Some projects don’t only happen once. If you find yourself doing repetitive work and re-creating the same type of project again and again, save time by re-using your original project and turning it into a project template. You can then re-use the template as many times as you want.
You can export project templates as CSV files, or as weblinks that you can easily save for later use or share with others. Here’s how:
You can only create project templates from the web or desktop apps. This feature isn’t available on mobile.
Creating project templates
- Open the project you want to duplicate.
- In the top-right corner, click on the three dots icon.
- Select Export as a template.
- Choose whether you want to save the template as a CSV file or as a shareable weblink.
Your project template will be an exact duplicate of the original including all due dates, comments, and files.
You can also easily duplicate tasks within a project.
Additionally, you can also create a custom template to import tasks from a different program or spreadsheet using a CSV file. Learn more about how to format your CSV file so you can import it into Todoist.
You’ll have the option to “Use relative dates” in your template. That means that dates like “tomorrow” or “in 5 days” will be set based on the date you import the template into a new project. For example, if you create your new project and import the template on May 5, any task with a due date of “tomorrow” will be due on May 6.
When downloading a project, the start date of a recurring due date will not be saved in the template. As an example, if you have a task with the recurring due date every year starting January 31 and you then export and import a template with that task, the task's due date will be changed to every year.
Importing project templates from a shareable weblink
- Click on the weblink for the project template you want to re-create (see step 4 above).
- Click Use This Template.
A new project will appear at the bottom of your project list with all of the original project’s tasks, including all due dates, comments, and files.
Importing pre-made project templates from todoist.com/templates
If you're looking to get a headstart on your project, browse the Todoist library of 60+ pre-made templates in categories ranging from work to personal to creative. Find the templates at todoist.com/templates.
Importing project templates from a CSV file
The project will be populated with all of the original project’s tasks – including all due dates, comments, and files.
- Create a new project (or open an existing project) to import your template into.
- In the top-right corner, click on the three dots icon.
- Select Import from template. Please note that your CSV file needs to be UTF-8 encoded. You can learn more about this in the next section of this article.
- Select the CSV file template from your computer (see step 4 above).
Save your CSV file with UTF-8 encoding
In order for Todoist to import your CSV file correctly, it'll have to be encoded using UTF-8 formatting. Below you can learn how to save your CSV file with UTF-8 encoding in Microsoft Excel, Numbers, and Notepad!
Save your CSV file using UTF-8 encoding in Microsoft Excel
- Open your CSV file in Microsoft Excel.
- Click File in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select Save as...
- Open the drop-down menu next to File format.
- Select CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (.csv).
- Click Save.
Save your CSV file using UTF-8 encoding in Numbers
- Open your CSV file in Numbers.
- Click File in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select Export to...
- Select CSV...
- Click Advanced options.
- Open the drop-down menu next to Text Encoding.
- Select Unicode (UTF-8).
- Click Next.
- Once you've chosen a name and location for your file, click Save.
Save your CSV file using UTF-8 encoding in Notepad
- Open your CSV file in Notepad.
- Click File in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select Save as...
- Select the following options:
- Open the Save as type drop-down menu and select All Files.
- Open the Encoding drop-down menu and select UTF-8.
- Rename your file using the .csv extension. For example, if you want to name your file "Work" you should save your file as Work.csv.
- Click Save.
FAQ
My project is in board view and I want to export it as a CSV file. If I later import it again, will it retain board view?
Yes, it will! Whether you export a project as a CSV file in list view or in board view, it'll retain that view once imported.
Will completed tasks be included in my templates?
No, unfortunately not. Only active tasks will be exported/imported.
Will template URLs expire?
No, they will not expire.
Are template URLs public?
Yes, anyone who has access to a template URL will be able to access that template and see the tasks in that template.