todoist shows task count in project even when done reddit

2 min read 25-01-2025

todoist shows task count in project even when done reddit

Todoist, a popular task management app, sometimes presents a confusing issue: the project task count continues to display even after all tasks within that project are marked as complete. This seemingly minor detail can be frustrating, leading to users questioning the accuracy of their project overview and taking to Reddit for solutions. Let's delve into this common problem and explore ways to address it.

Understanding the Problem: Why Todoist Shows Completed Tasks

The core issue stems from how Todoist handles completed tasks within a project. While you've marked all tasks as complete, Todoist doesn't automatically remove the count from the project summary. This is a design choice, and not necessarily a bug. Some users find this helpful to track project history, seeing how many tasks were involved even after completion. Others, however, find it visually cluttered and less informative.

Reddit User Experiences and Common Complaints

Reddit threads frequently highlight this issue. Users express concerns about:

Misleading Project Summaries: The inaccurate task count creates a false impression of unfinished work.
Visual Clutter: Seeing a non-zero count for completed projects is distracting and reduces the app's clean interface.
Difficulty Tracking Active Projects: Identifying truly active projects becomes more challenging when completed projects retain their task counts.

Many Reddit users request a feature to toggle the display of completed tasks in project counts, offering a more customizable experience.

Solutions and Workarounds

Fortunately, while Todoist doesn't directly offer a setting to remove the completed task count, several workarounds can mitigate the issue:

1. Archiving Completed Projects:

This is the most common and effective solution. Once a project is entirely finished, archiving it removes it from your main task list, providing a cleaner view. The completed tasks remain accessible if needed, but they're not visually cluttering your active projects. To archive a project:

Open the Project: Navigate to the project in your Todoist list.
Access Project Settings: Look for the three dots (or similar icon) within the project view to access its settings.
Archive Project: Select the option to archive the project.

2. Using Filters and Labels:

Utilize Todoist's powerful filtering capabilities to create custom views. You can create a filter that only shows active projects, effectively hiding those with all tasks completed. Similarly, strategic use of labels can help categorize and manage projects separately.

3. Creating Separate "Completed Projects" Section (Manual Method):

While not a built-in feature, you can manually create a separate project (or section within a larger project) to house completed projects. This keeps track of completed tasks while keeping them segregated from your active work.

4. Requesting a Feature Improvement:

Consider reaching out to Todoist directly through their support channels or feature request forums. The more users voice this concern, the higher the chance Todoist will consider implementing a toggle option for displaying completed task counts in project summaries in future updates.

Conclusion: Managing Expectations and Optimizing Your Workflow

The "Todoist shows task count in project even when done" issue highlights a usability concern discussed extensively on platforms like Reddit. While a direct solution within Todoist's settings is currently unavailable, the provided workarounds allow for effective project management. By archiving completed projects or employing advanced filtering, you can maintain a clean and accurate overview of your active tasks within Todoist. Remember that user feedback is valuable; consider letting Todoist know about your preference for a more customizable display of completed project counts.