How to Use Tasks in ClickUp
Tasks are the foundation of work management in ClickUp, helping you capture what needs to be done, who is responsible, and when it should be completed. This guide walks you step by step through creating and managing tasks so you can organize your work clearly and efficiently.
Understanding Tasks in ClickUp
Every task in a Workspace lives inside a List, which is inside a Folder or directly in a Space. This structure keeps work organized and makes it easy to filter, sort, and report on progress.
A task typically represents a single actionable piece of work. You can then break that work into smaller items using subtasks or nested subtasks so your team can collaborate without losing track of details.
Key components of a ClickUp task
- Task name and description for context
- Assignees and watchers to clarify ownership
- Statuses to show progress
- Start and due dates to track delivery
- Priority, tags, and Custom Fields for quick sorting
- Subtasks and checklists to break work down
- Comments and attachments for collaboration
How to Create a Task in ClickUp
You can create tasks from almost anywhere in your Workspace. The most common method is from a List view.
Create a new ClickUp task from a List
- Open the Space, then Folder, and List where you want your task to live.
- In the List view, find the area above your current tasks.
- Click the + Task or similar button to create a new item.
- Type a clear, action-oriented task name.
- Press Enter to create the task.
Once the task is created, you can click into it to add details, set dates, or adjust settings. You can also create tasks directly from other views, such as Board or Calendar, using their add-task controls.
Use ClickUp task templates
To save time on repeated workflows, you can apply templates when creating or updating a task. Templates help you reuse descriptions, checklists, Custom Fields, and more.
- Open or create a task.
- Use the template menu in the task window.
- Select an existing template to apply standardized structure and content.
Assign and Track Task Ownership in ClickUp
Clear ownership is essential to moving work forward. Each task can have one or more assignees responsible for completing the work, and watchers who stay informed.
Set assignees on a ClickUp task
- Open the task.
- Click the assignee field in the header.
- Select one or more people or a team to assign.
- Confirm to update ownership.
Use watchers when stakeholders need visibility but are not directly responsible. Watchers receive notifications about task updates without being primary owners.
Organize Work with ClickUp Task Statuses
Statuses show where work stands in your process. Each Space can use different workflows, so your statuses match your team’s way of working.
Change task status in ClickUp
- Locate the task in any view.
- Click the status label, such as To Do, In Progress, or Complete.
- Select a new status from the dropdown.
Statuses help you filter and group tasks, build dashboards, and quickly see what is blocked, active, or done.
Set Dates and Priorities for ClickUp Tasks
Dates and priorities help you and your team focus on the right work at the right time.
Add start and due dates
- Open the task.
- Click the date field in the header.
- Set a start date, due date, or both.
- Optionally, make the task recurring if needed.
Dates allow you to plan work on Calendar and Gantt views and support time-based reporting across ClickUp.
Set task priority in ClickUp
- Open the task or use inline editing from a List view.
- Click the priority indicator.
- Choose the appropriate level, such as Urgent, High, Normal, or Low.
Using consistent priorities makes it easier to filter tasks and align your team on what needs attention first.
Break Work Down with ClickUp Subtasks
Subtasks let you divide large tasks into smaller, manageable pieces while keeping them grouped under a single parent item.
Create a subtask in a ClickUp task
- Open the parent task.
- Find the Subtasks section.
- Click + Add subtask.
- Enter the subtask name.
- Assign, add dates, and configure details just like a normal task.
You can also create nested subtasks if your work needs more levels of structure. Each subtask can have its own assignees, dates, and statuses.
Collaborate in ClickUp Task Views
Each task includes a collaboration area so your team can align quickly without jumping between different tools.
Use comments in ClickUp tasks
- Open the task and scroll to the comments section.
- Type your update, question, or note.
- @mention teammates to notify them directly.
- Attach files or add links for more context.
Comments create a central history of decisions, questions, and updates, which improves transparency for everyone working on the task.
Manage Task Dependencies in ClickUp
Dependencies help you define the order in which tasks should be completed. When one task must finish before another begins, dependencies keep the schedule realistic.
Set dependencies between ClickUp tasks
- Open the task that depends on another task.
- Locate the dependency section or button.
- Choose to make the task waiting on or blocking another task.
- Select the related task from the list or search by name.
Once dependencies are set, you can visualize them on Gantt or other timeline-focused views to ensure work flows in the right sequence.
Enhance Your ClickUp Tasks with Custom Fields
Custom Fields let you add structured data such as budgets, links, dropdowns, or numbers to tasks. This gives you more control over reporting and filtering.
- Open a List where tasks live.
- Access the Custom Fields panel.
- Add or enable the fields you need, such as text, number, dropdown, or date.
- Fill in Custom Fields directly in the List or within individual tasks.
With Custom Fields, you can adapt ClickUp tasks to almost any workflow or industry need, from simple to highly specialized processes.
Next Steps and Helpful Resources
Once you are comfortable creating and managing tasks, explore more advanced features like automation, time tracking, and reporting to get even more value from your Workspace.
For the full official reference on tasks, see the Intro to tasks article in the help center. If you want strategic guidance on organizing your Workspace or improving team workflows, you can also visit Consultevo for consulting resources.
By setting up clear task structures, ownership, and workflows in ClickUp, your team can keep every piece of work visible, actionable, and aligned with your goals.
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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