There are few things I can say to convince you that creating a grocery list is an enjoyable task. However, what I can assure you is that with Apple’s latest iOS 17 software, the process of making and managing a grocery list has become more convenient.
In the Apple Reminders app, you now have the option to create a dedicated grocery list that can be a permanent home for your shopping needs. Say goodbye to creating new lists in your Notes or text apps every week. These new grocery lists in Reminders seamlessly blend the best features of regular reminders with added functionalities that make crafting a shopping list a less daunting endeavor. If you’re seeking the quickest and easiest way to streamline your grocery trips, this is it.
Here’s how you can create grocery lists in Reminders:
- Launch the Reminders app.
- Tap “Add List” in the bottom right corner.
- Under “List Type,” select “Groceries” from the drop-down menu.
- Give your list a name, choose an icon symbol, and pick a color.
- Click “Done” in the upper right corner.
Once your list is created, you can add items by tapping “New Item” in the bottom left corner. Since this is a dedicated grocery list, the items will automatically categorize themselves into sections like produce, dairy, snacks, and more.
During my testing, Apple accurately categorized my items about 90% of the time. Occasionally, depending on how I worded an item, it might not recognize what it was. This was easily resolved by placing the main food term at the beginning of the item, or you can leave it uncategorized at the bottom of your list.
Customize and Share Your Reminders Grocery List To share your grocery list with someone else, simply tap the share button (represented by a box with an upward arrow) in the upper right corner.
You have two ways to view your grocery list: as a standard list or organized in columns. To switch between these views, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and select your preferred view.
If you wish to manually arrange your items, you can do so by tapping the “i” icon next to the item, then selecting “Section” and specifying where you want it to be placed. This is also where you can create a new, custom section header. To edit the text of existing section headers, simply tap the text and make your desired changes.
You can collapse and expand each section using the arrows next to each category heading. When the sections are collapsed, you can rearrange them by tapping and dragging them up and down the list. To explore various sorting options for your grocery list, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and access the dropdown menu under “Sort By.”
Keep in mind that when you check off an item, it will automatically disappear from the list. If you want to view your completed items, click the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Show Completed.”
Similar to other Reminders, you can attach notes, set priority levels, and apply time/date stamps to each item. To access these specific options, tap the item and click the “i” icon to reveal more choices.
For more information about iOS 17, be sure to explore how to utilize the new Check In feature, create live stickers, and use Maps offline. You can find all of this and more in our regularly updated iOS 17 cheat sheet, featuring explanations and how-to guides.
