Notifications

Stay On Track

Set includes comprehensive notification options to help you stay on schedule throughout your day.

Enable Notifications

To receive notifications, enable them in Settings → Notifications. If disabled, you’ll see an “Enable Notifications” button at the top of the section.

Notification Types

Task Start Reminders

Get notified when it’s time to start a scheduled task.

Overdue Task Reminders

Receive alerts when tasks are taking longer than estimated.

The timer has its own firmer version of this, the Overdue alarm: a chime that repeats while a running task is past its estimate, with notifications taking over when Set is in the background. It gains 17 sounds of its own, grouped into families, and can repeat as often as every 5 seconds. See Timer.

Break Start Reminders

Get notified when it’s time to take your scheduled break.

Break Finish Reminders

Get alerted when your break is over and it’s time to resume work.

Time’s Up Alerts

When a task or break timer reaches its estimate while Set is closed or in the background, you get a notification in your chosen style. The in-app chime can’t play while the app is suspended, so this covers that gap. It’s separate from overdue reminders: Time’s Up fires the moment the estimate is reached, while overdue reminders chase tasks that run longer than planned.

Morning Reminder

Get a reminder at a time you choose to plan your day.

Evening Plan Reminder

A separate reminder to plan tomorrow, with its own time picker (9 PM by default). Turn it on and set its time independently of the morning reminder.

Dynamic Notifications

Automatic Rescheduling

When you reorder tasks in your Today view, Set automatically reschedules all notifications to match your new timeline. You never have to manually update reminders!

Calendar Events Stay Quiet

Your calendar events appear in Today as their own rows, at their real times, between your tasks. Set never notifies you about them. Your calendar app already does that, and two reminders for one meeting is one too many. Only your tasks and breaks produce notifications. See Calendar & Reminders Sync.

Notification Styles (Pro)

Set has 13 notification styles. Default is free; the other 12 are Pro and add character to every reminder, including the morning and evening plan reminders and Time’s Up alerts:

  • Default: Standard, professional notification messages (Free)
  • Friendly: Warm and encouraging (“You’ve got this, time to start your task!”)
  • Direct: Straight to the point, no fluff
  • Grumpy: Sarcastic and slightly irritated tone
  • Farmer: Down-to-earth, rural wisdom (“Cows won’t milk themselves, shift yerself an’ sort that task!”)
  • Gentleman: Cheerful Victorian era politeness
  • London: Modern London street vernacular
  • Tech Bro: Silicon Valley startup energy
  • Pirate: Arr matey, seafaring adventure
  • Wizard: Mystical and magical phrasing
  • Army Sergeant: Barked drill-instructor orders (“ON YOUR FEET, SOLDIER! That task starts NOW, no excuses!”)
  • Mob Boss: Smooth, menacing wiseguy (“Listen here, pal, do that task. Capisce? It’d be a shame if ya didn’t.”)
  • Grandma: Sweet, doting encouragement (“Oh sweetie, time to start your task. I packed you a snack, dear.”)

Wording Stays in Sync

Changing the notification style re-creates your morning and evening plan reminders, so their wording updates to match right away.

App Badge

Choose what the app icon badge shows:

  • None - No badge
  • Today tasks count
  • All incomplete tasks count

Across Your Devices

Your notification preferences mirror through your iCloud account along with the rest of your settings. Which reminders are on, your morning and evening times, your notification style and your badge choice all follow you, so setting them up once is enough. Permission itself is still granted per device, because that is iOS’s decision to ask, not Set’s.