Master Done Statuses in ClickUp
Done statuses in ClickUp help your team clearly mark tasks as finished, keep reporting accurate, and maintain clean, reliable workflows across every Space and List.
This how-to guide explains what Done statuses are, how they work in different workflows, and how to manage them so your team can confidently move work to completion.
What is a Done status in ClickUp?
A Done status is any task status used to show that work is complete and no more action is required. In ClickUp, these statuses are part of your overall workflow and determine how tasks are counted in reporting and views.
Done statuses are different from other statuses because they:
- Indicate that a task has reached its end state.
- Remove tasks from certain views or filters, depending on your settings.
- Feed data to reporting tools to show completed work.
Every workflow in ClickUp must include at least one Done status so tasks can move through their full lifecycle.
Types of Done statuses in ClickUp
There are several ways a Done status can appear in a ClickUp Workspace, depending on the workflow type and settings you use.
Simple workflows with Done statuses in ClickUp
Simple workflows support teams that do not need many steps between start and finish. A Simple workflow includes three default status groups:
- Open: Work has not been started.
- In Progress: Work is underway.
- Done: Work is complete.
In a Simple workflow, the Done group contains one or more statuses that clearly mark completion, such as Done or Completed. You can rename or add statuses inside the group, but the group itself must remain so tasks can be completed.
Custom workflows with Done statuses in ClickUp
Custom workflows give you more granular control over each step in your process. You can create multiple status groups such as:
- Open
- In Progress
- Review
- Done
Within the Done group, you might have several different statuses, for example:
- Completed
- Approved
- Delivered
- Published
All of these can function as Done statuses, meaning tasks in these statuses are treated as finished in reporting and views.
How Done statuses behave in ClickUp
Done statuses affect how tasks display and how data is calculated throughout your Workspace.
Reporting and dashboards in ClickUp
When a task moves to a Done status, most reporting tools treat it as completed. This can include:
- Task completion charts and graphs.
- Burnup and burndown views.
- Velocity, throughput, or progress widgets in Dashboards.
Only tasks in Done statuses are considered finished, so configuring these statuses correctly is essential to accurate reporting.
Views and filters in ClickUp
Different views can show or hide tasks in Done statuses. For example:
- Some views hide Done tasks by default after a certain time period to keep boards clean.
- You can filter to show only active work by excluding Done statuses.
- You can create custom filters to focus on recently completed work.
Knowing which statuses are marked Done helps you design views that surface the right tasks for each team.
Time tracking and activity
Moving a task to a Done status often signals the end of active time tracking and work logs. Team members can still review history, but the task is considered closed for day-to-day work.
Set up Done statuses in ClickUp
You can create and manage Done statuses at the Space, Folder, or List level. The exact options depend on your current workflow type.
Change a workflow to add Done statuses in ClickUp
- Open the Space, Folder, or List where you want to adjust statuses.
- Click the settings menu for that location.
- Select the option to manage or edit Statuses.
- Choose between a Simple or Custom workflow if prompted.
- Ensure there is at least one status in a Done group so tasks can be marked complete.
You can rename the Done group or the individual statuses, but there must always be one or more statuses assigned to the Done group.
Create or edit a Done status in ClickUp
- From the status settings panel, find the Done group.
- Click Add Status within that group.
- Enter a clear, descriptive status name such as Completed, Shipped, or Archived.
- Assign a color that stands out as finished, typically green or another distinct color.
- Save your changes.
To edit an existing Done status, select it from the list, change its name or color, and save. All tasks currently in that status will automatically reflect the new label.
Best practices for Done statuses in ClickUp
Well-designed Done statuses reduce confusion and help teams interpret data correctly.
Use clear, unambiguous names
Names should clearly indicate that no more work is required, for example:
- Done
- Completed
- Approved
- Released
Avoid names that might suggest more steps are ahead, such as Ready or In QA, unless those belong to non-Done status groups.
Limit the number of Done statuses
Too many completion options make reporting harder to read. Keep the list of Done statuses focused on distinct, meaningful end states, like “Done” versus “Canceled,” rather than many similar variants.
Align Done statuses across your ClickUp Workspace
Consistency helps teams understand what completion means in every Space. Aim to:
- Use similar Done labels for similar processes.
- Document what each Done status means.
- Train your team to move tasks to the correct Done status.
This alignment keeps Workspace-wide reports and dashboards easier to interpret.
How Done statuses affect dependencies in ClickUp
When tasks depend on one another, Done statuses play a role in how chains of work move forward.
- Tasks that are prerequisites are often considered complete only when they reach a Done status.
- Dependent tasks may be blocked until predecessors are in a Done status.
- Changing a Done task back to an active status can reactivate dependencies.
Always confirm that your team understands which statuses truly mean work is finished before they rely on them in dependency chains.
Troubleshooting Done statuses in ClickUp
If tasks are not showing up as complete, or reports do not match expectations, review your Done configuration.
Tasks not counted as complete
If a task looks finished but is not counted as complete:
- Open the task and check its current status.
- Confirm that the status belongs to a Done group, not an In Progress or custom group.
- Update the workflow configuration if the status is incorrectly grouped.
Too many tasks in Done views
If Done views feel cluttered:
- Check whether your list includes multiple Done statuses that could be consolidated.
- Adjust view filters to hide older Done tasks.
- Consider archiving Lists or Folders when all tasks are in Done statuses.
Learn more about Done statuses in ClickUp
For the complete, official documentation on Done statuses, see the original support article on the ClickUp Help Center: Use Done statuses.
If you want expert help optimizing your workflows, processes, and setup, you can learn more from Consultevo, a consultancy focused on digital productivity and systems design.
By designing clear, consistent Done statuses in ClickUp and applying them across your Workspace, your team will enjoy cleaner boards, better reporting, and a reliable picture of what is truly complete.
Need Help With ClickUp?
If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.
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