Use the Focus list
The Focus list is a curated view of what matters most right now. Unlike your other lists, which organize tasks by state or project, Focus is personal — you decide what belongs there, or let dates decide for you.
Every item in Focus gets a star ★ and shows up in one scannable place. Starred items stay in their original list too, so nothing disappears.
Manually focus an item
- Click the star ★ icon to the left of any task, project, or reference item.
- In the web app, you can also drag any item directly onto the Focus list in the sidebar.
- With Rapid Entry, add
#focusor#starto create a focused item directly.
To unfocus an item, click the star again. It returns to its original list with no other changes.
Automatically focus items by date
Items can focus themselves when a date arrives:
- Due date — the task stays in its current list but gets a Focus star when the due date arrives. It keeps the star until you complete it. Learn about due dates →
- Start date — the task is hidden in the Scheduled list until its start date, then moves to Next with a Focus star. Learn about start dates →
Change how the Focus list looks
There are 3 display views for the Focus list:
- Unified — all Focus items in one flat list, regardless of state or project.
- Group by project — standalone items first, then focused items grouped under their projects.
- Group by state — items grouped by action state (Next, Waiting, Scheduled, etc.), then active projects, then reference items.
On Desktop: Click the ⋯ icon near the top of the list and choose your view.
On Mobile: Tap the ⋯ in the top-right corner and select Display Options.
Get your Focus list by email
Sign up to receive your Focus list as a daily email digest — useful for planning before you open the app.
Good to know: Starring an item doesn't move it. Items appear in both the Focus list and their original location. Completing a task from the Focus list completes it everywhere.