Integrations & tech
Why did I get an SMS after the push?
Escalation: push → SMS → call. KeptMind escalates reminders for tasks you marked as critical, using the channels and timing you configured. Non-critical tasks never escalate.
KeptMind's escalating nudge system is designed to solve a specific ADHD problem: push notifications are easy to dismiss, and most ADHD adults have trained their nervous system to treat app pings as background noise within two weeks of any new app. For genuinely critical items — medical appointments, hard deadlines, commitments where missing them has real consequences — a single push notification is not enough.
## How escalation works
When you mark a task as **critical** (the red flag icon), KeptMind schedules a reminder chain:
1. **Push notification** fires at the scheduled time (or the configured lead time before the deadline)
2. If you do not acknowledge the push within the **wait time** (default: 15 minutes, configurable), an **SMS** is sent to your verified phone number
3. If you do not acknowledge the SMS within a second wait window, a **voice call** is placed to your phone with a brief spoken reminder of the task
Each step only fires if the previous one was not acknowledged. Acknowledging means: opening the notification, tapping "done" or "snooze" in the app, or replying to the SMS.
## What triggers escalation
Only tasks you explicitly mark as **critical** can escalate. Regular tasks get push reminders only (and those pause on bad-energy days). The critical flag is a deliberate opt-in per task — you decide which items earn the escalation chain.
Common items users mark critical: medical appointments, tax deadlines, school pickups, medication reminders, flight check-ins, important work deliverables.
## Configuring escalation
Settings → Notifications → Escalation:
- **Channels**: toggle push, SMS, and call independently. You can enable push + SMS but disable call, for example.
- **Wait time**: how long between each escalation step (5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min). Shorter = more aggressive; longer = more patient.
- **Phone number**: required for SMS and call. Verified via a one-time code.
- **Quiet hours**: escalation pauses during configured sleep hours (e.g. 11pm-7am). Critical items scheduled during quiet hours fire their first push when quiet hours end.
## Plan requirements
- **Free plan**: push reminders only (up to 3/day). No SMS or call.
- **Pro plan**: push + SMS + call escalation. Unlimited critical items.
- **AI+ plan**: same as Pro, plus AI can auto-suggest which items should be critical based on your language patterns.
## Why you received an SMS
If you received an unexpected SMS from KeptMind, it means:
1. You have a task marked as critical
2. A push notification fired and you did not acknowledge it within the wait time
3. SMS channel is enabled in your escalation settings
4. Your phone number is verified
If you do not want SMS escalation, go to Settings → Notifications → Escalation → toggle SMS off. The push reminders continue; only the SMS step is removed.
## Why you received a phone call
Same logic as SMS, one step further. The call fires only if both push and SMS were unacknowledged. The call is a brief automated message: "KeptMind reminder: [task title]. Press 1 to mark done, press 2 to snooze." It lasts about 15 seconds.
If you do not want calls, toggle Call off in escalation settings. Push and SMS continue.
## Technical details
- SMS and calls are delivered via Twilio (US/EU numbers). Delivery depends on your carrier; some carriers block short-code SMS or automated calls.
- If SMS delivery fails (carrier block, invalid number), the nudge is marked "failed" in your nudge history (Settings → Notifications → History).
- Call attempts ring for 30 seconds. If you do not answer, no voicemail is left; the nudge is marked "missed" and no further escalation happens for that task.
- Each critical task escalates at most once per scheduled reminder. If you snooze the task, the next reminder starts the chain fresh.
## Frequently asked questions
### Can I escalate to a different phone number (partner, assistant)?
Not currently. Escalation goes to the verified number on your account only. Shared nudges (to a partner) are available on the Family plan as a separate feature.
### What if I am in a meeting and cannot acknowledge?
The escalation chain fires regardless of context. If you know you will be unavailable, snooze the task before the meeting starts — snoozed tasks do not fire reminders until the new time.
### Is there a limit on critical tasks?
No hard limit on Pro/AI+. However, the system is designed for 1-3 critical items at a time. If you mark 20 tasks as critical, you will receive 20 escalation chains, which defeats the purpose. Reserve critical for genuinely high-stakes items.
### Can I see a history of all nudges sent?
Yes. Settings → Notifications → History shows every nudge (push, SMS, call) with timestamp, channel, and whether it was acknowledged, missed, or failed.
### Why did the SMS come from a weird number?
KeptMind uses Twilio for SMS delivery. The sending number varies by region and is not a recognizable KeptMind-branded number. Save it as a contact if you want to recognize it in the future. The SMS always starts with "KeptMind:" so you can identify it.
For the broader context on how KeptMind handles reminders and attention, see the blog post on [ADHD time blindness and apps that help](/blog/what-is-time-blindness-apps-that-help).