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Getting Started with 2Do for Android

This tutorial walks you through setting up 2Do for Android and covers its main features — from a two-second capture to a full GTD-style workflow with projects, tags, and Smart Lists.

Introduction​

2Do for Android follows the same core workflow as 2Do for iPhone and iPad — lists, projects, checklists, tags, locations, the Focus Filter, Smart Lists, multiple alarms, Nag Me, sync, backups, and widgets. If you already know 2Do on another platform, the ideas will feel familiar. A few platform differences worth flagging up front:

First Launch​

When you open 2Do for Android for the first time, the app may show a short walkthrough so you can see the main areas of the app. On Android 13 or later, 2Do may also ask for notification permission so task alerts can appear.

2Do does not ask for every permission up front. It asks when the permission is actually needed:

  • Notifications — for task alerts, Nag Me, and the ongoing Today notification.
  • Location — when you add a task location, open map-based Nearby features, or enable proximity alerts.
  • Storage / file access — when you export, restore, or choose a backup folder.

You can review permissions later in Android Settings > Apps > 2Do > Permissions. Sync is configured separately inside 2Do > Settings > Sync when you're ready.

2Do Android launch tutorial

Choosing Your Sync Method​

If you also use 2Do on iOS or a Mac, pick the sync method first and configure each device the same way.

  • Dropbox — most fully-featured. Supports every task property and attachments. Recommended for Android.
  • CalDAV — Fastmail, Fruux, Synology, ownCloud, Nextcloud, iCloud CalDAV, and others. iCloud requires an Apple-ID app-specific password.
  • Toodledo — for users in the Toodledo ecosystem.
  • No Sync — fine on a single device. Open Settings > Sync in 2Do to pick a method. We'll go deeper in Sync.
warning

Use the same sync method on every device. Mixing methods leads to disconnected data.

note

Direct Apple Reminders sync is not available on Android — Reminders is an Apple-only service. Android can connect to iCloud through CalDAV. If you sync between Android and an iPhone, Dropbox is the simplest option.

The Main Screen​

Like the iOS app, 2Do for Android revolves around three areas:

  • Lists — the navigation drawer (slide in from the left edge, or tap the hamburger icon).
  • Tasks — the main screen, showing tasks in the selected list.
  • Editor — opens when you tap a task.

On phones and narrow split-screen windows, these areas overlap and you move between them with the drawer, side tab strip, and horizontal swipes. On tablets and wider windows, 2Do can keep more panels visible at once, including a side panel for Tags / Nearby and a right panel for editing or calendar-style views.

2Do Android main screen

For more, see The 2Do Screen.

Lists and List Groups​

Open the navigation drawer to see your Focus Lists at the top — All, Today, Starred, Scheduled, Inbox — and your real lists and groups below.

Creating a List​

  • Open the drawer → tap the [+] button at the bottom.
  • Choose New List, New Project, New Checklist, New List Group, or New Smart List. For more — including the indicators that appear next to a list name — see Lists and List Groups.

Capturing Tasks​

Floating Add Button (FAB)​

The blue floating button at the bottom-right of the Tasks screen is your primary capture surface:

  • Tap — opens the editor for a new task.
  • Long-press — opens Quick Add for a focused capture into your Inbox.

Voice Input​

Quick Add uses the Android keyboard, so voice dictation is available when your keyboard provides a microphone button. This is useful while walking, commuting, or when your hands are full.

Share Sheet Capture​

Share text, URLs, or images from any app to 2Do and a new task is created with that content. See Quick Add for the other Android capture surfaces.

Android Integrations​

Long-press the 2Do app icon for shortcuts such as New Task, Today, Starred, and Search. You can also add the 2Do Quick Add tile to Android's Quick Settings panel for fast capture from the notification shade.

Android can also send text, URLs, images, selected text, create-note requests, and 2Do backup files into the app. See Android Integrations for the full guide.

Tasks, Projects, and Checklists​

  • Task — simple to-do; can carry sub-tasks.
  • Project — parent for related tasks with their own dates and properties.
  • Checklist — parent for items that only matter together. For more, see Projects and Checklists.

The Task Editor​

Tap a task to open the editor. Fields include title, notes, start date, due date, due time, duration, priority, tags, location with arrive/leave alerts, action, multiple alerts, recurrence, and attachments. Learn more in The Task Editor.

Tags​

Open the Tags view from the side tab strip (or the more-actions menu) to see all your tags with counts. On tablet layouts, Tags can appear in the side panel so the task list can stay visible. Tap a tag to filter the task list.

Tag Groups​

Group related tags so a sprawling tag list stays calm. Common groupings: Contexts (@home, @work, @phone), People, Energy, Status (@blocked, @on-hold). See Tag Groups.

Pausing a Tag to Hide Its Tasks​

Any tag in 2Do can be paused. When a tag is paused, every task carrying that tag is hidden from view — All, Today, list views, search. To pause a tag, swipe left on it in the Tags view and tap Pause. Resume the same way. Toggle the paused indicator on the sort bar to peek at paused tasks without resuming. See Tags. For more, see Tags.

Nearby and Locations​

Attach a location to a task and 2Do can:

  • Show it on the Nearby tab.
  • Fire an alarm when you arrive or leave.
  • Open the address in Google Maps. For more, see Nearby and Locations.

Focus Filter and Smart Lists​

  • Focus Filter — toggle to narrow the task list to a saved rule. See Focus Filter.
  • Smart Lists — saved searches that behave like real lists. See Smart Lists.

Tap the search icon in the toolbar (or pull down on the task list). Search runs across titles, notes, tags, dates, and actions. Choose Full Text when you want precise operators such as new job -find, or switch to Soundex when you'd rather have typo-tolerant matching — plumver, for example, will still find plumber. See Search, or use Smart Lists when you want to save a rule as a reusable list.

Notifications and Alarms​

A task can carry multiple alerts:

  • Choose a preset such as On time, or a number of minutes, hours, or days before the due date.
  • Use a custom alert for a fixed date and time, or make it relative to the task's due date.
  • Turn Play Sound on or off for that alert.
  • Use Nag Me in Settings > Notifications when you want alerts to keep reminding you until viewed, snoozed, or completed. Learn more in Notifications and Alarms.

Widgets​

2Do offers home-screen widgets for:

  • Task List — pin a list, Focus List, or Smart List.
  • Transparent Task List — the same list widget with a transparent style.
  • Undone Counter — a small counter for the list or preset you choose. Long-press the home screen → Widgets → 2Do. For more, see Widgets.

Backups​

2Do can create local backups automatically and lets you save backups in app storage or a folder you choose through Android's folder picker. For more, see Backups and Settings > Advanced > Manage Backups.

Password Protection​

Protect selected lists with a password, control when 2Do asks for it again, and decide whether protected content can appear in widgets or notifications. For more, see Password Protection.

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