How to track upcoming TV episodes without missing a return

To track upcoming TV episodes, keep a schedule of the shows you follow, check release times in your own time zone, and enable reminders for the ones you want to watch as they arrive. Before planning your evening, confirm that the episode is releasing on a service available in your country.

The annoying part is often the gap between seasons. You're caught up, months pass, and suddenly the group chat is talking about episode 3. A useful schedule keeps those returning shows in view without turning every premiere into a notification.

How to track upcoming TV episodes

Start with the shows you're waiting for now. You can add the rest later.

1. Keep one list of followed shows. Include series you're caught up on, even when their next season has no date.
2. Record your current progress. A new episode matters differently when you're caught up and when you're a season behind.
3. Check confirmed release dates. Use the streamer, network or show's official announcement for the date.
4. Read the time in your time zone. Include the date too, especially around midnight.
5. Choose reminders selectively. Turn them on for the shows you want to catch as they arrive.
6. Review the week ahead. Look for premieres, breaks and finales before deciding what to watch.

If you only follow a couple of shows, a calendar or note can handle this. Record the source beside each date so you can check it again. Avoid a repeating weekly event unless you've checked the announced run: a skipped week can leave that event pointing at an episode that isn't coming.

A tracker is useful when you want those schedules beside your viewing progress. We built LazyWatch's Upcoming schedule to put upcoming episodes together, with times shown in your own time zone. You can look at today and this week, then open Coming up for the longer view.

Separate a release date from a watching plan

There are several dates hiding inside “when's the next episode?”

For example, an episode might air on Monday night in its original market while you plan to watch on Tuesday evening. Keep the release alert if you want to know it's arrived. Put your Tuesday plan in your personal calendar.

Don't mark an episode watched when its reminder arrives. Leave that until you've finished it. Our guide to keeping track of TV shows covers progress separately, so you can keep “available” and “seen” straight.

Check the time zone before you set a reminder

“Midnight” needs a location.

Netflix's release-time guidance says its originals typically launch at midnight Pacific Time. It also notes exceptions for weekly episodes and original broadcast schedules, and directs you to title-specific launch information.

That means you shouldn't copy one show's release hour onto every other show, even on the same service. Read the announcement for the title you're following.

For a manual reminder, save the original time zone alongside the converted local date and time. Recheck future dates when daylight saving changes affect the source country. A memorized hour difference can stop working.

LazyWatch shows upcoming episode times in your local time. Treat that as your planning view, then check the official local streaming page if you're organizing a first-night watch with other people.

Set reminders for shows you care about this week

If every saved show sends an alert, the one you wanted can disappear among the rest.

Try this split:

• Watching as it releases: Enable an episode reminder.
• Saving the season for later: Keep following it, but mute its reminders.
• Thinking about starting: Decide whether you want premiere alerts before including your saved shows.

LazyWatch lets you choose episode reminders on the day, at air time, or both. You can decide whether Watch Later shows count and mute a title without switching off reminders everywhere.

An air-time alert suits a show you're following closely. A day-of reminder gives you room to plan an evening without expecting you to watch the moment it drops. You don't need both for every show.

Keep your saved movies separate from this decision too. Our movie watchlist guide covers choosing from films you've saved, rather than treating their release dates as appointments.

What if the next season has no date?

Leave it undated.

A renewal, a filming update and a premiere announcement tell you different things. None of them gives you permission to fill in a missing release date.

Keep the show on your followed list and check its official announcements occasionally. When a date is confirmed, add it to your schedule. If you've paused until more episodes arrive, leave your watched progress where it is.

The same rule applies to a midseason break. Don't assume “weekly” guarantees another episode next week. Check the announced schedule before booking a watch night.

Why didn't my episode reminder appear?

Check the setup in this order:

1. Confirm an episode is actually scheduled. Look for a break or a changed date.
2. Check the app's reminder choices. Make sure that title isn't muted and that your selected shows are included.
3. Check your phone's notification permission. The reminder setting inside an app and permission to display notifications are separate checks.
4. Look for delayed or silenced delivery. Your phone may be holding the alert rather than showing it immediately.

On iPhone, Apple's notification guide explains per-app notification settings and scheduled delivery. Its Focus guide explains how to allow or silence app notifications during a Focus.

Check the relevant settings instead of turning every alert back on. If you're using Android, look at the app's notification permissions in your phone's Settings; the labels vary by device.

Give the schedule a weekly glance

Once a week, check what's arriving and choose what you actually want to watch. If you're behind, catch up at your pace. A premiere date doesn't create homework.

In LazyWatch, upcoming episodes sit alongside your tracking, and each episode has its own Comments when you've got something to say afterward. You can check when it's coming, mark it watched when you're done, then find the people talking about that episode.

Start with the shows you're waiting for. Get LazyWatch.

Episode and season information is provided by TheTVDB. Episode air times come from TVmaze. Where to watch is powered by JustWatch.