Manage Lists with the To Do App
WHETHER A SIMPLE SHOPPING LIST or the complex steps for a project you are working on, just about everyone can make use of a to-do app. Being able to make a list and check things off as you go is an effective way to keep track of what you’re doing, so you can better manage your time. Microsoft has its own to-do app, appropriately named Microsoft To Do. It is free for Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS, as well as online. You can create checklists, so you can check things off as you do them, and cross-platform synchronization means you can access your lists from different devices—such as your computer and your phone.
Microsoft To Do is about more than just simple lists, however. You can also use the app to store notes, create alerts, and manage recurring items—as you will see as we explore this incredibly useful tool.
1
DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL TO DO
The Microsoft To Do app is available for free download in the Microsoft Store [ Image A]. Launch the Store app from the “Start” menu or taskbar shortcut, search for “Microsoft To Do,” and click the “Install” button. You should be automatically signed into your Microsoft account the first time you launch the app, but if not, you can do it manually—this helps with synchronization between devices.
2
CREATE LISTS
Lists are at the heart of To Do, and you can create one by clicking “New list” at the bottom of the left-hand panel. Type a name for the list to make it easier to identify when you create more later. Click the “…” button to the upper-right, and you can choose a color theme that not only changes the main background color, but also the text in the list of lists.
3
ADD TASKS TO LISTS
A blank list is of little use, so you need to add items. To Do refers to items on a list as tasks, and you can start building up your list by clicking the “Add task” button at the bottom [ Image B]. Add as many items to the list as you need. You can use the star icon to the
right to mark something as important, and click the checkbox to the left to mark it as complete.
4
OTHER LIST OPTIONS
If you right-click an item on a list, you can do things such as moving it to the “My Day” section for increased visibility, and set a due date. In the “Settings” menu you accessed in Step 2, you can opt to re-order the list based on the due dates assigned to entries, and choose to hide completed items—this is particularly handy when it comes to shopping lists [ Image C].
5
GROUP LISTS
Sometimes it makes sense to group lists together, perhaps to break a large project down into smaller components, but still keep them linked. It’s a great idea for things you may be working on at work, a building project, or an event. Click the button to the right of “New list” to create a new group, which you can then name. You can create and drag new sub-lists into the group [ Image D].
6
SHARE LISTS
In the case of shopping lists or larger projects, it can be helpful to have collaborators—and To Do enables you to share lists with others. In the upper right-hand corner of a list, next to the “…” settings button, you’ll see the “Share list” button. Click it, and you get an invitation link you can send to people [ Image E]. If they accept, they will be able to not only see, but also edit the list.
7
CREATE TASKS
Tasks are rather more versatile than lists for a number of reasons. Tasks can be made up of multiple steps, and you have the option of attaching files and notes to them—all perfect for larger, more complicated projects. It is also possible to assign reminders to tasks, so you don’t miss an important deadline. Click “Tasks” to the left, then click “Add task.”
8
ADD TASK STEPS
Click the task you have created, and a panel appears with further options. By clicking “Add step” and “Next step” in this panel, you can add subtasks to a task, which can be checked off one by one. You’ll notice that the main task entry indicates how many steps it has, and how many have been completed [ Image F]. Tasks can also be customized with colored backgrounds, just like lists.
9
REMINDERS AND ATTACHMENTS
If you need to complete tasks to a deadline, To Do enables you to add a reminder. In the right-hand panel, use the “Remind me” option to add an alert, or just set a due date. You also have the option of making tasks into recurring items. Toward the bottom of the panel, you will find the option to add notes and even attach files that you may need in the course of working on the project [ Image G].
10
TO DO ONLINE AND ON MOBILE
The beauty of To Do is that you can access it from just about anywhere. You set things up on your desktop or laptop, but the To Do website ( http://
to-do.microsoft.com) is essentially identical to the app [ Image H]. There are also versions of To Do for Android and iOS, so you can use your smartphone to check your shopping list when you’re in the supermarket.