ClickUp Incomplete Warning Guide

In ClickUp, the incomplete warning status helps your team quickly see when required Custom Fields on tasks have not been filled out. This guide explains how it works, who can manage it, and how to keep your workflows accurate and compliant.

What the ClickUp incomplete warning means

The incomplete warning appears on tasks when one or more required Custom Fields are empty. It acts as a visual alert that important information is missing before work can be considered complete.

You will typically see:

• An orange icon and message near the task status or in the task view.
• A note that certain required fields must be completed.
• A warning that the task does not meet the defined field requirements.

This warning is triggered by Custom Fields that have been marked as required in a specific location within ClickUp.

Where the ClickUp incomplete warning shows

The incomplete warning can appear in several places across ClickUp to make missing information easy to spot.

Task view in ClickUp

Inside an individual task, you may see an incomplete warning when:

• A required Custom Field exists on the task’s List or Folder.
• The field has not been filled in or is left blank after editing.
• You attempt to change a task’s status, and the requirement is not met.

The warning draws attention so you can complete the field before moving on.

List and Board views in ClickUp

In List or Board views, the incomplete warning can appear on task rows or cards. This helps managers and contributors quickly scan for tasks missing key data.

You may see:

• An icon indicating required fields are empty.
• Tooltips explaining which fields are needed.
• Consistent warnings across all tasks that share the same requirements.

How required Custom Fields work in ClickUp

Incomplete warnings are powered by required Custom Fields. These are fields that must be filled out on tasks that inherit them from their location.

Supported Custom Field types in ClickUp

Not every Custom Field type supports the incomplete warning. Common supported types include:

• Dropdown and label-based options.
• Text and number fields.
• People or user fields.
• Date fields.

When these fields are set as required, any task within the same List, Folder, or Space must include values for them to avoid an incomplete warning.

Location-based field requirements in ClickUp

Required fields are defined at a specific location. Typically, this is a List or Folder where Custom Fields are attached. Every task created in that location or moved into it will inherit those requirements.

Key behaviors include:

• All tasks in the location must complete the required fields.
• New tasks immediately show warnings if fields are left blank.
• Moving a task into the location can trigger new incomplete warnings if it now inherits additional required fields.

Who can manage incomplete warnings in ClickUp

Only certain users can configure the settings that control incomplete warnings, because those settings are tied to Custom Fields and location permissions.

Workspace admins in ClickUp

Workspace admins typically have the broadest control. They can:

• Access and edit Custom Fields at most locations.
• Mark fields as required or remove that requirement.
• Standardize incomplete warning behavior across teams.

Owners and members with permissions in ClickUp

Owners or members with edit rights at a specific location can also manage field requirements there. They may be able to:

• Create or attach Custom Fields to a List or Folder.
• Toggle the required option for fields they manage.
• Clean up or adjust requirements as workflows evolve.

Guests usually cannot configure required fields, but they may still see the incomplete warning on tasks they are allowed to view.

How to set up required fields and warnings in ClickUp

To see incomplete warnings, you must first configure at least one required Custom Field in the relevant location.

Step 1: Open your ClickUp location

1. Navigate to the Space, Folder, or List where you want to enforce required fields.
2. Open a List or Board view to manage Custom Fields more easily.

Step 2: Add or select a Custom Field in ClickUp

1. Open the Custom Fields menu from the view toolbar or column header area.
2. Create a new Custom Field or choose an existing one attached to that location.
3. Confirm that the field type supports required status and warnings.

Step 3: Mark the field as required in ClickUp

1. Open the field’s settings or configuration panel.
2. Enable the option that marks the field as required.
3. Save your changes so that tasks in the location now enforce this requirement.

After this, any task with that field left blank will show an incomplete warning, guiding users to add the missing information.

How to resolve an incomplete warning in ClickUp

When you see an incomplete warning on a task, resolving it is a simple process.

Complete missing Custom Fields in ClickUp

1. Open the task with the warning.
2. Locate the required Custom Fields highlighted in the task.
3. Enter valid information in every required field.
4. Confirm that the warning disappears once all requirements are met.

If the warning persists, double-check for other required fields that might be hidden in the Custom Fields section.

Change status or workflow after fixing ClickUp warnings

Once all required fields are complete, you can safely:

• Move the task to a done or completed status.
• Change the task’s status within your workflow.
• Use automation that depends on fully completed tasks.

This ensures downstream reporting and automations always rely on complete task data.

How to disable or adjust incomplete warnings in ClickUp

If your team’s needs change, you may want to remove or adjust incomplete warnings by updating required fields.

Turn off the required setting in ClickUp

1. Return to the List or Folder where the Custom Field is configured.
2. Open the Custom Fields menu and locate the required field.
3. Open the field’s settings and disable the required option.
4. Save changes so future tasks no longer show the incomplete warning for that field.

Modify field locations in ClickUp

Instead of fully removing requirements, you can:

• Detach a field from certain Lists or Folders where it is not needed.
• Attach it only to critical workflows that truly require strict data entry.
• Reorganize your location structure to keep requirements manageable.

This helps balance data quality with flexibility for different teams.

Best practices for using ClickUp incomplete warnings

To get the most value out of incomplete warnings, consider these best practices when working in ClickUp.

• Limit required fields to essential data only, like priority, owner, or due date.
• Use consistent field names and options across similar Lists and Folders.
• Educate your team on what the warning means and how to resolve it.
• Review requirements regularly as processes change.

These practices keep your tasks clean, improve reporting accuracy, and reduce user frustration.

Additional ClickUp resources

For more detail straight from the platform documentation, review the original support article on incomplete warnings here: ClickUp incomplete warning support article.

If you need expert help designing scalable workflows and field strategies that fit your organization, you can explore consulting services at Consultevo.

By carefully configuring required Custom Fields and understanding how the incomplete warning behaves, your team can use ClickUp to enforce better data quality and maintain reliable task management across every project.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

Get Help

“`