"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Google Gmail

Keep Track of What You Need to Do with Tasks

SUMMARY: Keep track of people to meet, errands to perform, places to go, and other things with Gmail's Tasks feature.

Tired of using sticky notes to keep track of all the things you need to do such as heading to the grocery store, taking the car in for an oil change, when you need to schedule a dentist appointment, etc.? Google's Gmail application has a feature called "Tasks" where you can create multiple task lists for you to store and review such items.

Tasks can be organized by category, allowing you to place tasks into groups such as personal, automobile maintenance, activities for the kids, etc. Plus it's easy to print a list, allowing you to grab a piece of paper with today's to-do items if you're constantly on the go.

1. Underneath your contacts, click the "Tasks" link.


2. A "Tasks: YOUR_NAME list" pseudo-window should appear near the bottom of the Gmail page. From here, you can:

* Click the "Plus" button to add tasks.


Then type your task name and press Enter. You can continue to type task names as desired.

* Click on a task then the trash can button to delete it.

* Click on a box next to a task to check it off as complete.

* Click the minimize button to minimize the Tasks pseudo-window.

* Clicking the "X" closes the Tasks list.


* Click the "Pop-out" button to open the Tasks in a new browser window.


* Click the "Actions" button to pop open a menu letting you indent or un-indent tasks to make them stand out (or you can use the Tab and Shift-Tab keys). You can also move tasks up or down (or press Ctrl+Up or Ctrl+Down).


Task details can also be modified (or press Shift+Enter), such as a task's due date.

More options include showing help for Tasks, displaying tips, printing the tasks list, viewing completed tasks, sorting tasks by their due dates, and clearing completed tasks.


* Click on the "Switch lists" button (at the bottom-right of the "Tasks" pseudo-window) to refresh the task list, rename it, delete it altogether, create a new task list, or switch to other task lists. This lets you organize tasks by category.


This tip was written on July 15, 2009. Gmail's features and interface are subject to change.

Return to the Google Gmail page.

Print this tip


Get the Newsletter

blog comments powered by Disqus

Thanks For Sharing!



Newest Tips:

Microsoft Word 2010
W0rds w8th Numbers Pass the S0ellchecker!
Google Gmail
Automatically Archive a Conversation you Respond to
Digital Photography
[MODIFIED] Did Someone Get in the Way While Taking a Photo?
Google Chrome
View Kittens and Pandas Everywhere!

Follow Us!

About MalekTips and the Author

The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >