How to Stop Outlook from Creating Reminders for Calendar Events (A Simple How-To Guide)

Outlook calendar reminders are helpful—until they aren’t. 

Many business owners and office staff find their day constantly interrupted by reminders they don’t need. Meetings that don’t require alerts, shared calendars, or recurring events can quickly turn into unnecessary pop-ups and distractions. 

The good news? You can easily stop Outlook from creating reminders for calendar events, and even make this your default setting. 

This guide walks you through it step by step—no technical knowledge required. 

Interested in our services, check out details here https://newport-solutions.com/it-support 

When Turning Off Reminders Makes Sense 

You might want to disable reminders if: 

• You receive reminders for shared or company-wide calendars 
• You manage many recurring meetings 
• Your calendar is for reference, not time blocking 
• Pop-up reminders disrupt your focus 

Outlook gives you control over this—you just need to know where to look. 

How to Turn Off a Reminder for a Single Calendar Event 

If you only want to remove the reminder for one meeting or appointment: 

1. Open Outlook Calendar 
2. Double-click the event you want to edit 
3. Look for the Reminder dropdown (usually near the top) 
4. Change it from “15 minutes” (or similar) to “None” 
5. Click Save & Close 

That’s it—no reminder will appear for that event. 

How to Turn Off Reminders for an Entire Calendar 

If reminders are coming from a shared or secondary calendar: 

1. Go to Outlook Calendar 
2. Right-click the calendar on the left side 
3. Select Properties 
4. Uncheck “Show reminders” 
5. Click OK 

This prevents Outlook from showing reminders for that entire calendar. 

How to Make “No Reminder” the Default Setting in Outlook 

If you want Outlook to stop adding reminders automatically to new calendar events: 

1. In Outlook, click File 
2. Select Options 
3. Click Calendar 
4. Look for the section called Calendar options 
5. Uncheck “Default reminders” 
6. Click OK 

From now on, new events you create will not include reminders unless you add them manually. 

Why Small Outlook Settings Matter in the Workplace 

This may seem like a small change, but over time it adds up. 

Reducing unnecessary notifications can: 

• Improve focus and productivity 
• Reduce interruption fatigue 
• Create a calmer, more organized workday 
• Help staff manage time more intentionally 

When everyone’s tools are configured correctly, work flows better. 

How an MSP Helps with Everyday Office Requests Like This 

These types of questions come up all the time in offices—and they’re exactly where a Managed Service Provider (MSP) adds value. 

An MSP can: 

• Standardize Outlook and Microsoft 365 settings across your office 
• Create default configurations that match how your team works 
• Quickly answer “how do I…” questions from staff 
• Reduce frustration and lost time from small tech issues 
• Train employees on everyday tools in plain language 

Instead of each employee struggling with settings, your MSP helps ensure everyone is set up correctly from day one. 

Technology Should Make Work Easier 

Your software should support your work—not distract from it. 

Simple adjustments like controlling Outlook reminders can make a noticeable difference in daily productivity. And when your office has a trusted IT partner to handle these requests, your team can focus on their actual jobs instead of fighting with technology. 

Small fixes. Better workflows. Less frustration. 

About Newport Solutions 

Newport Solutions has been helping small businesses in Orange County, CA for almost 20 years. Our dedicated team provides comprehensive IT services, ensuring your business operates smoothly and efficiently. From IT support to cybersecurity, we've got you covered. Discover how we can become your business's IT department today. 

We proudly serve the following areas: Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, and the greater Orange County region. 

Contact Us to learn more.