Quick Find is a brilliant feature that combines navigation and search into a single function. Here’s how to use it.

In this article:
  1. Search (Quick Find)
  2. Search everything (Continue Search)
  3. Navigate
  4. Reveal Special Quick Find lists

Search (Quick Find)

It’s never been easier to do a search from anywhere in Things. Initially, Quick Find only looks at the names of to-dos, projects, areas, as well as tags, so suggestions can be shown as soon as you start typing.

Mac
  1. On your Mac, open Things.
  2. Start typing to begin a search (or use ⌘ Cmd F).
Quick Find will magically appear as soon as you start typing.
Play
iPad & iPhone
  1. On your mobile device, open Things.
  2. Pull down in any list to reveal Quick Find.
  3. Start typing to begin a search.
Pull down in a list to start a search.

On iPad, the search field is always available at the top of the sidebar. When using a hardware keyboard, just start typing to search (or hit ⌘ Cmd F).

Vision

In Things for Vision, please follow the same steps as described in the iPad & iPhone tab above.

Search everything (Continue Search)

Hit Continue Search at the bottom of the Quick Find popover to include your notes, checklists, and completed items from the Logbook in the search scope.

Mac
iPad & iPhone
Use Continue Search to find content in notes, checklists, or the Logbook.
Play
Use Continue Search to find content in notes, checklists, or the Logbook

Navigate with Quick Find

Navigating via Quick Find works the same as initiating a search. Instead of entering a search term, you type the name of your destination. Here are some examples:

  • Type ”tod…” to jump to the Today list.
  • Type ”finan…” to jump to the Finances area.
  • Type ”next action” to jump to the Next Action Steps heading in a project.
Mac
iPad & iPhone
Go anywhere in Things by using Quick Find. When the sidebar is hidden, you can also click the list name at the top to navigate or use ⌘ Cmd ⇧ Shift O to see a dropdown which includes all lists.
Play
Go anywhere in Things by using Quick Find. When you’re scrolled down in a list, tap the list name at the top.

Reveal Special Quick Find lists

There are a few lists in Things that you can only access via Quick Find. To get to them, simply start typing their name:

  • Tomorrow – everything scheduled for the next day.
  • Deadlines – everything with a deadline.
  • Repeating – every repeating template.
  • Projects – every open project.
  • Logged Projects – all completed projects in the Logbook.

At this time, these lists can’t be pinned to the sidebar/main lists view. But you can create a widget if you need to keep an eye on them. Here’s how.

Mac
iPad & iPhone
Access Settings or special Quick Find lists by typing their name.
Play
Access Settings or special Quick Find lists by typing their name.

Find in text (notes only)

Things also allows you to limit your search to the notes text inside of an open to-do, which can be useful with longer notes. This feature does not rely on Quick Find, though. Learn more.

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