Microsoft To Do: 12 tips to make you more productive

Microsoft To Do is a cross-platform task management system that allows you to create, organize, and keep track of all your tasks.

If you’ve ever used Wunderlist, Microsoft To Do should feel very familiar since the same team designed the experience. Microsoft To Do is available on Windows 10, Android, iOS, and on the web, and it allows you to create tasks with a due date, reminder, note, and some other options. Also, it’s possible to add steps to a task, organize tasks into different lists, sync lists across devices, and even share lists with other people.

Here are 12 Microsoft To Do tips to make you more productive on Windows 10 and across devices.

• 1. How to create subtasks on Microsoft To Do
• 2. How to schedule a task on Microsoft To Do
• 3. How to attach file to task on Microsoft To Do
• 4. How to create task list on Microsoft To Do
• 5. How to convert email to task on Microsoft To Do
• 6. How to share task list on Microsoft To Do
• 7. How to pin task list to Start on Microsoft To Do
• 8. How to sort tasks on Microsoft To Do
• 9. How to organize day of tasks on Microsoft To Do
• 10. How to change color mode on Microsoft To Do
• 11. How to add multiple accounts on Microsoft To Do
• 12. How to use keyboard shortcuts on Microsoft To-To

1. How to create subtasks on Microsoft To Do

Although the point of a task management system is to create a task for every step, sometimes you may need to break a task into subtasks to remind you of the steps of a topic, or to better control the workflow of a project.

Use these steps to create a subtask with Microsoft To Do:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Click the Add a task to create a new item.

3. Select the newly created task.

4. Click the Add step button.

   

5. Repeat step No. 4 to add subtasks as necessary.

Once you complete the steps, the number of remaining steps will be displayed under the task in the main list.

2. How to schedule a task on Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do can also help you to stay on top of your tasks with options to set a reminder, due date, and repeat a particular task.

Use these steps to set a schedule for a task:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Click on Add a task and create a new item.

3. Select the newly created task.

4. Click the Remind me button.

5. Select one of the suggested schedule or click the Pick a date & time option to set a custom schedule.

   

6. Click the Add due date button.

7. Select one of the suggested dates or click the Pick a date option to set a due date.

   

8. (Optional) Click the Repeat button.

9. Select the how often to repeat the task.

   

After you complete the steps, Microsoft To Do will remind you about a task depending on your settings you specified.

3. How to attach files to task on Microsoft To Do

You can also attach files and images to your tasks, which is a great way to organize your project involving documents and pictures.

Use these steps to attach files to a task:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Click the Add a task to create a new item.

3. Select the newly created task.

4. Click the Add a file button.

   

5. Select the file (for example, image, text, or word processing document).

6. Click the Open button.

Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the steps to add more files.

Just remember that you can only attach files or images of up to 25MB, and you can only attach files to your personal list, as file attachments is not available for shared lists.

4. How to create task list on Microsoft To Do

Tasks can quickly become overwhelming if everyone of them is in one list. For this reason, Microsoft To Do allows you to create lists to organize your tasks.

Use these steps to create a list on Microsoft To Do:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Click the New list from the left pane.

   

3. Right-click the newly created list and select the Rename list option.

   

4. Specify a descriptive name for the list. For example Work, Personal, Shopping, etc.

Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the steps to create additional lists as necessary. If you have tasks in other lists that you want to move, you can always drag and drop them into the new list, or you can right-click the task and select the Move task to option to move the task to the list that you want.

5. How to convert email to task on Microsoft To Do

If you’re using a Microsoft email account, such as an Outlook.com, Live.com, or Hotmail.com, you can enable an option that will create a task automatically for emails you flag as important.

Use these steps to enable Flagged Email feature on Microsoft To Do:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Click the account button on the left pane.

3. Select the Settings option.

   

4. Under the “Connections” section, turn on the Flagged Email toggle switch.

   

After you complete the steps, emails that you flag in your Microsoft account will appear as tasks in the Flagged Email list.

6. How to share task lists on Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do allows you to collaborate with other users. You can’t share tasks individually, but you can give other users view and edit access to a list.

Use these steps to share a To Do list with other people:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Right-click the newly created list and select the Share list option.

   

3. Click the Create invitation link button.

   

4. Click the Copy link button to copy the link to the clipboard.

   

5. Send the link to the people you want to share the list with. For example, via email.

Once the users sign in with the link, they’ll be prompted to join the list, and then they’ll be able to see the shared list and interact with tasks.

Stop sharing list

Use these steps to stop sharing a list:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Right-click the newly created list and select Share options.

3. Click the Manage access button.

4. Click the Stop sharing button.

   

5. Click the Stop sharing button again.

After you complete the steps, users will no longer be able to view or edit a particular list.

7. How to pin task list to Start on Microsoft To Do

The Microsoft To Do app makes it easy to stay on top of your tasks and quickly jump to a particular list with the ability to pin a list to the Start menu.

Use these steps to pin a list to the Start menu:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Right-click the newly created list and select the Pin to Start option.

   

3. Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, a tile will be created in the Start menu. You can always make the title larger by right-clicking the tile, selecting “Resize,” and choosing the Large option to view a live preview of your tasks.

8. How to sort tasks on Microsoft To Do

If you’re dealing with a lot of tasks in a list, the Microsoft To Do app also include options to sort tasks using different filters.

Use these steps to sort tasks with To Do:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Select a list.

3. Click the menu (three-dotted) button and select the Sort by menu.

4. Select the sort method, including: Importance, Due date, Completed, Alphabetically, or Creation date.

   

   Quick tip: If you don’t want to see completed tasks in the list, click the Hide completed tasks option.

After you complete the steps, the tasks in the list will filter according to the criteria that you specified.

9. How to organize day of tasks on Microsoft To Do

If you use the To Do app in the daily basis, then you’ll probably find the My Day list especially useful. The My Day list allows you to focus on the tasks for the current day. You can create new tasks and add tasks from other lists, but the list will always reset the next day.   

Use these steps to organize your day of tasks:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Select the My Day list.

3. Click the Today button from the top-right (if applicable).

4. Click the Plus button to add recently added tasks to your day.

   

After you complete the steps, you’ll have a clear view of the tasks you need to focus today, but tomorrow, you’ll need to repopulate the list again.

10. How to change color mode on Microsoft To Do

Use these steps to change the color mode of Microsoft To Do:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Click the profile button on the left pane.

3. Click the Settings option.

   

4. Under the “Theme” section, select the code more, including: Light, Dark, or Windows to change the color automatically when you change your Windows 10 personalization preferences.

   

After you complete the steps, the app will switch to the color mode that you selected.

Customizing background

Use these steps to change the task list background:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Select a list.

3. Click the menu (three-dotted) button and select a theme for the list.

   

Once you complete the steps, the changes will be reflected in the list header. However, the change will only apply to the current list, and you’ll need to repeat the steps to customize other lists.

11. How to add multiple accounts on Microsoft To Do

Use these steps to add multiple accounts in the To Do app:

1. Open Microsoft To Do.

2. Click the profile button on the left pane.

3. Click the Manage Accounts option.

   

4. Click the Add account option.

   

5. Select the account type and click the Continue button.

6. Sign in using your credentials.

Once you complete the steps, the new account will be added, and you can always switch between accounts by clicking the profile option in the top-left and selecting the account you want to manage.

12. How to use keyboard shortcuts to manage tasks on Microsoft To Do

Alongside the ability to manage your tasks using a keyboard and mouse, Microsoft To Do also includes a number of keyboard shortcuts to create and manage your tasks.

Here’s a list of Microsoft To Do shortcuts:

• Ctrl + N: Adds a new task.
• Ctrl + L: Creates a new list.
• Ctrl + T: Adds task to My Day.
• Ctrl + D: Completes task.
• Ctrl + F: Search.
• Ctrl + V: Paste.
• Ctrl + R: Sync now.
• Ctrl + Number 1: Opens sidebar.

Microsoft To Do is available as a free service for Windows 10 as well as macOS, iOS, and Android.

• Microsoft To Do for Windows 10 | Download