Plan big, then execute on the details. Break big, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable sub-tasks.
In Todoist, you can even break down those sub-tasks into smaller ones. Learn how to create a sub-task, convert a parent task into a sub-task, and more.
Add a sub-task
- Click the task you want to add a sub-task to. This will open task view.
- Select Add sub-task.
- Enter the task's name and any details you want to add.
- Click Add task or press Enter to save the task.
Marija · Customer Experience Specialist
You can only add sub-tasks in line while viewing a project that uses the list layout. If you're viewing parent tasks in the Today view, Upcoming view, filters, or labels, open the parent task in the task view and create the sub-task.
Turn an existing task into a sub-task
Drag the sub-task
- Hover your cursor over a task.
- Click and hold the drag handle beside the task.
- Drag it from left to right to adjust its sub-task level.
Use keyboard shortcuts
- Open a project and check if it's using the list layout.
- Use J or K, or the Up ↑ or Down ↓ keys, to select a task.
- Use Control ⌃ + close bracket ] to increase the indent and turn the task into a sub-task.
Note
Todoist supports four indent levels. For example, a sub-task is using indent level 1 and a sub-sub-sub-sub-task is using indent level 4.
You can't change the indent of a task when working in the task view or when sorting is applied to the project. You can, however, manually drag the sub-tasks to rearrange them in the task view.
Turn a sub-task into a parent task
Drag the sub-task
- Hover your cursor over a sub-task.
- Click and hold the drag handle beside the task.
- Drag the sub-task above or below its parent task, and to the left of the task list.
Use keyboard shortcuts
- Open a project and check if it's using the list layout.
- Use J or K, or the Up ↑ or Down ↓ keys, to select a sub-task.
- Use Control ⌃ + open bracket [ to decrease the indent and turn it into a parent task.
Move to the same project
- Open a parent task.
- Click the three dots icon beside a sub-task.
- Click Move to... and select its own project.
The sub-task will move out of the parent task and appear at the bottom of the list.
View completed sub-tasks
You can see a task's completed sub-tasks when using the task view. Click a parent task to open the task view, and click Show completed.
FAQ
If you set the date for the parent task and the sub-task to today, they will both show up in your Today view – meaning your sub-task will show up in your Today view twice. This is something we're evaluating for usability.