Todoist Keyboard Shortcuts

Mac Command (⌘) as the primary modifier. Covers quick task capture, priority assignment, natural language scheduling, and project navigation.

Windows Ctrl as the primary modifier. Same shortcut structure as Mac with the modifier swapped.

Web on Mac Todoist in the browser on Mac. Command modifier. Many users access Todoist via the web app — it has the same shortcut set as the desktop app with browser conflict awareness.

Web on Windows Todoist in the browser on Windows. Ctrl modifier. Same web app as Mac with the modifier swap.

iPhone Requires an external keyboard. Quick task capture and project navigation. Smaller shortcut set than desktop.

Android Requires a Bluetooth keyboard. Ctrl modifier. Coverage similar to iPhone.

Quick task capture. Opening the task entry field, adding a task, and filing it — fast enough to not break flow. Todoist has a quick-add shortcut on desktop platforms that opens a task entry panel from anywhere, even when Todoist isn't the active window.

Natural language scheduling. While typing a task name in Todoist, you can include scheduling in plain English — "call Lena tomorrow," "review doc every Monday," "submit report in 3 days." Todoist parses these and sets the due date automatically. Keyboard entry is the natural way to use this feature.

Priority assignment. Tasks can be assigned P1 (most urgent) through P4 (no priority) by keyboard — either while entering the task or when editing it later. The priority shortcuts are quick to memorize because they match the visual label Todoist uses.

Project and filter navigation. Switching between inbox, today view, upcoming, and specific projects all have keyboard shortcuts. These are the navigation shortcuts that replace clicking through the sidebar.

Inbox management. Todoist's quick review workflow — moving through inbox tasks, scheduling them, setting priorities, and filing into projects — can be done entirely by keyboard. For anyone doing a regular inbox sweep, this is where keyboard shortcuts pay off most visibly.

The Todoist Free Plan Workflow guide walks through a complete task management system on the free plan — project structure, priority habits, and a daily review workflow, with shortcuts integrated throughout.

For more on how Todoist shortcuts fit into a daily work pattern, see also:

• Todoist Keyboard Shortcuts Aren't Only About Speed: Reduce Friction in Your Workflow
• Todoist Inbox Sweep Checklist: Get the Real Task List Out of Your Head

A printable PDF of Todoist shortcuts is available for each platform. The quick capture and inbox navigation shortcuts are the most useful to have nearby during the first few weeks of building a Todoist shortcut habit.

Notion, Google Docs, Microsoft OneNote, Slack, and Evernote sit near Todoist because task management often connects notes, documents, conversations, and reference material. Notion and OneNote can hold project context and meeting notes, Google Docs supports longer planning documents, Slack carries team updates and follow-up work, and Evernote is a common note-taking companion. These apps are related by workflow and audience, not because every Todoist setup needs all of them.

What is natural language scheduling in Todoist?

When entering a task in Todoist, you can include due date information directly in the task name using plain English. Typing "submit invoice Friday" sets the due date to the next Friday. Typing "team meeting every Tuesday" creates a recurring task. Todoist parses the scheduling language and removes it from the task title. Keyboard entry is the most natural way to use this — it's faster to type "call Alex tomorrow" than to add the task and then open a date picker.

Does Todoist have a quick-add shortcut that works anywhere on the desktop?

Yes. Todoist's desktop apps (Mac and Windows) have a global keyboard shortcut that opens a task entry panel even when Todoist isn't the focused application. The specific shortcut for each platform is in the platform shortcut table.

What is the difference between P1, P2, P3, and P4 in Todoist?

P1 is the highest priority (shown in red) — for tasks that are urgent and important. P2 is high priority (orange). P3 is medium priority (blue). P4 is no priority (grey), the default. Priority levels can be assigned by keyboard while entering or editing a task. The Todoist Free Plan Workflow guide covers an opinionated approach to using priorities effectively.

This section lists official sources and documentation for Todoist. The goal is to provide references that confirm how shortcuts work across platforms and how key features behave (quick add, search, navigation, and task editing).

Official references are most useful when you need to verify platform differences (Windows vs macOS vs Web), check whether a shortcut can be customized, or troubleshoot conflicts where a browser or operating system intercepts a key combination. If a command behaves differently on your machine, documentation can help you determine whether the difference is caused by the platform, the app version, a keyboard layout, or a system-level shortcut taking precedence.