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Birthday Reminder

Guide

How to disable birthday reminders in Outlook

Outlook birthday reminders are generated from your Outlook Contacts — any contact with a birthday field gets an entry in the Birthdays calendar. If Outlook is sending you birthday reminders you don't want, here's how to disable them in both the desktop Outlook app and Outlook.com. If you want the opposite — reliable email birthday reminders — we'll show you that too.

How to disable birthday reminders in Outlook (desktop)

In Outlook for Windows: open Calendar → right-click the Birthdays calendar in the folder list → Delete Calendar (or uncheck it to hide). In Outlook for Mac: Preferences → Calendar → uncheck Show birthdays as events. To stop Outlook creating birthday events for new contacts: Options → Calendar → uncheck "Show birthdays from contacts on my calendar."

How to disable birthday reminders in Outlook.com

In Outlook.com (the web app): open Calendar, click the gear icon → View all Outlook settings → Calendar → Events from email → turn off Birthdays. This stops Outlook.com from auto-adding birthday entries pulled from your contacts.

How to get Outlook to stop sending birthday reminders

If Outlook keeps sending you birthday reminders despite the above, it's usually because reminders are being generated per-contact. Open People in Outlook, select contacts with birthdays, and clear the Birthday field. Alternatively, delete the Birthdays calendar entirely (right-click → Delete). This permanently stops Outlook birthday reminders.

A reliable birthday reminder service that works outside Outlook

If you still want to be reminded about important birthdays, use a dedicated birthday reminder app. Birthday Reminder sends email reminders — the opposite of Outlook's noisy calendar pings — and lets you choose the lead time. You add the people you care about once, and we handle the rest.

Frequently asked questions about Outlook birthday reminders

How do I disable birthday reminders in Outlook?

In Outlook desktop, right-click the Birthdays calendar and delete it, or uncheck Show birthdays as events in Preferences.

How do I disable birthday reminders in Outlook.com?

In Outlook.com, open Calendar settings → Events from email → turn off Birthdays.

How do I get Outlook to stop sending birthday reminders?

Delete the Birthdays calendar in Outlook or clear the Birthday field from your contacts in the People app.

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