Repeating tasks in Google Tasks and Calendar: complete, skip or stop them
A repeating task behaves differently from a repeating event: finishing one produces the next, and some changes cannot be reversed. Know the limits before you build a routine on it. This guide is published by Arte Soft, the developer of Cloud Calendars, from Google’s Android documentation.
Repeating task actions
| Want to | Where | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|
| Finish this one | Mark complete | Next instance appears on its date |
| Skip one occurrence | Google Calendar → This task | Series continues |
| End from a date | Google Calendar → This and following tasks | Treat as permanent |
| Stop repeating | The task’s repeat setting | No: Google says it can’t repeat again |
| Move to another list | — | Not allowed for recurring tasks |
What most people assume
I can stop a repeating task and turn repeat back on later.
Create the repeat
In Google Tasks, tap Add date/time, then Repeat, and choose day, week, month or year under Repeats every. In Google Calendar, tap Does not repeat below the date and choose a preset or Custom.
Completing one occurrence
Google says that when you complete it, the task is crossed out and the next instance appears in your task list on the date specified. The page does not say whether completing early or late moves the next date, so check the next occurrence after completing one.
Google also says only a limited number of future recurring tasks appear on the Calendar grid at once;new ones become visible as time passes. A partial future list alone does not establish that the series has stopped.
Deleting one, some or all
In Google Calendar you can delete This task, This and following tasks or All tasks. In Google Tasks, Google’s option is Delete all. Google states that to delete a single task from a repeating series, you must use Google Calendar.
Limits to know first
Google lists: shared tasks and subtasks can’t repeat; recurring tasks can’t be moved to other task lists; and if you stop a series repeating, you can’t set it to repeat again.
So choose the list before adding repeat, and do not switch off repeat as a temporary pause.
Worked example: a fortnightly bin rota
A fictional household creates “Put recycling out” in their personal Tasks list, repeating every 2 weeks on Tuesday. One Tuesday is a holiday with no collection: they open Google Calendar and delete This task, leaving the series intact.
Later they want to share the recurring responsibility with others. Google says shared tasks cannot repeat and a recurring task cannot move to another list. They keep the personal task and coordinate the household separately, for example with an appropriately shared calendar event. This is not a claim that every Tasks client has a general shared-list control.
Check: the following collection date still shows the task.
What it looks like
Cloud Calendars overview, using our product images. Provider settings and protocol examples described in this guide are separate from the screens shown here.
What to do
- Choose the right list before setting repeat.
- Complete occurrences normally; the next one appears on its date.
- Skip one occurrence by deleting This task in Google Calendar.
- Don’t stop repeating as a pause; it can’t be re-enabled.
- Use a calendar event for shared routines.
Questions
- Can a shared task repeat?
- No. Google says shared tasks and subtasks can’t be set to repeat.
- How do I delete just one occurrence?
- Google says you must use Google Calendar and choose This task.