Leave
Time to Leave is a switch on the same page. The note below explains why: these alerts are not available because Calendar does not have access to the precise location.
If this does not work
- Old events still have no alert? Don't worry, nothing is broken. Apple says you can set an alert to be reminded of an event beforehand. To add one, open the event in Calendar, tap Edit, tap Alert and choose a time.
- One calendar never sends alerts? Each calendar has its own Event Alerts switch. In the Calendar app, tap the calendars button, tap the info button next to that calendar and check that Event Alerts is on. You can turn on event alerts for calendars you create or subscribe to.
- The alert time is set but nothing appears? Check that notifications for Calendar are allowed in Settings, Notifications, and that a Focus is not holding them back. Apple notes that sounds do not play while the iPhone is silenced or the volume is fully down. For a full checklist, see iPhone notifications not showing.
Good to know
The row below Default Alert Times, Duration for New Events, sets how long a new event lasts. It is 1 hour at first.
You can still change the alert on any single event: tap the event, tap Edit, then tap Alert. To change it again, go back to Default Alert Times, tap Birthdays, Events or All-Day Events, then choose an option. Existing alerts stay where they are until you edit the events themselves.
Time to Leave works out when to set off using the event's address. Apple says that if you add the address of the event's location, Calendar uses Apple Maps to look up locations, traffic conditions and transit options to tell you when it's time to leave. If you have multiple calendars, the same settings page lets you pick a Default Calendar for new events. To add public holidays as all-day events, see add a holiday calendar on an iPhone.
About this guide
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 14 Pro)
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › Apps › Calendar › Default Alert Times
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 5 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 3 official, linked below
What changed: steps that look different now show our own iPhone 14 Pro on iOS 27.0.1, with the wording checked against that screen.
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Did this guide work for you?
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