How to add birthdays to your iPhone calendar

The iPhone shows birthdays from your contacts in Calendar automatically. Here is how to set it up and get a reminder.

1. Add the birthday to the contact

1. Open Contacts and tap the person.
2. Tap Edit, then add birthday.
3. Pick the date and tap Done.

2. Show the Birthdays calendar

In the Calendar app, tap Calendars and make sure Birthdays is checked. Birthdays from your contacts now appear every year.

3. Get a reminder

Go to Settings, Apps, Calendar (or Settings, Calendar on iOS 17 and earlier), tap Default Alert Times, then Birthdays, and pick when you want the alert, such as one day before.

Someone who isn't in your contacts?

Create an event on their birthday, tap Repeat and choose Every Year.

Party invites too

The birthday is one date; the party is another, with a time and address. Snap the invite in Snap to Calendar, check the details it finds, and save the party with an alert.

More calendar guides