Tasks & lists
Categories
Categories are labels you put on projects, like tags. A project can have several, and the list of categories is shared by both of you. Use them to filter a list, group it, or search for them in Quick Find.
When to use it
- Labels that cut across Areas, like “Weekend”, “Needs a store run” or “Outside”.
- Filtering Today down to one kind of work.
- Grouping a list by category with Group and sort.
Put categories on a project
Phone
- Open the project and tap ⋯.
- Tap Categories (it reads Add Categories when the project has none).
- Tap a category to put it on (a ✓ shows) or take it off.
- Tap New Category to make one, type the name and press Enter.
Computer
- Click the project’s row once to pick it, then press ⇧⌘T (Ctrl+Shift+T on Windows).
- Or right-click the row and pick Categories….
- Click a category to put it on (✓) or take it off, or click New Category.
Rows show up to two categories as small gray labels, then +N for the rest.
Label several projects at once
- On a phone, swipe a project left to start picking. Tap the others you want.
- Tap ⋯ in the bar at the bottom, then Categories.
- Tap the categories to put on all of them.
Label a whole Area
- Open the Area and tap ••• next to its name.
- Tap Add Categories and pick them.
Those categories go on every project in the Area now, and on any project added to it or moved into it later.
Filter a list
- Open Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday, Logbook, an Area, or the Matrix.
- Tap a category chip at the top. All shows everything again.
On an Area page the filter is in ⋯ → Filter by Category.
Rename or delete categories
- In the Categories card, tap Manage. It opens Settings → Projects → Categories.
- Rename a category in its box, or tap the bin to delete it.
- Add new ones there too.
Tip: A handful of categories you actually use beats a long list you don’t. If one only fits one Area, the Area may be enough.
Questions
Does Quick Find search categories?
Yes. Typing a category’s name finds the projects that have it.
Can steps or to-dos have categories?
No. Categories are for projects.
Still stuck? Send feedback from the ? menu at the bottom of the app bar on a computer. Back to the help center