Six tips to get the most out of Microsoft To Do in iOS

When you’re juggling work and personal tasks, having clearly defined to-do lists can help reduce stress and improve productivity. Microsoft To Do helps you manage your tasks so you can get more time for yourself. It seamlessly syncs your tasks across devices, so you always have access to them, whether you use To Do on Android, iPhone, Mac, Windows, or the web.

In the third installment of our six tips series, we’ll show you some nifty ways to make the most out of To Do on your iOS device. (Check out our other six tips articles for Windows and Android.)

1. Use Siri to add tasks and open lists in To Do

Want a super-fast way to add a task or open a list in To Do? We’ve got you covered. Here’s how to add “Open list” or “Add task” as shortcuts in Siri:

Adding a task with Siri

1. Head to your To Do settings and tap on Siri Shortcuts, then tap on the plus icon + next to Add Task.  
2. Pick the phrase you want to use with Siri. For example, if you want a shortcut to add something to your grocery list, you can change the When I say phrase to “Add groceries”.  
3. Under Do, select Add task and pick the name of the list you want to add tasks to.
4. If you want new tasks to be marked as important, come with reminders, or be added to My Day, tap on Show More and configure it the way you want. Once you’re done, select Back > Add to Siri.   

Opening a list with Siri

1. Head to your To Do settings and tap on Siri Shortcuts, then tap on the plus button  next to Open List.  
2. Pick the phrase you want as your shortcut, like “Open grocery list”.
3. Under Do, select Add task, then select List and pick your grocery list.
4. Select Back to go to the Add to Siri page, then select Add to Siri.

2. Create shortcuts to your lists on your device’s home screen

In To Do for iOS, you can create shortcuts to your lists on your home screen. (Note: you’ll need to install the Siri Shortcuts app to be able to do this.)

Here’s how to add shortcuts to your lists:

1. Create a Siri shortcut to open a list.  
2. Open the Shortcuts app and open the created shortcut.
3. Tap the three dots  to see more options. Tap on the option to add the shortcut to your home screen.
4. Check that the shortcut shows up on your home screen.

In To Do for iOS, you can create shortcuts. Or, if you’re using iOS 14, you can add a shortcut with the Shortcuts widget.

3. Glance at your tasks from the iOS 14 widgets

If you’re using iOS 14, you can check out a To Do list from your home screen with the new Microsoft To Do widgets. To set this up:

1. Long press on any empty space on your home screen, then tap the plus icon [] to open the widgets menu.
2.  Search for To Do or scroll down to find Microsoft To Do, then add the widget of your choice.

Learn more about To Do iOS 14 widgets.

4. Quickly add task details

You don’t need to fiddle around with due dates and reminder times when creating a task. When typing a task’s title, include when it’s due or when you want to be reminded in that title and Microsoft To Do will create a task with that due date or reminder time.

5. View your Microsoft To Do lists in Apple’s Reminders app
Microsoft To Do is integrated with Apple’s Reminders app so you can view your To Do lists in Reminders if you use iOS 12 or later. Here’s how to link your Microsoft To Do account with Apple’s Reminders app:

1. Open your device’s settings and select Reminders > Add Account.
2. Add the email address associated with your Microsoft To Do account. When you open Apple’s Reminders app, you should be able to see your Microsoft To Do lists.

Note: currently shared lists and smart lists like My Day, Planned, Assigned to you, Important, and Flagged email won’t show up in Apple’s Reminders app.

6. Swipe actions

You can take a number of actions on a task just by swiping left or right. By swiping, you can:

1. Delete a task. Tap on the task, swipe from right to left, tap the trash can icon, and confirm that you want to delete the task.
2. Add a task to My Day. Tap on the task, swipe from left to right, and select the sun icon . Once a task is added to My Day, you can swipe from left to right again to remove it.
3. Move a task from one list to another. Tap on the task, swipe from left to right, and select the icon that looks like a list with an arrow. Tap it and pick the list you want to move your task to.

We hope these tips help you out! We’d love to hear your feedback. Let us know in the comments below or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. You can also write to us at todofeedback@microsoft.com.