How to Use Subtasks in Reminders on macOS 13

The Reminders app in macOS 13 Ventura allows you to break down large projects into manageable steps using subtasks. This guide explains how to create, organize, and complete subtasks in the Mac Reminders app, helping you maintain a structured and efficient workflow directly from your desktop.

How to Create Subtasks

You can create subtasks in macOS 13 using three different methods depending on your preferred workflow:

Method 1: Drag and Drop

  1. Open the Reminders app.
  2. Click and hold an existing reminder that you want to turn into a subtask.
  3. Drag it directly on top of the reminder you want as the parent task.
  4. Release the mouse. The item will indent automatically beneath the parent.

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcuts or Menu Bar

  1. Select the reminder you want to convert into a subtask. Make sure it is positioned directly beneath the intended parent task.
  2. Press Command + ] on your keyboard, or go to the top menu and select Edit > Indent Reminder.
  3. The selected item will indent and attach to the reminder above it.

Method 3: The Details Inspector

  1. Hover over a parent reminder and click the Info (i) button, or select the reminder and press Command + I.
  2. Scroll down in the inspector pop-over to the Subtasks section.
  3. Click Add Reminder, type the title of your subtask, and press Return.

Managing and Viewing Subtasks

Once created, you can control how subtasks display and behave:

  • Expand or Collapse: Click the small arrow to the left of a parent reminder to hide or display its nested subtasks. This keeps your main list clean.
  • Reorder Subtasks: Click and drag subtasks up or down within the parent task's nested list to prioritize them.
  • Convert a Subtask Back to a Main Task: Select the subtask and press Command + [, or choose Edit > Outdent Reminder from the menu bar. You can also drag the subtask out of the nested group to the left margin.

Completing Subtasks

  • Individual Completion: Click the circle next to a specific subtask to complete it without affecting the parent reminder or other sibling subtasks.
  • Parent Completion: Clicking the circle to complete a parent reminder automatically marks all of its nested subtasks as completed.