Headings help you get complex projects under control by breaking them down into smaller parts.

Sometimes a project can get quite complicated, with dozens of to-dos in one long list. With Headings, you can break that list up into smaller parts: categories, milestones, or whatever you need.

In this article:
  1. Create a new heading
  2. Group selected to-dos under a new heading
  3. Target a heading while moving to-dos
  4. Move a heading
  5. Duplicate a heading
  6. Convert a heading to a project
  7. Archive a heading

Create a new heading

Mac
  1. On your Mac, open Things.
  2. Enter one of your Projects.
  3. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click File → New Heading.

You can also hit ⌘ Cmd ⇧ Shift N to create a new heading. Learn more keyboard shortcuts here.

iPad & iPhone
  1. On your iPad or iPhone, open Things.
  2. Tap one of your Projects.
  3. At the top of your screen, tap → New Heading.

You can also insert a new heading at an arbitrary place in the list by dragging the along the left edge of your screen; or, if you’re using a hardware keyboard with your iPad, by using a keyboard shortcut.

Headings are only available in projects. This feature is not available in areas or any other types of lists.

Group selected to-dos under a new heading

You can also create a heading that automatically includes a selection of to-dos:

Mac
  1. On your Mac, open Things.
  2. In the sidebar, click one of your Projects.
  3. Select a group of to-dos that aren’t under a heading yet.
  4. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click File.
  5. On your keyboard, hold down ⌥ Opt to reveal extra options in the menu.
  6. Click New Heading with Selection.

The to-dos you’ve selected will move under the new heading. You can also do this via a keyboard shortcut.

iPad

This feature requires the use of a hardware keyboard with your iPad.

  1. On your iPad, open Things.
  2. In the sidebar, tap one of your Projects.
  3. Select a group of to-dos that aren’t under a heading yet.
  4. Hit ⌘ Cmd ⌥ Opt ⇧ Shift N

The to-dos you’ve selected will move under the new heading.

iPhone

This feature is only available on Mac and iPad.

Target a heading while moving to-dos

When moving to-dos into your project from other lists (or from Quick Entry), you can file them straight under one of your headings:

Mac
  1. On your Mac, open Things.
  2. Select the to-dos you want to move.
  3. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Items → Move.
  4. Start typing the name of a heading and select its project from the search results.

You can also hit ⌘ Cmd ⇧ Shift M to bring up the popover. Learn more about the Move dialog here.

iPad & iPhone
  1. On your iPad or iPhone, open Things.
  2. Swipe left on a to-do to select it.
  3. Tap Move.
  4. Pull down to reveal Search.
  5. Start typing the name of a heading and tap its project from the search results.

It’s worth noting that this feature works in Quick Entry as well, so you can send new to-dos to headings as soon as you create them. If you’re using a hardware keyboard with your iPad, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to move to-dos to a specific heading.

If you have the same headings in multiple projects, or your heading isn’t found when typing it into Move, you can try a combination of the project name and heading. For example, if your project is called Travel to Faroe Islands and your heading is Preparation, you could type “far prep” to help Things find it.

Move a heading

When you move a heading, any to-dos under it will be moved as well. There are several ways to move a heading:

Mac
  • Drag it to another place in the list.
  • Drag it to a project in another window.
  • Next to the heading, click → Move.
iPad & iPhone
  • Tap and hold the heading and drag it to another place in the list.
  • Next to the heading, tap → Move to move it to another project.

On an iPad, you can also open two Things windows side-by-side and drag a heading from one project to another.

Duplicate a heading

When you need the same set of to-dos again, you can duplicate the heading and all to-dos belonging to it. Here’s how to do that:

Mac
  • Select a heading and hit ⌘ Cmd D.
  • Right-click on a heading and select Duplicate heading.

You can also select a heading and hit ⌘ Cmd C to copy it. You can paste it and all of its to-dos back into the same project via ⌘ Cmd V, add it to another project, or even paste it as a plain text list into another app.

iPad
  • Next to the heading, tap → Duplicate.
  • Right-click on a heading and select Duplicate.

If you’re using a hardware keyboard with your iPad, you can also select a heading and hit ⌘ Cmd C to copy it. You can paste it and all of its to-dos back into the same project via ⌘ Cmd V, or add it to another project.

iPhone
  • Next to the heading, tap → Duplicate.

Convert a heading to a project

When a part of a project turns out to be more involved, you can promote a heading and its to-dos to a separate project. Here’s how:

Mac
  • Next to the heading, click → Convert to Project...
  • Select a heading. In the menu bar at the top of your screen click Items → Convert to Project.
  • Right-click on a heading and select Convert to Project.
iPad
  • Next to the heading, tap → Convert.
  • Right-click on a heading and select Convert.
iPhone
  • Next to the heading, tap → Convert.

Archive a heading when you’re done

If you’ve completed all the to-dos under a heading and you don’t need it anymore, you can archive it to keep your list tidy.

Mac

Next to the heading, click → Archive. The heading will move to your Logbook for future reference.

iPad & iPhone

Next to the heading, tap → Archive. The heading will move to your Logbook for future reference.




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