We haven’t come up with a way to add tasks telepathically (yet), but the Todoist Quick Add is the next best thing. Quick Add is the fastest way to add a new task, complete with dates, labels, reminders, and more.
Use Quick Add
Click Add task or press the keyboard shortcut Q to open Quick Add. Then, enter the task details into the task name field.
Click Add task or press the keyboard shortcut Q to open Quick Add. Then, enter the task details into the task name field.
Tap or drag the Dynamic Add button to any spot in your project or display. Then, enter the task details in the task name field.
Tap or drag the Dynamic Add button to any spot in your project or display. Then, enter any task details in the task name field.
Add task details
| Add | By typing |
|---|---|
| Date or due time | The date and time into the task field using natural language like tomorrow at 4pm or every other Tuesday starting March 3. Here’s a list of example date formats you can use. |
| Deadline | Use natural language to add a deadline, for example, {march 30}. You can learn more about the deadlines feature in this article. |
| Labels | @ followed by the label name. For example, @email. You’ll be able to choose from a list of existing labels, or create an entirely new one. |
| Priority | p1, p2, or p3 to indicate the priority level of the task. |
| Reminders | ! in the task name field, directly followed by the desired time for the reminder. For example !14:00 or !30 min before. Learn more about reminders. |
| Collaborator | + immediately followed by the person’s name. For example, +Lucile. You’ll be able to choose from a list of current project collaborators. (This is only possible in shared projects so you’ll need to specify a shared project using the # symbol first and then add an assignee.) |
| Project | # immediately followed by the project name. For example, #Work. You’ll be able to choose from a list of existing projects, or create an entirely new one. |
| Section | Once you've assigned your task to a project, you can also specify which section the task should go under. You just have to type in the symbol / immediately followed by the section name. For example, if you want your task to go under the section Admin in your Work project, you can type #Work /Admin. |
You can also attach files directly in Quick Add. Learn how to attach files when creating tasks in Todoist.
Set a global Quick Add shortcut
Context switching can quickly disrupt your focus, especially when work’s spread out across different apps.
The global Quick Add shortcut is a powerhouse for capturing ideas and tasks the moment they strike. Use it to jot down tasks without breaking stride in your work — even if you’re in a different app.
In the Todoist desktop app, use the global keyboard shortcut to open Quick Add while the app is minimized. Use the default keyboard shortcuts or set your own in the Advanced settings:
- Open the Todoist desktop app.
- Click your avatar at the top-left.
- Select Settings.
- Click the Desktop tab.
- Find the Quick Add global shortcut.
- Click the dismiss icon.
- Set your unique global keyboard shortcut to open Quick Add.
Quick add shortcuts are only available on the desktop apps. Try out the desktop app.
Quick add shortcuts are only available on the desktop app. If you're looking for a quick way to add tasks on iOS, add the Todoist widget instead.
Quick add shortcuts are only available on the desktop app. If you're looking for a quick way to add tasks on Android, add the Todoist widget instead.
Get in touch
If you're having trouble using Quick Add or using your global keyboard shortcut in Todoist, get in touch with us.