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 name and details in plain language, and DropTask will pick them out and send them to your task manager.

Where does DropTask run?

DropTask runs on iOS/iPadOS/watchOS 26 and later. DropTask for macOS requires macOS 26 Tahoe or later and runs on both Intel and Apple silicon machines.

Do I need an account?

No. Todoist needs its API token; Reminders and OmniFocus need nothing. Your subscription is on your Apple Account.

Is DropTask made by Apple, Doist, or The Omni Group?

No. DropTask is an independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. Apple, Apple Watch, iPhone, Mac, and Reminders are trademarks of Apple Inc.; Todoist is a trademark of Doist; OmniFocus is a trademark of The Omni Group.

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 widgets does DropTask have?

Two, on the iPhone and iPad Home Screen and on the Mac’s desktop:

  • Today’s Reminders shows how many Apple Reminders are left today, as a ring that fills as you complete them. It’s on the Lock Screen too, and as a complication on Apple Watch.
  • Quick Add opens DropTask to a new entry. Touch and hold it, choose Edit Widget, and set a list and a due date: the widget shows what it’s set to, and the new entry starts with them filled in. Place several, each set differently.

Both can be set to Light or Dark in Edit Widget. Quick Add takes on the color of where your tasks go: blue for Reminders, red for Todoist, purple for OmniFocus. (Today’s Reminders is always blue, as it only counts Apple Reminders.)

Quick Add is in Control Center too, with the same options, and can be set as the Action Button.

If a task you haven’t sent is still in DropTask when you use Quick Add, DropTask asks first: send it, delete it, or keep editing it.

How do I save on iPhone and iPad?

Tap the + button, or press Command+Return on a keyboard. Return takes the highlighted suggestion and never saves, so a half-typed task doesn’t go out by accident.

What does the watchOS complication do?

It shows you how many tasks in Apple Reminders are left to do today. Apple has never shipped this, so I did it myself.

If you want this for Todoist or OmniFocus, check out their complications.

My complication is behind. Why?

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

Subscription

How much does DropTask cost?

$3.99 a year, and the first 10 tasks are free. One subscription covers DropTask on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, on the same Apple Account, and you can share it with up to five family members through Family Sharing.

How do I see how many free tasks I have left?

The green button beside Settings (in the footer of the panel on a Mac) counts them down: “7 tasks left.” Your Mac and iPhone share one count through iCloud Keychain, and deleting DropTask doesn’t reset it.

How do I cancel?

In DropTask, open Settings › Subscription › Manage Subscription. On iPhone or iPad, you can also go to the Settings app › your name › Subscriptions; on a Mac, the App Store › your name › Account Settings › Subscriptions. Cancel at least a day before it renews. DropTask keeps working until the end of the year you’ve paid for.

What happens after my free tasks, or when my subscription ends?

DropTask shows its subscribe screen instead of the task field. The Today’s Reminders widget and the watch complications show a lock, and Quick Add opens the subscribe screen. Everything you’ve already added stays in Reminders, Todoist, or OmniFocus; DropTask never kept a copy.

I’ve subscribed, but DropTask is asking me to subscribe again.

Make sure you’re signed in to the App Store with the Apple Account you subscribed with, then tap or click Restore Purchases.

Why does my watch say “Subscribe on iPhone”?

The watch learns about your subscription from DropTask on your iPhone. Subscribe there, or if you already have, open DropTask on the iPhone once.

Permissions & Privacy

Why does DropTask ask for access to Reminders?

To read your lists, add reminders, and count what’s due today for the widgets and the watch. With Todoist or OmniFocus as the destination, the Mac app doesn’t ask; the iPhone app still does, for its widgets and watchOS complications.

Why does DropTask ask for access to Contacts?

On the Mac, to read the home and work addresses on your own contact card, for ~home and ~work. On iPhone and iPad, you choose your card in Settings instead, and DropTask doesn’t ask for access. You can also type the addresses into Settings.

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.

What happens to a task I haven’t sent?

It stays put. Close the window, switch apps, or quit DropTask, and it’s there when you come back.

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 plain text.

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.

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.

Miscellaneous

Are there any Easter eggs in the app?

Duh.