Search
Search task titles, notes, tags, actions, and locations, then narrow the results by dates or other details. Save useful searches as Smart Lists.
Reaching Search
- Tap the search icon in the top toolbar.
- Pulling down on the task list starts a sync.
Type to filter by:
- Title
- Notes
- Tags
- Action target (phone, email, URL)
- Location
Use the scope control below the field to choose the current list or all lists. A short message confirms the choice. 2Do remembers the scope you select.
Search Controls
The controls below the search field let you:
- Change the scope between the current list and all lists.
- Turn Soundex matching on or off.
- Open Search Presets to choose built-in task filters.
- Set a fixed or dynamic date range, or search for tasks without a due date.
- Save the current search as a Smart List, or update the Smart List you are viewing.
To include completed tasks, use a filter such as completed: 7d or type: donetoday. See Smart Filters.
Full Text and Soundex
Choose a matching style for the search:
- Full Text Search finds the text you enter, with support for phrases, exclusions,
OR, and wildcards. - Soundex also looks for similar-sounding words, which can help when you are unsure of a spelling.
Tap the sounds-like control below the field to turn Soundex on or off. Turn it off to match only the text you entered. Your choice is remembered for later searches and saved with each Smart List.
Full Text Examples
Imagine you have these tasks:
- Get a haircut one day
- Buy a new car some day
- Find a new job
- Call: Mum, tell about my new job
- Call: Tim
| Search | Finds | Why |
|---|---|---|
new job | Find a new job, Call: Mum, tell about my new job | Both words are required. |
new job -find | Call: Mum, tell about my new job | The word find is excluded. |
a day | Get a haircut one day, Buy a new car some day | Both words appear in the matching tasks. |
Call OR new | Buy a new car some day, Find a new job, Call: Mum, tell about my new job, Call: Tim | Capital OR matches either word. |
new* | Words like new, newer, and newest | The * wildcard matches anything starting with those letters. |
* | Any task in the search scope | Combine it with other filters or use it as a broad search. |
"new job" | The phrase new job | Quotation marks keep the words together and in order. |
You can combine text with structured filters. For example, plumber type: starred tags: builders.
Soundex Examples
| You type | 2Do can still find |
|---|---|
plumver | plumber |
Steven | Stephen |
alexnder | Alexander |
For the complete syntax, including type:, tags:, locations:, groups:, created:, and modified:, see Smart Lists, Smart Filters, and Search.
Search Presets
Open Search Presets below the search field to choose conditions such as due today or high priority. Turn Match ALL filters on to require all the selected conditions, or off to accept any of them. Tap Done to apply the choices. The preview shows the query that will be applied.
Tap ! beside a preset to exclude it. If a typed expression cannot be edited by these controls, change it in the search field instead.
Presets are built-in filters. To keep your own combination, save it as a Smart List.
Search Results
Results can include projects, checklists, and sub-tasks. Searching can reveal paused matches without changing their tags. To look through completed work, use a completion preset or a query such as completed: 7d.
Search results do not show saved section headings. To see a task in its own list and section, touch and hold it and choose Open in List. See Task Sections.
Search and Smart Lists
Search filters tasks for your current view. Saving the search as a Smart List adds it to the lists panel, where its results stay up to date.
For a quick way to open a task or list by name, use Quick Open.