How to set up water reminders
Quick answer: To set up water reminders, set your goal, pick your hours, turn reminders on and log as you drink.
- Set your goal. Enter your weight, how much you exercise and whether it's hot. Or type your own goal, such as a limit from your doctor.
- Pick your hours. Set when you wake up and go to bed, and how often to be reminded: every hour, every 2 hours, or smart spacing that spreads one reminder per glass.
- Turn reminders on. Press Turn reminders on and allow notifications. Keep the tab open, it can sit in the background.
- Log as you drink. Tap Glass or Bottle each time. Once you hit your goal, the reminders rest until tomorrow.
- Want reminders with the browser closed? Press Add reminders to my phone's calendar and open the file: each reminder becomes a daily repeating alarm in your calendar app.
How much water do you actually need?
A common rule of thumb is about 30 to 35 ml of fluid per kg of body weight a day, which is roughly 2 to 2.5 litres for most adults. European health guidance (EFSA) puts total water at about 2 litres a day for women and 2.5 for men, and around a fifth of that usually comes from food. You need more when you exercise, sweat or it's hot, and less if you eat lots of fruit, soup and vegetables. Pale yellow pee is a decent everyday sign you're drinking enough.
Why reminders work better in your calendar
Browsers pause or close web pages to save battery, so a page can only remind you while it's open. Your phone's calendar doesn't have that problem: its alarms ring with the screen locked. That's why the calendar export exists. It adds one short daily event per reminder time, each with an alert, and you can delete them all from your calendar whenever you want.
Frequently asked questions
How many glasses of water a day?
For most adults about 8 glasses (250 ml each), or 2 litres, is a sensible start. The calculator adjusts it for your weight, exercise and hot weather.
Will it remind me when the browser is closed?
No, web pages can't do that reliably. Use "Add reminders to my phone's calendar": your calendar app then rings at each time, even with the phone locked.
Can I drink too much water?
Yes, though it's rare for healthy people. Drinking many litres in a few hours can lower your blood sodium. Spread your water over the day and don't force down huge amounts.
I have kidney or heart problems. Is the suggestion right for me?
Maybe not. Some conditions need a fluid limit. Type your doctor's limit as your goal and tick "This is my doctor's fluid limit", and follow your doctor's advice over this tool.
Do tea, coffee and milk count?
Mostly, yes. Tea, coffee, milk and soup all add water; caffeine only has a mild effect for regular drinkers. Sugary drinks and alcohol are best kept small.
Where is my log stored?
Only in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us. Clearing your browsing data or using a private window starts it fresh.