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Introduction to tasks

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Unsurprisingly, tasks are probably the most important feature in Todoist! You can create a task for anything, big or small:

  • Want to remember to call mom? Create a task!
  • Do you need to bring some important documents to that very important meeting at work? Create a task!
  • Need to buy milk on the way home? Create a task!

Below you'll find all the information you need about how to create, edit, schedule, and delete tasks. Enjoy!

How to create a task

There are several ways you can create a task:

  • Click or tap the + icon to open Quick Add.
  • On desktop or web: While in a project, label, or filter view, click the Add task option.
  • While in task view, you can create sub-tasks by clicking or tapping Add sub-task.

How to edit a task

Sometimes a task needs a little change, whether that's a new due date or new priority. Here's how to edit a task’s name, date, project, priority and more:

Click on a task's name and you’ll see the edit task view, where you can:

  • Edit the task name by clicking the task name field.
  • Schedule the task by clicking Due date.
  • Assign the task to someone in a shared project by clicking Assignee, or change who the task is assigned to by clicking on the current assignee's avatar.
  • Move the task to a different project and/or section by clicking the project's name.
  • Add labels by clicking Labels.
  • Set the priority by clicking the flag icon under Priority.
  • Set a reminder by clicking Reminders, or delete a reminder by hovering over it and clicking the X that appears to the right of the reminder.
  • Delete the task via the three dots icon → Delete task.
Quickly add things or make changes to a task by simply typing out Quick Add shortcuts after the task name. For instance, move your task to the #Work project and set its due date to today by typing #Work today at the end of your task name.

Tap on any task to open the task view, where you can:

  • Add a task description by tapping the Description chip, or edit an existing description by tapping the task name.
  • Edit the task name by typing into the task name field.
  • Schedule or edit a due date (and due time) by tapping the Due Date field under the task name.
  • Assign the task in a shared project by tapping the Assignee chip, or change who the task is assigned to by tapping the current assignee's name under the task name.
  • Add a  label by tapping the Label chip or remove/add more labels by tapping the labels field under the task name.
  • Set the priority by tapping the Priority chip.
  • Add reminders by tapping the Reminders chip, or edit existing reminders by tapping them where they're listed under the task name.
  • Move the task to a different project and/or section by tapping the Move to... chip.
  • Delete the task via the three dots icon → Delete task.
You also have the option to edit tasks using context menus.

What happens if I will postpone a recurring task?

If you postpone a repeating task with relative recurrence, for example, every 2 weeks, the task will repeat 2 weeks from the new due date.

If you postpone a recurring task that repeats on a particular date or weekday, for example, every Monday, the recurrence will not change. 

How to complete or uncomplete a task

Completing tasks is easily the most satisfying part of using Todoist. And if you complete a task you didn't mean to, or need to bring a completed task back, you've got the ability to uncomplete tasks, too.

Completing a task

Completing a task on your to-do list in Todoist can be done in one simple step:

Click on the circle to the left of the task you want to complete.
Click on the circle to the left of the task you want to complete.
Tap the circle to the left of the task you want to complete. 
Tap the circle to the left of the task you want to complete. 

Uncomplete a task

In some cases, you may accidentally complete a task. Or you might complete a task then realize there’s still work to do. In those cases, you can uncomplete the task:

  1. While viewing your project, click on the three dots icon at the top-right of your task list and select Show completed tasks from the menu.
  2. Find the task you’d like to uncomplete and click the circle with the check mark to the left of the task.
  1. While viewing your project, click the three dots icon at the top-right of your task list and select Show completed tasks.
  2. Find the task you’d like to uncomplete and click the circle with the check mark to the left of the task.
  1. While viewing your project, tap the three dots icon on the top-right corner and select Show completed tasks.
  2. Find the task you’d like to uncomplete and tap the circle with the check mark to the left of the task.
  1. While viewing your project, tap the three dots icon on the top-right corner and select Show Completed Tasks.
  2. Find the task you’d like to uncomplete and tap the circle with the check mark to the left of the task.
After sub-tasks are completed, they will disappear. If you want to uncomplete these tasks, click/press the "Show completed tasks" option in the top-right menu, and then you'll find the completed tasks below where they were completed — you can then uncomplete them there.

How to postpone a task

We can't always accomplish everything we want to get done in a day. And that's ok! Todoist makes it easy to roll with the punches and reschedule tasks for later.

Reschedule an individual task

  1. Hover over a task you want to reschedule and click the calendar icon.
  2. Choose a new due date for a task by clicking on one of the date shortcuts or by selecting a new due date from the calendar.

Reschedule multiple tasks at the same time

  1. Press Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (macOS) and click each task to select/unselect them. To select a range of tasks, hold Shift and click on the first and last tasks in the range.
  2. In the bar that appears at the top, click Due date and choose a new due date for all the selected tasks.

Reschedule a task from the Today or Upcoming views

  1. Hover over the task you want to postpone and click and hold the gray handle that appears to the left of the task name.
  2. Drag and drop the task to a later date to reschedule it.

Reschedule all overdue tasks from the Today and Upcoming views

  1. Click Reschedule in the top-right corner of the overdue tasks.
  2. Choose a new due date for all overdue tasks. 

Reschedule an individual task

  1. Swipe from right to left on the task you want to postpone.
  2. In the next view, choose a new due date for the task by tapping on one of the date shortcuts or by selecting a new due date from the calendar.

Reschedule multiple tasks at once

  1. Tap the three dots icon in the top-right corner of the view followed by Select tasks.
  2. Tap the tasks you want to postpone. 
  3. At the bottom, tap the calendar icon.
  4. In the next view, choose a new due date for the tasks by tapping on one of the date shortcuts or by selecting a new due date from the calendar.

Reschedule all overdue tasks from the Today and Upcoming views

  1. Tap Reschedule in the top-right corner of the overdue tasks.
  2. Tap on a new due date for all overdue tasks.
  3. In the bottom-right corner, tap Due date.

Reschedule an individual task

  1. Swipe from right to left on the task you want to postpone.
  2. In the next view, choose a new due date for the task by tapping on one of the date shortcuts or by selecting a new due date from the calendar.

Reschedule multiple tasks at once

  1. At the top right of a task list, tap the three dots icon.
  2. In the drop-down menu, tap Select Tasks.
  3. Tap the tasks you want to postpone.
  4. At the bottom, tap the calendar icon.
  5. In the next view, choose a new due date for the tasks by tapping on one of the date shortcuts or by selecting a new due date from the calendar.

Reschedule all overdue tasks from the Today and Upcoming views

  1. Tap Reschedule in the top-right corner of the overdue tasks.
  2. Tap on a new due date for all overdue tasks.
  3. In the bottom-right corner, tap Save.
You also have the option to reschedule tasks by using context menus.
Learn more about due dates and times.

How to delete a task

When you want to remove a task from your task list without completing it, you can delete it. Here’s how:

  1. Right-click on the task you want to delete from Todoist.
  2. Select Delete task from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Delete to confirm.
  1. Tap the task you want to delete from Todoist.
  2. Tap the three dots icon and select Delete task from the drop-down menu.
  3. Tap Yes from the dialog box.
    1. Tap the task you want to delete from Todoist.
    2. Tap the three dots icon.
    3. Tap Delete Task.
    4. Tap the Delete task confirmation.
You can also delete a task through its context menu.

FAQ

Can I have a sound play when I complete a task?

Yes, you can! You can enable this in your account settings:
  1. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of Todoist.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down to Sound and tap Task Complete Tone.
  4. Enable the feature by platform by tapping the toggle next to Mobile and/or Desktop and Web.
  1. Swipe up the bottom app bar to open the menu. 
  2. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
  3. Tap General.
  4. Scroll down to Sound and tap Task complete tone.
  5. Use the toggle to enable the feature either for Mobile and/or Desktop and Web.
This feature isn't available on our Windows apps. However, you can still enable this feature through a browser.
  1. Click your avatar in the top-right corner of Todoist.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click General.
  4. Scroll down to Sound & appearance and use the toggle to enable the feature for Desktop and/or Mobile.

Can I uncomplete recurring tasks?

The completion of recurring tasks can only be undone right after the occurrence has been completed, by clicking “undo” in the popup (web, Windows, macOS) or by tapping the undo popup (iOS, Android) which appears at the bottom of your screen.

It’s not possible to undo any previous occurrence of the task. For example, if you have a task due every day, and you complete it today, you can only undo today's task. You can't undo any previous occurrence of the task.

Note that you won't be able to undo the recurring task once the pop-up message disappears. Instead, you can create a new task or just reschedule your existing task by adding a new recurring due date that starts at your previous instance.

How can I permanently complete a recurring task?

When you're done using your recurring task, you can simply complete it forever:

Right-click on a task and select Complete forever.
  1. Tap on a task to open task view.
  2. Tap the three dots icon.
  3. Select Complete forever.
  1. Tap on a task to open task view.
  2. Tap the three dots icon.
  3. Select Complete Forever.

Can I swipe to complete tasks on Todoist for iOS and Android?

Absolutely! While the default behavior for swiping right is now to select tasks, you can customize this. To change what happens when you swipe over a task, go to Settings → General → Swipe actions and choose the desired action.

When I uncomplete a sub-task, will it also uncomplete its parent task or section?

Yes, whenever a sub-task is uncompleted, all its parents are uncompleted with it.

Can I recover a deleted task?

No, it's not possible to undo the deletion of a task. However, you can import a copy of the task using a backup (this feature is available for users using Pro or Business).

Can I delete completed tasks?

No, it's not currently possible to delete completed tasks.