ClickUp custom task types guide

Custom task types in ClickUp let you rename and tailor the default Task, Milestone, and Reminder types so your workspace reflects how your team actually works. This guide explains how to enable, configure, and use these types step by step.

By customizing types, you get clearer reporting, more accurate filtering, and an interface that matches the language your team already uses.

What are custom task types in ClickUp?

Custom task types are workspace-level settings that let you:

• Rename the standard Task, Milestone, and Reminder types.
• Add new types to represent specific kinds of work.
• Control which types are available in each Space.
• Use types as filters, columns, and grouping options across views and reporting tools.

They do not change the underlying behavior of tasks, but they give you cleaner organization and more relevant labels.

Requirements and availability in ClickUp

Before you start configuring custom task types, review availability and permissions:

• Plan availability: Custom task types are available on all paid ClickUp plans. Some advanced reporting uses may depend on your specific plan.
• Access level: Only Workspace owners and admins can manage workspace-level custom task type settings.
• Space settings: Space admins can choose which types are enabled in their Space, but they cannot create or delete types defined at the workspace level.

Members and guests can use the types that have been made available to them when creating or editing tasks.

How to enable custom task types in ClickUp

Custom task types are managed at the workspace level. Follow these steps to turn them on and start configuring them.

Step 1: Open ClickUp workspace settings

1. Sign in to your workspace.
2. Click your profile avatar or workspace menu in the lower-left corner.
3. Select Settings to open workspace-level configuration.

Only owners or admins will see the full administration options needed for this setup.

Step 2: Find the task types settings

1. In the settings navigation, locate the section related to tasks or task behaviors.
2. Open the Task types or Custom task types panel.

This panel lists all existing types, including the default ones provided by ClickUp.

Step 3: Turn on custom task types

1. Toggle the option that enables custom task types for the entire workspace.
2. Confirm any prompts notifying you that users will see additional type options when creating tasks.

After enabling, you can create new types, rename existing ones, and configure their availability.

Managing custom task types in ClickUp

Once enabled, you can add, rename, reorder, and remove types to match your processes.

Add a new task type in ClickUp

1. In the Custom task types area, click Add new type or a similar button.
2. Enter a clear, descriptive name like Bug, Feature, Client Request, or Content Piece.
3. Optionally add a short description if the interface provides a description field.
4. Save the new type.

The new type will be available for Spaces where it is enabled and can be selected when creating or editing tasks.

Rename existing task types

You can rename default and custom types to align with your team terminology:

1. From the list of types, locate the type you want to rename (for example, Task or Milestone).
2. Click the edit or pencil icon next to the type.
3. Enter the new display name.
4. Save your changes.

The new name appears wherever that type is used, including task creation forms and board or list views.

Reorder task types for easier use

To keep frequently used types easy to access:

1. In the types list, drag and drop each type into your preferred order, if supported by your version of ClickUp.
2. Place the most common types at the top.

The order influences how types appear in dropdowns when users choose a type during task creation.

Disable or delete a task type

If a type is no longer needed:

1. Locate the type in the workspace task types list.
2. Click the menu icon next to it.
3. Choose Disable or Delete, depending on the available options.

Disabling a type usually hides it from new tasks but preserves existing tasks that use it. Deleting a type may require you to map those tasks to a different type, depending on the configuration options in your workspace.

Control task types per Space in ClickUp

Each Space can have its own selection of allowed types, based on settings defined at the workspace level.

Enable task types for a Space

1. Open the Space settings from the left sidebar.
2. Go to the Task types or ClickApps section for that Space, depending on how your navigation is labeled.
3. From the list of available types, enable the ones you want to allow in this Space.
4. Save your changes.

Team members working in that Space will now see only the enabled types when creating tasks, which keeps data consistent and relevant.

Set a default task type for a Space

To speed up task creation:

1. Within the Space task type settings, choose one type as the default.
2. Save the configuration.

Newly created tasks in that Space will automatically use the default type, though users can still change it if needed.

How to use task types in everyday ClickUp workflows

After configuration, task types can be applied across many views and tools.

Assign or change a type on a task

1. Open any task within a Space that has custom types enabled.
2. Find the field that displays the current type, often near the task name or status.
3. Click the type and select a different one from the dropdown list.

This helps your team classify work properly, so filtering and reporting stay accurate.

Filter and group tasks by type

Views can take advantage of types for better visibility:

• List, Board, or Calendar views: Use filters to show only specific types, such as Bugs or Milestones.
• Group by type: If your view allows grouping, organize tasks by their type to see distribution at a glance.
• Columns: Add the type field as a column in table-like views to scan and sort by type.

This makes it easy to answer questions like how many feature requests are open, or how many milestones are due this quarter.

Use task types in reporting and dashboards

Reporting tools can leverage types for more structured insights:

• Create charts that show counts of each type.
• Build dashboards focused on a single type, like customer issues.
• Combine types with other fields such as priority or custom fields for deeper analysis.

These patterns help you understand workload balance and identify bottlenecks across your workspace.

Best practices for custom task types in ClickUp

To keep your workspace scalable and easy to understand, use these approaches:

• Keep names simple: Choose concise, descriptive names your entire team understands.
• Avoid too many types: Start with a few core categories and expand only when necessary.
• Document guidelines: Share a quick reference in your internal docs so everyone knows when to use each type.
• Review regularly: Periodically audit types and retire ones that are no longer needed.

A structured set of types will make filters, views, and reports far more effective for your organization.

Additional resources for ClickUp optimization

To go deeper into the official details of custom task types, review the original help article from the platform: ClickUp custom task types documentation.

If you want expert help optimizing your workspace structure, automations, and documentation, you can also explore consulting support from Consultevo.

Configured thoughtfully, custom task types will keep your ClickUp workspace organized, measurable, and aligned with the real way your teams work.