Guide - Things To Do | How to Use Every Feature
Complete guide

How to use Things To Do

Everything the app can do, and exactly how to do it. From your first list to section headers, kept-completed items, and syncing across your devices.

Step one

Getting started

There's no account and no sign-up. Open the app and you can start making lists right away. An interactive guide appears the first time you launch, and you can reopen it anytime from Settings.

Create your first list

  1. Tap the + button to add a new list.
  2. Give it a name, then choose a list type (To-Do, Shopping, or Travel).
  3. Optionally pick a custom icon so it's easy to spot.
  4. Tap your new list to open it, then add items with the + button at the bottom.
Your most recent lists can open automatically on launch. You can turn that on or off in Settings.
Pick the right tool

The three list types

Each type behaves a little differently so it fits how you actually use it. You can change a list's type later at any time.

To-Do lists

For tasks and errands. When you check something off, it drops to the bottom so what's left is always on top. These lists can count toward your app badge.

Shopping & grocery lists

Items stay in the order you put them. You can add section headers (like store aisles), and uncheck everything at once to reuse the list next time. These lists stay off your app badge.

Travel & packing lists

Set a start and end date to see how many nights you're away. Pack by section with headers, uncheck everything to reuse it, and keep it for your next trip. These lists track your trip dates and stay off your app badge.

The basics

Adding & editing tasks

Adding items is quick, and editing gives you room for longer notes when you need it.

Add an item

  1. Tap the + button at the bottom of a list.
  2. Type the item and confirm. On a long list, the view scrolls right to where the new item landed.

Edit an item

  1. Tap the text of any item to open the editor (a single tap is all it takes).
  2. Type your changes. The editor gives you space for longer, multi-line notes.
  3. From the edit screen you can also star, mark done, lock (on Shopping/Travel), or delete the item.
Quick actions

Tap, swipe & long-press

Most of what you'll do day to day comes down to three gestures.

Tap

  1. Tap the circle on the left of an item to check it off.
  2. Tap the item's text to open it for editing.

Swipe

  1. Swipe an item one way to quickly mark it done.
  2. Swipe it the other way for quick actions like star and delete.

Long-press

  1. Press and hold a list for its menu: star it, show in badge, duplicate list, export list, rename list, choose icon, and delete.
  2. Press and hold an item for its menu: star it, keep completed (on Shopping/Travel lists), move to list, duplicate task, and export task.
Make it yours

Reorder, star & section headers

Shape a list the way that makes sense to you.

Reorder items

  1. Press and hold an item, then drag it up or down to reorder.
  2. You can also tap Edit and use the drag handles to rearrange items.

Star what matters

  1. Swipe an item to star it (or use the edit screen).
  2. Starred items rise toward the top so they're easy to find.

Add section headers

  1. Open a Shopping or Travel list (headers aren't used on To-Do lists).
  2. Tap the ••• menu at the top right and choose Add Header.
  3. Name the header (like an aisle or a category) and group items underneath it.
Reusable lists

Keep items checked when you reset

On Shopping and Travel lists you can uncheck everything at once to reuse the list. Sometimes there are items you always want to stay checked, so you can lock them.

Lock an item so it stays checked

  1. On a Shopping or Travel list, long-press a checked item and choose Keep Completed (or use the lock button on the edit screen).
  2. A small lock icon appears. That item now stays checked when you reset the list, and can't be unchecked by an accidental tap or swipe.
  3. To unlock it, long-press and choose Allow Uncheck, or tap Unlock on the edit screen.
When this is handy: say you always pack a deodorant in your travel bag. You want it to stay checked every trip, but still visible, so if you run out you know to replace it. Or on a grocery list, you keep mayonnaise on the list but it's not something you buy every time, so you leave it checked until you actually run low. Locking keeps those items checked through a reset while keeping them in view.

Uncheck everything to reuse a list

  1. Tap the ••• menu at the top right.
  2. Choose Uncheck All. Everything resets, except items you've locked.
Flexible lists

Change a list's type

Started a list one way and your plans changed? Switch its type anytime.

Switch between To-Do, Shopping & Travel

  1. Open the list and tap the list-type icon at the top right (it shows which kind of list you're in).
  2. Pick the new type. Safe changes apply right away.
  3. If a change would affect existing content (for example, switching to a To-Do list when you have section headers or kept-completed items), the app shows a quick confirmation first.
What happens to your data: when needed, section headers become regular items, kept-completed locks are cleared, and trip dates are removed. Nothing is deleted out from under you, and you're always asked first.
Reorganize fast

Move tasks between lists

Put something on the wrong list, or want to shuffle items around? Move them without retyping.

Move an item to another list

  1. Long-press the item you want to move.
  2. Choose Move to List… and pick the destination.
  3. The item moves to the top of that list. If you have only one list, this option won't appear.
Personal touch

Custom list icons

Give each list its own icon so you can spot the one you want at a glance.

Choose or change an icon

  1. When creating a list, tap the icon to pick one, or long-press an existing list and choose Choose Icon.
  2. Pick any icon from the set. To go back to the default, choose Default Icon.
The icon at the top right of a list always shows the list's type, so your custom icon never hides which kind of list you're in.
In and out

Import, export & print

Get lists in from text, and send them out however you need.

Import a list from text

  1. On the lists screen, tap the ••• menu and choose Import from Text.
  2. Paste your text, one item per line, and pick a name, type, and icon. The screen explains the format, including how headers are recognized on Shopping/Travel lists.

Export, share, or print

  1. To export a whole list, open it, tap the ••• menu, and choose Export List.
  2. To export a single item, long-press it and choose Export Task.
  3. In the share sheet you can send it as text, copy it, or choose Print.
Everywhere you are

iCloud sync

Your lists stay up to date across your devices automatically, with no account to manage.

How syncing works

  1. Sign in to the same iCloud account on each device (no separate app account needed).
  2. Changes you make appear automatically on your iPhone and iPad, and on Apple silicon Macs.
About Mac: there isn't a separate Mac version. On Apple silicon Macs (M1 and later), you can download the iPhone & iPad app straight from the Mac App Store and it runs as-is, syncing through the same iCloud account like any other device. Syncing happens in the background, so changes from another device usually appear within a short time, and your data stays in your own iCloud.
Good to know

App badge counts

The number on the app icon reflects your open To-Do items, not your shopping or packing lists.

What counts on the badge

  1. To-Do lists can count their open items on your app badge.
  2. Shopping and Travel lists stay off the badge, so a long grocery list doesn't clutter your home screen.
  3. You control it per list: long-press a list and toggle Show in Badge (or Hide from Badge) to decide whether its open items count toward the number on the app icon.
Oops-proof

Shake to undo

Deleted a task by accident? Your device's accelerometer has your back.

Bring back a deleted task

  1. Right after deleting a task, give your device a quick shake.
  2. You'll be asked if you want to undo the delete. Confirm, and the task comes right back.
Shake to undo works for the most recent deletion, so it's best used right away. It applies to deleted tasks, not whole lists.
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