Can I have Google Calendar send me SMS event notifications?

Even though I use a variety of calendar programs, I still forget events! Darn it! Since my boss wants me to use Google Calendar instead of my current solution, I'm wondering, is there any way to get Google Calendar to send me event notifications via SMS text messages? That'd be cool...

Dave's Answer:

You're in luck, actually, because that's one of the coolest unsung features of Google Calendar, its event notification service.

Log in to your Google Calendar, then click on "Settings" and choose "Mobile Setup". If you haven't yet validated your cellphone number, you'll need to do so (it's easy) and once you do, you'll see something like this:

As you can see, everything's ready to go with my iPhone (did I mention that I have lots of iPhone help here, btw?) (I used to be with Verizon and never bothered to change it here, but the number has moved over with me) so the next step is to go to the Notifications area.

You can get there by choosing "Calendars" from the top tabs, which brings you a list of every calendar to which you've subscribed in addition to your own main calendar:

Adjacent to your own calendar is a link "Notifications". Click on that. Now you'll see:

Google Calendar: Settings: Calendars: Notifications

One way you can improve your reliability is featured here: Check the box that has Google Calendar email you a daily agenda before you wake up. It's the last option, labeled "Daily agenda: Sent every day at 5am in your current time zone". Very useful!

SMS text notifications are created by selecting "Add a reminder" on the top under the Event reminders section. Click on it and you'll see that you can get notifications via email, SMS text, or even pop-ups, just about as early as you need, from 5 minutes before to two weeks before the event. Choose SMS and 15 minutes and it'll look like this:

Google Calendar: Settings: Calendars: SMS text message Notifications

Now just click on the "Save" button on the bottom and you'll be all set with your notifications. In fact, if you need them, you can also have a second notification that's an hour before each event. Just check your cellphone rate plan to ensure that hundreds of SMS text messages isn't going to push you into a new, lower income bracket. :-)

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 7484, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: event notification, google calendar, sms text messages
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Reader Comments To Date: 11

Dave said, on July 20, 2007 12:23 PM:

Thanks for the great info. I now know how to keep myself organized by setting my important events to send me text messages to my phone. This is will make my life more enjoyable as I will have less people upset with me for missing important dates.

hana Geefred said, on July 20, 2007 1:34 PM:

this basically whats offer on peekamo. i think theres like 160 characters for the limit. the messages go into a mailbox too. its pretty cool actually. its catching up here in north america.

Sid said, on August 21, 2007 2:01 PM:

Are there any other Google apps that will send me an SMS? For example, it would rock if I could get regular news, email and other info SMS'd to me...

sandy said, on October 16, 2007 8:37 AM:

oh , yes , it's really fantastic , but unfortunately it doesn't work with vodafone :(:( can anyone helps me , i do need calendar notifications on sms , ...

Manu said, on July 24, 2008 12:54 AM:

Why don't to guys sync ur calendar with mobile calendar.It will give you event notification

AQ said, on November 6, 2009 10:36 AM:

can you change the 5am delivery time for the daily agenda? my phone charges next to my bed and it wakes me up at 5am... too early!! :O)

Dave Taylor said, on November 7, 2009 9:36 PM:

AQ, sorry to report that I dug around and can't see any way to change this time. I suggest that you put your phone in "silent" mode when you go to bed and then it won't bother you at 5am when it arrives. :-)

dave said, on December 7, 2009 4:12 PM:

Hey Dave--I set up Google Calendar to send SMS text notifications as you directed but it only works for appointments that I set up on my Mac--i.e there is no way to set a notification on the iPhone and the default SMS text option that I set up on Google does not apply to appts. initiated on iPhone. Any thoughts? Thanks

Srini said, on May 3, 2010 12:36 AM:

Very useful info, Thx buddy

Juli said, on March 9, 2011 7:26 AM:

I have my google calendar set up to send me SMS but I need it to send the details of the appointment as well, as most of the time they are conference calls I am dealing with, and i need the call in information sent to my phone as well. I can't figure out how to get google calendar to send me the details of the event, not just the title. Do you know? Thanks!

Paul said, on October 25, 2011 10:59 AM:

All well and good if you have a "regular" text plan. But, I use google voice and it doesn't recognize that number as valid for text. :(

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

Can I have Google Calendar send me SMS event notifications?

Reader Comments To Date: 11

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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