This is frustrating. As I and others have noted, linking a message in Apple Mail to Reminders remains unreliable. The link will be created, but it breaks under at least two circumstances: moving the email after sharing it to Reminders, or sharing on one device and attempting to open it on another. In either case, I receive an error or an entirely different message.
This morning, for example, I attempted to open a shared email in Reminders that I had linked on January 21, 2026. When I opened it today, the link retrieved a random email from 2017! Seriously?
I am tempted to return to OmniFocus, but I want to remain committed to deeply integrated default apps. and keep my New Year’s resolution not to change apps for 12 months!
Apple should be able to fix these problems, and ought to do so.
To me it is still a big ? why Apple is not improving this matter. To connect Apple Mail and Reminders would be perfect.
For some time I use the Apple Mail reminder function. It works very well. I get a reminder inside Apple Mail, even when the mail reside in a sub folder (not inside the Inbox). The mail pops up in the Inbox at the defined day/time.
I honestly never understood why Apple hasn’t implemented the share sheet in Mail. Something tells me the underlying architecture of the app must not support it or something, especially linking to Reminders is so broken.
I used to support 100+ Mac users and there was one that I would consider a “power user”. IMO, “regular” people don’t use features like this. And Apple probably doesn’t think it worth adding to their software. This is available in Microsoft and Google software but that is marketed primarily to businesses.
Apple has added some features to the iPad, for example, as a result of years of requests from a small but very vocal group.
I imagine Apple will have to make some changes to their apps to work with “Apple Intelligence”. If they have any plans to add linking, etc. to their apps at some point, it seems like this might be the time to do it.
I am diving in full of ignorance and bluster here…
How are you creating the link? I only have a very limited use for Reminders, so I am not familiar with how one would most easily create a Reminder from an email.
This shortcut add’s a link to the message to the new action in Reminders. That links uses the message://… format that should work as long as the message is on the device you’re using the shortcut on.
The short version is one of three ways (keep in mind I use the iPad extensively as a complementary device to the MBO):
The share sheet (either Send or Collaborate)
Drag and drop
Highlighting the subject line, then sharing to Reminders.
The basic problem is that Apple has not implemented permanent linking. Consequently, the links break if the email is moved. This defeats the purpose of links.
I was afraid my input would be useless… and since I forgot (though should have known) that you are mostly iPad, then no, an AppleScript solution is not going to help very much.
Sorry about that; wish I had something better to offer…
I think you have posted this before (I tried to search but couldn’t find the thread). I have completely given up on these links. The problem seems to be with the “sync” and having the local file available.
Typically the further out the link is (aka an email from a few months ago) will break. Interestingly my adjusting sync settings and making sure it’s available on device, I can go back to the link and it will work. Obviously this workflow isn’t great.
My “fix” has been saving the .eml into DEVONthink, and then using the DEVONthink link which works perfectly. You can then open the .eml from DEVONthink which brings it into mail and keep the message preserved. With my more recent transition from DEVONthink to paperless-ngx this workflow is preserved.
At this point your best/most reliable option is likely to find your app of choice to “archive” the email for referencing links. (I assume this might be DEVONthink for you, but paperless-ngx, mail-archiver etc would all be good open source options as well).
Your input was not unhelpful; it could be useful for many and is much appreciated. I appreciate the willingness of anyone to share suggestions, even if, for whatever reason, they may not work for some workflows or, more likely, I’m not smart enough to implement them.
Also, I apologize if I was not clear. I am now primarily using a MBP but with heavy use of the iPad as a complementary device. Consequently, scripts don’t really help me, and I (perhaps ignorantly) don’t want to become dependent on scripts to accomplish what should be backed into the OS.
You’re right; I’ve mentioned this before, but I just needed to “vent.”
Your suggestion is a good one because I use DT extensively. However, taking emails and routing them to DT so I can create a link and add it to Reminders seems like an unnecessarily complicated way to accomplish a simple task. It adds a significant amount of friction. Am I overlooking something? Is there an easier way to do what you suggest? If so, it would involve setting up project groups in DT that correspond to those in Reminders. Any thoughts or helpful suggestions about this process would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I get the need to vent. I agree, I think the apple suite of apps is so close that they need a few changes and would be great (linking being a huge one across the board, not just with emails). But the email links persisting has been bothersome to me as well.
There isn’t something simpler that I have found unfortunately. At this point it’s a few extra steps, but I have decided for my use case I need to have the reference available and be sure it will be there. I also am 99% of the time “referencing” the email, and not necessarily having to act on it, so being able to view it fits my use case. I am select as well on what I save.
The best that I have come up with since switching to using paperless-ngx is having an iCloud email “inbox” that every email that goes into this inbox automatically gets added to paperless ngx (this auto converts to a searchable pdf, saves the original, and tags it for me). This then requires me to go to my paperless-ngx app or instance, and copy the link. It does give the benefit of a link for the original (aka .eml) or a link for the searchable pdf. The searchable pdf part works well when I want to add for example an email to a shared family or work calendar event.
All that being said…yes I wish able just fixed this or made it more transparent why the links aren’t working (aka not sync’ed, moved off device due to storage, no longer present, etc).
