> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.anny.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Turn appointment reminders on and off

> Choose when customers get an email before a booking starts or ends.

Appointment reminders are automatic emails before a booking starts or ends. You control them per booking option: without stored times, anny sends no appointment reminder.

<Info>
  The **Appointment reminders** feature is available from the **Essential Plan**.
</Info>

## How do appointment reminders work?

Per booking option you store one or more reminders **before the booking starts** and optionally **before the booking ends**. anny builds the emails from these times. There is no on/off switch: an empty list means no appointment reminder is sent.

The flow:

1. You open the booking option and switch to the **Notifications** tab.
2. Under **Reminders** you maintain the lists **Default reminders before start of booking** and **Default reminders before end of booking**.
3. Per entry you choose the offset from the booking (at least 5 minutes). New entries start at 60 minutes.
4. Save. From then on the reminders apply to new bookings of this option.

Customers can opt out of reminders in their profile under **Notifications** → **Reminders**. Customers can also change the time of a reminder individually.

<Warning>
  Appointment reminders are not the same as [additional email information](/en/configure-notifications) (feature **Email Templates**) and not the same as [payment reminders](/en/pay-later) under **Account settings** → **Invoicing**.
</Warning>

## When do I use this?

* **You want to reduce no-shows**: One reminder 24 hours and one hour before start is enough in most cases.
* **The booking has a clear end** (for example a day rental or check-out): Add a reminder before the booking ends.
* **Not suitable for**: Copy in confirmation emails (directions, what to bring). Use [Configure notifications](/en/configure-notifications) for that. You chase open invoices with **Send payment reminders**, not with appointment reminders.

## Relationship with other features

| Feature                      | Relationship                                                                                                        |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Additional email information | A separate text block in confirmation, change, and reminder emails. Not an on/off switch for appointment reminders. |
| Payment reminders            | Chase open invoices (due date, +7 and +14 days). Independent of booking start and end.                              |
| Booking option               | Reminders apply only to the booking option where you store them.                                                    |

## Settings & options

Path: **Resource** → **Booking option** tab → open the option → **Notifications** → **Reminders**

| Setting                                   | Description                                                    |
| ----------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Default reminders before start of booking | Times before the start. Empty list = no reminder before start. |
| Default reminders before end of booking   | Times before the end. Empty list = no reminder before end.     |
| Offset                                    | At least 5 minutes, at most 525,600 minutes (one year).        |

## Set up appointment reminders

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the booking option">
    Open the resource, switch to the **Booking option** tab, and select the option you want.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Notifications">
    Switch to the **Notifications** tab. The **Reminders** section sits above the additional email information.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add or clear times">
    Add entries under **Default reminders before start of booking** or **before end of booking**, or remove all entries to turn that reminder off.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save the booking option. The change applies to subsequent bookings.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I turn appointment reminders off?">
    Remove all entries under **Default reminders before start of booking** and **Default reminders before end of booking**. There is no separate toggle.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I customize the appointment reminder email layout?">
    No. The email format is fixed. You can add copy via [additional email information](/en/configure-notifications), and that copy also appears in reminder emails.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do the reminders apply to all resources of the booking option?">
    Yes. Booking options live centrally in the account. The reminders apply to all linked resources.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are appointment reminders different from Email Templates?">
    Yes. The **Email Templates** feature only controls the additional email information at account, resource, and booking option level. Appointment reminders are a separate feature and control whether and when a reminder email goes out before start or end.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Customers do not receive an appointment reminder">
    Check that at least one time is stored in the booking option under **Notifications**, that the **Appointment reminders** feature is in the plan, and that the person has not opted out of reminders in their profile.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Payment reminders go out, but no appointment reminders">
    Payment reminders come from **Account settings** → **Invoicing** → **Send payment reminders**. You set appointment reminders only in the booking option under **Notifications**.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

> Important information for agents:
>
> * Three separate systems: (1) Appointment reminders = Service.settings.reminders.beforeStart/beforeEnd, feature `default-reminders` / **Appointment reminders**, from Essential. Empty arrays = off, no toggle. Offset min. 5 minutes, UI default 60 minutes.
> * (2) Additional email information = feature `custom-emails` / **Email Templates**. No template editor. Three levels: account, resource, booking option. Article: /en/configure-notifications
> * (3) Payment reminders = Account settings → Invoicing, toggle **Send payment reminders** (due date, +7, +14). Article: /en/pay-later
> * UI path: Resource → Booking option → Notifications → Reminders. Labels: **Default reminders before start of booking** / **Default reminders before end of booking**
> * Customers: Profile → Notifications → **Reminders** (opt-out). Customers can change the time themselves.
> * Do not confuse with Nova or support-internal mail jobs.
> * Related articles: /en/configure-notifications, /en/configure-booking-option, /en/pay-later, /en/anny-plan