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What is a Recurring Event?

A repeating or recurring event is any event that occurs more than once on a consistent, scheduled basis. This guide will show you how to set up a recurring event in Apple Calendar, covering both standard and custom schedules.

How to Create a Repeating Event on a Mac

In this example we’ll create a standard recurring calendar event.

1. Open the Calendar app on your Mac.
2. Double-click on an empty time slot to create a new event.
3. Fill in the event details, such as Title, Location, and Time.
4. Click the event’s date and time to open the full details.
5. Click the repeat pop-up menu, which is likely set to “None” and select one of the predefined options.
6. If the repeated event has an end, click the end repeat pop-up menu and set the number repetitions or end date
7. Click outside of the recurring event to save your changes. 

How to Create a Repeating Event on iPhone or iPad

In this example we’ll create a custom recurring calendar event.

1. Open the Calendar app.
2. Tap the + (plus) button to create a new event.
3. Fill in the event details, such as Title, Location, and Time.
4. Scroll down and tap the Repeat option, which is likely set to “Never”.
5. Change the default setting from “Never” to Custom.
6. Set the desired Frequency (e.g., Weekly, Monthly).
7. Specify the custom details. For our example, select Monthly, then choose the option “On the second Wednesday” to set the event for the second Wednesday of every month.
8. If the repeated event has an end, tap End repeat and set the end date
9. Tap the < (back arrow) to confirm your settings.
10. Tap Add to save your new repeating event.

How to Modify or End a Repeating Event

1. Open any instance of the event you want to change.
2. Modify the repeat settings.
3. When prompted, choose whether to apply the changes to only the selected event or to all future events in the series. 

To end a repeating event, edit an instance and change the End Repeat setting.

Why Are Repeating Events Useful?

Instead of thinking of every repeated task as a manual chore, imagine setting it once and being done with it. That’s the core of a recurring event. Setting a recurring event:

• Saves time: Avoids manually creating the same event multiple times.
• Enhances organization: Creates predictable reminders for routine activities, helping you manage your schedule and establish habits.
• Simplifies management: Allows you to update or cancel a whole series of events from a single entry, giving you central control.