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Why can't I delete the Reminders ⚠️ list in my iCloud account?

If you've upgraded to the new Reminders app in iOS 13 or macOS Catalina, you might have noticed a "Reminders ⚠️" list in your iCloud account that contains a single task with a message like "The creator of this list has upgraded these reminders."

Despite your attempts to delete this list in BusyCal or other calendar apps, it keeps reappearing, which can be frustrating.

Why Can't I Delete "Reminders ⚠"​

This persistent "Reminders ⚠️" list is created by iCloud as part of the Reminders app upgrade process:

  1. The list is a "legacy/migrated" marker created when you upgraded to the new Reminders format. Your tasks can now only sync via the new Reminders.app

  2. iCloud has a requirement that at least one task list must exist on the server at all times. It will not allow you to delete the last remaining task list.

  3. If you delete this list, iCloud's systems automatically restore it because it considers this list to be the "default" or "required" list after migration.

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Unfortunately, there is no way to permanently delete this list, as it's maintained by iCloud.

Hide the List in BusyCal (Recommended)​

Fortunately, BusyCal provides a way to hide unwanted calendars from view.

  1. In BusyCal for macOS, control-click on the "Reminders ⚠️" list in the calendar panel.
  2. Select Hide Calendar, then click Hide to confirm.
  3. Open the View menu and check Show Hidden Calendars. If a checkmark appears beside it, click it to turn it off.

The list remains on the server but no longer appears in your calendar views.

If the list is still there after you hide it

Step 3 is the one that is easy to miss. Hide Calendar marks the list as hidden, and View > Show Hidden Calendars decides whether hidden lists stay in the sidebar.

If "Reminders ⚠️" is still listed but its checkbox is now dimmed and a crossed-out eye appears at the right edge of its row, the list is already hidden and Show Hidden Calendars is simply still turned on. Turn that menu item off and the list disappears.

This option lets you maintain the iCloud requirement while removing the visual clutter.

The "Reminders ⚠️" list with its migration message is completely benign. It doesn't affect syncing or functionality of your other calendars and task lists. It's purely a visual annoyance that can be hidden in BusyCal.

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