Create a Groceries List in Your iPhone's Reminders App - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Create a Groceries List in Your iPhone's Reminders App

by

In iOS 17, Apple has added a handy little list function to the Reminders app to help you when you're out to pick up some groceries. Keep reading to learn how to use it and make short work of your trip to the store.

ios 17 reminders app
When you create a list with the new "Groceries" list type (named "Shopping" outside the U.S), you can input various foods and sundries and have them organized automatically by category. The organization makes it easier to find what you need when you're at the grocery store, or out shopping.

The available category types in Reminders include Produce, Breads & Cereals, Frozen Foods, Snacks & Candy, Meat, Dairy, Eggs & Cheese, Bakery, Baking Items, Household Items, Personal Care & Health, and Wine, Beer & Spirits.

Here's how to create a Shopping or Groceries reminder list in iOS 17.

  1. In the Reminders app, tap Add List.
  2. Give your list a name, an optional color and icon, and tap the "List Type" and choose Groceries (or Shopping), then tap Done.
    reminders

  3. Start populating your Groceries list with items. As you add different category types, the Reminders app will prompt you to move certain items to specific categories. Tap the option in blue to move the item.
  4. When you've finished your list, it should be organized into separate categories, making it easier to find the related items in the same areas of the store.
    reminders

If the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ doesn't recognize where an item should go, it remains uncategorized. Note that it will recognize specific brands and types of food like "Sour Patch Kids," so it is a fairly robust solution for grocery shopping.

You can also create your own categories in the grocery list. Simply tap the three dots in a circle icon and select New Section in the dropdown. You can then tap on the new section to give it an identifying name.

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More

Thursday August 13, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce at least five new devices at its iPhone-centric event next month, and it's also possible we'll get devices waiting on Siri AI like the Apple TV. iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting ...
iPhone 17 One Year Later Thumb 1

Should You Buy an iPhone 17 Now or Wait for iPhone 18?

Friday August 14, 2026 12:15 pm PDT by
For the first time since Apple started selling standard and "Pro" iPhones, we're not going to get an entry-level iPhone model this fall. Apple doesn't plan to release an iPhone 18 in September, and will only launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra. The lower-cost iPhone 18 won't come out until spring 2027. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27 Feature 1

30 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27

Friday August 14, 2026 6:24 am PDT by
Apple will release iOS 27 in September, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features on the way, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though, as the following feature list...