The Basics

What does DropTask do?

DropTask lets you quickly create new tasks and send them off to Apple Reminders, Todoist, or OmniFocus.

Write your task’s name and details in plain language, and DropTask will flag the details and send them all to your task manager.

Where does DropTask run?

iOS, iPadOS and watchOS 26 or later; macOS 26 or later, Intel or Apple silicon.

Do I need an account?

No. Todoist needs its API token; Reminders and OmniFocus need nothing.

Permissions & Privacy

Why does DropTask ask for access to Reminders?

With Todoist or OmniFocus as the destination, the Mac app doesn’t ask for this permission; the iPhone app still does, for its widgets and watchOS complications.

Why does DropTask ask for access to Contacts?

To read the home and work addresses on your own contact card, for ~home and ~work. You can type them into Settings instead.

Does DropTask track my location?

No. It never asks for location access.

Task Entry

What’s the difference between the Title box and the Info box?

The Title is the task’s name, exactly as typed. Only the Info box is interpreted.

How do I add the details?

In plain language in the Info box (Vacation 2 PM), with the colored chips, or with symbols. Mix them as you like.

  • ^ due date: ^tomorrow, ^friday 5pm, ^June 2
  • # list: #Vacation
  • ! priority: !1 high, !2 medium, !3 low; or !!!, !!, ! as in Reminders
  • * repeat: *weekly, *every 2nd tuesday
  • ~ place: ~home, ~work, ~Apple Store
  • @ tag (Todoist or OmniFocus): @errands, @Waiting For

What are the suggestions under the Info box?

DropTask’s predictions for what you want to enter. Tap or click one, or press Return or Tab to take the highlighted one.

Which list does a task go to if I don’t pick one?

Your default list, as set in Settings.

How do I write dates and times?

However you’d say them:

  • A day: tomorrow, friday, next week, June 2, 9/15 (15/9 where the day comes first). A date already past this year means next year.
  • A day of the month: the 16th, 16th at 10:45. Type a plain 16 and DropTask offers october 16, november 16 and so on to pick from.
  • A time: 5pm, at 5, 7:30, noon, half past 5, quarter to 6. Without AM or PM, 7 through 11 is morning and 12 through 6 afternoon or evening. 0530, 17:30, 17h30 and 1730 are read as written.
  • From now: in 2 hours, in 3 days, in an hour and a half, 2 weeks from now.
  • Further out: friday week, friday next week, the 16th of next month, end of year, next year.
  • eod is your Evening time, tonight your Night time.

What are the default times?

“Morning” is 9 AM, “afternoon” is 3 PM, “evening” is 6 PM, and “night” is 9 PM. You can change them in Settings.

What about repeating tasks?

every monday, every other week, every 15th, every 2nd tuesday, every month on the last friday, quarterly, weekdays, and more all work.

Can I tag a task?

With Todoist (labels) or OmniFocus (tags): type @ and the name, or use the @ button. DropTask only uses labels or tags you already have; it never makes one. With Apple Reminders, @ is just text: Apple doesn’t let other apps set tags.

Can I add notes?

Yes, in the Notes line under the title. They go to the Reminder’s notes, Todoist’s description field, or OmniFocus’s note. If you want to save a URL with your task, this is the place to put it.

Places

How do location reminders work?

Type ~ and a place. ~home and ~work use your addresses. You’re alerted on arriving; for leaving, say so (leaving home), and the chip reads Arriving or Leaving. A place that begins with a number goes in quotes (~"123 Main St"). With Todoist, it becomes a Todoist location reminder; with OmniFocus, places are off (see OmniFocus).

How does it find locations?

The place name and your home or work address go to Apple’s Maps service for coordinates, under Apple’s privacy policy. Nothing goes anywhere else, and nothing is kept.

Apple Reminders

Why can’t I flag a task for Apple Reminders?

Apple doesn’t let other apps do this.

Todoist

How do I connect Todoist?

Set Todoist as the destination in Settings, then paste the API token from Todoist’s Settings › Integrations › Developer. It’s kept in your Keychain; with iCloud Keychain, your other devices find it there. Places need a paid Todoist plan.

OmniFocus

Can DropTask save to OmniFocus?

Yes, with OmniFocus on the same Mac or iPhone: set it as the destination in Settings. Name, notes, project, due date, repeat and tags go across; the highest priority becomes a flag. A project DropTask doesn’t know is sent as typed. OmniFocus keeps locations on tags, so @Home with a location in OmniFocus gives the task that alert; ~home stays words.

Why does my iPhone switch to OmniFocus when I add a task?

On the iPhone, one app can only hand something to another by opening it. It’s silly. OmniFocus sends you straight back. For the same reason the Shortcuts action can’t save to OmniFocus.

How do I get my OmniFocus projects and tags into DropTask?

OmniFocus has to allow DropTask’s script first. On the Mac:

  1. In OmniFocus, choose Automation › Configure…
  2. Open Security and turn on “Accept scripts from external applications”.
  3. In DropTask’s Settings, click “Refresh Projects and Tags”.
  4. When OmniFocus shows the script, approve it. Check “Automatically run this script when sent by DropTask” to skip this next time.

On the iPhone, tap Refresh Projects and Tags and approve the script when OmniFocus shows it. After that, the Mac checks each time you open DropTask while OmniFocus is running; the iPhone checks each time you send a task.

OmniFocus didn’t answer. What now?

Turn on “Accept scripts from external applications” (above), then tap Refresh Projects and Tags again. If OmniFocus is showing the script, approve it.

macOS Menu Bar App

How do I open and save?

Open with Control+Option+R or the menu bar icon; save with Command+Return or the + button. Both shortcuts can be changed in Settings. The window closes after a save unless you turn that off.

Can DropTask start when I log in?

Yes, in Settings.

iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch

What do the Apple Watch app and the widgets show?

DropTask’s widgets and watchOS complications show how many Apple Reminders are left today. Open the watch app once and allow Reminders.

Todoist and OmniFocus have widgets and complications of their own, but Apple’s options for Reminders are not great.

My watch complication is behind. Why?

Apple limits how often a complication can refresh. Open DropTask on the watch and it catches up.

Big Questions

Was AI used in the creation of DropTask?

Yes, I used agentic coding to build this app. This is a big, complicated topic, but it’s not going away, and one reason I worked on this project, besides wanting it myself, was to learn what these tools can really do.

I strongly believe our tools should be shaped by human hands, and I’ve had help from a real-life iOS designer and developer to make DropTask a reality.

Are there any Easter eggs in the app?

Duh.