Outlook 2021 Reminders Windows Doesn’t Appear on Top of All Other Windows

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[L95]

 

I have Windows 10 Pro and Office 2021.  I would like to make it so that the Outlook 2021 will show the appointment reminders window on top of all other windows whenever the time for a reminder occurs.  According to a Microsoft  article ,  this feature can be enabled by checking a check box under File/Options/Advanced/Reminders;  however this is not possible in Outlook 2021, because it says “this feature is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers on Version 1804 (Build 9226.2114) or higher;  it’s not available for Outlook 2021 or older”.  However,  I don’t want Microsoft 365.  Is there another reminders software program (other than Outlook 2021 or Office 365) that I could use that has a feature where the reminders will pop up on top of all other windows whenever the time for a reminder occurs?

• This topic was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by L95.

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L95 wrote:

Is there another reminders software program (other than Outlook 2021 or Office 365) that I could use that has a feature where the reminders will pop up on top of all other windows whenever the time for a reminder occurs?

I use a document such as Word or Notepad to record the reminder onto and save it. I use Task Scheduler to open the document at the reminder date and time. This always places the just opened document on top and has to be handled before continuing what you were doing at the time the document opened.
Not an app, but works great.
If you decide you would like to try this method, I could show you how to create the Task in Task Scheduler the quick easy way.

HTH, Dana:))

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L95

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Drcard:)) wrote:

If you decide you would like to try this method, I could show you how to create the Task in Task Scheduler the quick easy way.

Drcard:))   Thank you for your suggestion.  OK,  please show me how to do it.  I tried figuring it out myself by reading an article on the Internet on how to schedule tasks in Windows 10,  but it was an 8-step process and it didn’t seem to work for me.

 

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L95 wrote:

OK,  please show me how to do it.  I tried figuring it out myself by reading an article on the Internet on how to schedule tasks in Windows 10,  but it was an 8-step process and it didn’t seem to work for me.

I placed the instructions in the attached PDF (easier to post that way rather than all the separate screenshots and lets you easily download them).

I wrote these instructions rather quickly so there might be some typos. Let me known if you need more help.

Pop-up-Reminders-with-Task-Scheduler

HTH, Dana:))

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L95

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Drcard:)) :  Thanks very much for all the work you did to provide the instructions.   I have a few questions:

1.  Under “Additional tips”, it says “highlight the task listed in the task scheduler and select Properties from the right pane”.  However,  I don’t see Properties in the right pane (see attached picture below).

2.  Is there a way to set the scheduler to be reminded more than once per day?

3.  On the last page of instructions,  it says “close the wizard” and then on the next line it says  “close the task scheduler”.  How do I close the wizard,  and what wizard are you talking about?  And how does this differ from closing the task scheduler?

4.  When I created a desktop shortcut to the task scheduler using your instructions,  then when I click on the shortcut nothing happens,  perhaps because  the task scheduler is already pinned to the taskbar.  But when I try to unpin it from the taskbar,  it won’t unpin.   Normally I unpin by right-clicking on it and follow the instructions,  but for some reason,  it doesn’t unpin.  Why does this happen?    It probably doesn’t matter because having it pinned to the taskbar is probably just as good as using a desktop shortcut,  but I was just curious.  And does this mean the task scheduler is always open?  If so,  does that create any problems when trying to shut down or restart the computer?

Thanks again and I’ll appreciate your response.

 

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L95 wrote:

1.  Under “Additional tips”, it says “highlight the task listed in the task scheduler and select Properties from the right pane”.  However,  I don’t see Properties in the right pane (see attached picture below).

That is because you have a different View setup than I usually use. No problem. Right click that task you have highlighted in the Active Tasks list and select Properties there.

L95 wrote:

2.  Is there a way to set the scheduler to be reminded more than once per day?

Yes,
After you select Properties select the Triggers Tab.
Select the One Time listed to highlight it and click the Edit button to open the Edit Trigger window as shown in the screenshot below;

This is where you would Edit the One Time.
Look under the Advanced Setting place a checkmark next to Repeat task every and use the dropdown arrow to select how often the task will repeat. Next to for a duration of use the drop down arrow or manually enter how long the repeat process is to continue before stopping.

L95 wrote:

3.  When I created a desktop shortcut to the task scheduler using your instructions,  then when I click on the shortcut nothing happens,  perhaps because  the task scheduler is already pinned to the taskbar.  But when I try to unpin it from the taskbar,  it won’t unpin.   Normally I unpin by right-clicking on it and follow the instructions,  but for some reason,  it doesn’t unpin.  Why does this happen?    It probably doesn’t matter because having it pinned to the taskbar is probably just as good as using a desktop shortcut,  but I was just curious.

That shortcut should have worked, but since you have it on the Taskbar you don’t need a shortcut. It could security settings blocking that shortcut. Not being able to Unpin from the task bar when that option is available requires manual editing of the storage folder for Pinned to Taskbar items. Since you need it nothing to worry about now.

HTH, Dana:))

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L95

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Drcard:)) :  Thanks again very much for your reply,  I have a few more questions:

Drcard:)) wrote:

That is because you have a different View setup than I usually use. No problem. Right click that task you have highlighted in the Active Tasks list and select Properties there.

1.  When I right-click on the highlighted task, nothing happens.  No menu opens up and there is nowhere that I can see to select Properties.  I have attached a picture (see below) to show you the highlighted task that I right-clicked on.  What can I do about this?

Drcard:)) wrote:

I use Task Scheduler to open the document at the reminder date and time. This always places the just opened document on top

2.  I put my computer to sleep every night,  and then in the morning I awake it from sleep.  I set the time of a task to occur at a time before waking it from sleep,  so that when I first awake the computer from sleep I would like to see that task be the very first thing I see when I wake the computer up.  However,  this didn’t happen.  The tasked Word document appeared behind a bunch of other windows.  I tried an alternate method of setting the task  to occur “when the computer starts”,  but that didn’t work for an “awaking from sleep” situation.  It probably would work for a complete shut-down,  but I don’t shut down my computer every night;  I prefer to use the sleep function instead.  Is there a way to get it to put the task on top of all other windows when awaking the computer from  sleep?

3.  Is there a way to delete a task that has been set to occur daily?

Thanks again,  and I will appreciate your response.

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L95 wrote:

1.  When I right-click on the highlighted task, nothing happens.  No menu opens up and there is nowhere that I can see to select Properties.  I have attached a picture (see below) to show you the highlighted task that I right-clicked on.  What can I do about this?

Upon reviewing your screenshot I noticed the problem my old eyes missed the first time.
To access a Task you must view the Task in the Task Scheduler Library. In the left pane select Task Scheduler Library as shown below, which will change what displays in the center pane of Task Scheduler.

The list of Tasks in the Library will be listed in the center pane. Highlight the Task and select Properties as shown in the image below.

You should be able to follow my prior instructions from there.

L95 wrote:

2.  I put my computer to sleep every night,  and then in the morning I awake it from sleep.  I set the time of a task to occur at a time before waking it from sleep,  so that when I first awake the computer from sleep I would like to see that task be the very first thing I see when I wake the computer up.  However,  this didn’t happen.  The tasked Word document appeared behind a bunch of other windows.  I tried an alternate method of setting the task  to occur “when the computer starts”,  but that didn’t work for an “awaking from sleep” situation.  It probably would work for a complete shut-down,  but I don’t shut down my computer every night;  I prefer to use the sleep function instead.  Is there a way to get it to put the task on top of all other windows when awaking the computer from  sleep?

Are all documents and apps closed before you put it to sleep? The open document by Task Scheduler will stay the active window (meaning the window on top) until another app opens a file and becomes the active on top window. When the PC goes to sleep the open files are saved to be reopened when awaken from sleep. If they reopen after the the reminder document opens they will be on top. To avoid this either close all apps and files before you put it to sleep so only the reminder document will open upon awake OR schedule the Task to run at a time when you know the PC will be awake each morning.

L95 wrote:

3.  Is there a way to delete a task that has been set to occur daily?

Look at the instructions to select Properties of the Task above. Delete the task is just under Properties. You can also disable the task and keep it so you can edit it and use it again in the future.

HTH, Dana:))

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L95

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