Deadlines in Todoist help you track tasks with fixed completion dates. While dates schedule when you plan to work on a task, deadlines represent the hard cutoff. This feature ensures you prioritize critical work by providing clear visibility of your most urgent commitments.
Understand the difference between dates and deadlines
Deadlines are an informative attribute for you to schedule a suitable date to work on your tasks. To get the most out of the feature, set deadlines for tasks in which missing the deadline has external consequences.
Use dates to schedule tasks for when you plan to begin working on them. The deadline field is perfect for a task that requires ongoing attention. For instance, if you're creating a task to file your annual taxes, you can set a deadline for when the task is due while also specifying the date you intend to start working on it.
Deadlines in Todoist are designed specifically for one-time, fixed dates when a task must be completed. For any task that needs to be repeated on a regular basis, add a recurring date instead of a deadline. This maintains a clear distinction between routine tasks and tasks with hard, cutoff dates.
Add a deadline in the task name
Just like adding a date to your task, the quickest way to add a deadline is to type it while you’re creating the task. Use curly brackets when you’re creating a new task to add a deadline. For example, typing {next Friday} will set the deadline for, that’s right, next Friday.
Add a deadline using the scheduler
- Click a task to open task view.
- Click Deadline on the right-hand side. The scheduler will appear.
- Use natural language to type the deadline in the deadline field at the top of the scheduler, or select the date in the calendar.
- Press ↵ Return (macOS) or Enter (Windows) to confirm the deadline.
- Tap a task to open task view.
- Tap Deadline. The scheduler will appear.
- Use one of the suggested options (for example: Today, Tomorrow, Next Week) or tap the deadline field and add it using natural language. You’ll see the deadline and the number of tasks already due on that date.
- Tap Done at the top-right to confirm.
- Tap a task to open task view.
- Tap Deadline. The scheduler will appear.
- Use one of the suggested options (for example: Today, Tomorrow, Next Week) or tap the deadline field and add it using natural language. You’ll see the deadline and the number of tasks already due on that date.
- Tap Save to confirm.
Remove a deadline
- Click a task to open the task view.
- Click Deadline on the right-hand side. The scheduler will appear.
- Select No Deadline to remove the deadline.
- Tap a task to open the task view.
- Tap the existing deadline. The scheduler will appear.
- Select No Deadline to remove the deadline.
- Tap a task to open the task view.
- Tap the existing deadline. The scheduler will appear.
- Select No deadline to remove the deadline.
Get in touch
If you’re having trouble adding or changing deadlines, get in touch with us. We’re happy to help!