Create and view tasks with To-Do Bar in classic Outlook
Your browser does not support video. Install Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash Player, or Internet Explorer 9.

In classic Outlook, you can combine your written and electronic to-do lists in the To-Do Bar — with enhanced reminders and tracking.

Classic Outlook's To-Do Bar is a narrow pane on the right side of Outlook you can open to keep calendar events, tasks, or contacts always in view. When the To-Do Bar is displayed, you can easily drag items to it to create tasks that can help keep you on track.

Note: The To-Do Bar is available in classic Outlook. In new Outlook, and Microsoft 365, tasks are displayed with My Day and managed with the To Do app. For more information, check out Create tasks with To Do in Outlook

Find out which version of Outlook you're using by checking if there's a File tab on the ribbon. If you have a File tab, you're using classic Outlook. If File doesn't appear, you're using new Outlook. 

Create a task

Creating tasks builds a to-do list in Outlook to help you stay organized.

  1. Select  Tasks button Tasks in the navigation pane and choose  Outlook New task button icon New Task, select New Items > Task, or press Ctrl+Shift+K.

  2. In the Subject box, enter a name for the task. It's best to keep the name short and then add the details in the task body.

  3. If there’s a fixed start or end date, set the Start date or Due date.

  4. Set the task’s priority by using Priority.

  5. If you want a pop-up reminder, check Reminder, and set the date and time.

  6. Select Task > Save & Close.

Create a task from an Outlook item

You can create a task out of any Outlook item, such as an email message, contact, calendar item, or note.

Do one of the following:

  • Drag an e-mail message to the To-Do Bar

  • Drag an item to the Tasks icon in the Navigation Pane.

    Tip: To add the item as an attachment to a new task instead of pasting the text into the task body, right-click the item and drag it to the task list, and then select Copy Here as Task with Attachment.

Creating a task from a message versus flagging the message

When you flag an email message, the message appears in the To-Do List in Tasks and on the Tasks peek. However, if you delete the message, it also disappears from the To-Do List in Tasks and on the Tasks peek. Flagging a message doesn’t create a separate task.

By creating a task from a message as described above, the new separate task is independent of the message. If the original message is deleted, the task is still available, including the copied contents of the message.

 

Create a task in the To-Do Bar

To create a task in the To-Do Bar, do one of the following:

  • In the To-Do Bar, select the Type a new task box, and then enter the task description. Press Enter to finish. The task appears in your To-Do list with today's date.

  • In the To-Do Bar, double-click the Type a new task box to open a new task window. You can enter more details about the task.

Tip: To turn on and show Tasks in the To-Do Bar, on the View tab, in the Layout group, select To-Do Bar and select Tasks. For more information about the To-Do Bar, see Customize the To-Do Bar in classic Outlook.

View your tasks 

View your tasks. Tasks are displayed in three locations in Outlook — in the To-Do Bar, in Tasks, and in the Daily Task List in Calendar. If you subscribe to a SharePoint task list, any task assigned to you from this list also appears in all three locations.

  1. On the navigation bar, select Tasks.

  2. Select a task to view it in the Reading Pane, or double-click it to open it in a new window.

    Another way to see tasks, including flagged to-do items, is the Tasks peek.

    • Point to Tasks on the Navigation Bar.Point to Tasks on the Navigation Bar to view your tasks The Tasks peek pops up. To keep the Tasks peek in view, pin it by selecting  Pin button.

  3. Sort your task list by selecting Tasks > Home and choosing one of many Current View options available.Click Tasks, and choose an option in Current View.

Use the To Do app in classic Outlook

If you have an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription and user license for the Microsoft To Do app, you can use the Microsoft To Do app to manage your tasks inside Outlook for Windows. To Do allows you to quickly access calendar items and tasks alongside the main Outlook functions such as email and calendar, which are now displayed vertically to the left of the folder pane. You can check what subscriptions you are licensed for in your account information. Log in to www.office.com, select your profile picture in the top-right corner, select View account, and then select Subscriptions.  

Open the To Do app

  • On the left margin of the Outlook window, select the  The To Do app logo. To Do icon.

    test

    Screenshot showing the Outlook task list on the right side.

Make the To Do app your preferred tasks management experience

With your Microsoft 365 subscription, you can specify your preferred experience for managing tasks in Outlook for Windows. There are a few different ways to configure this option.

  • On the teaching callout, select Try it:

    Screenshot showing the blue teaching call out box.

  • In Tasks, select Try it on the yellow bar:

    Screenshot showing the Try It pop-up on the bus bar

  • Navigate to File > Options > Tasks, and then select Open tasks in the To Do app. You can switch back to Outlook tasks at any time by unchecking this setting.

    Screenshot showing 'Tasks' highlighted on the left-hand pane and 'Open tasks in the To Do app' circled on the right side.

How it works

When you select the option to open tasks in To Do, the following changes are made:

  • The tasks icon (Tasks button) is unpinned from the navigation bar (on the left margin of the Outlook window) and moved under  Outlook all apps button More apps on the navigation bar. The To Do app icon remains pinned and visible.

  • When you select New ItemsOutlook New task button icon Task, it opens the To Do app instead of the classic Outlook Tasks app.

    Screenshot showing the To Do pop-up dialog box.

When you Open a task from the To Do Bar, the Reminders window, or the Daily task list on the Calendar, it opens the task in the To Do app.

Screenshot of Pop-up task reminder.

test

Additional Information

Even when To Do is configured as the preferred tasks management experience, Outlook Tasks will be used in the following cases:

  • Managing tasks for non-Microsoft 365 accounts: To Do is supported for Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online) enterprise and consumer accounts only.

  • Opening Outlook tasks directly from the More apps menu: When you create or view tasks directly from Outlook tasks module, you will not be redirected to the To Do app.

You must be online and connected to Microsoft 365 to use the To Do app. You will see the following error message if you try to open the To Do app while offline: “There was a problem connecting to this app.”

See also 

Manage tasks in classic Outlook

Customize the To-Do Bar in classic Outlook

Assign and track tasks in classic Outlook

Create tasks with To Do in Outlook

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.