What is Microsoft To Do?

Whether you need to buy a bottle of milk on the way home or complete a project proposal at work, our life consists of tasks. Up until recently, there was no good option to manage individual tasks in SharePoint and Office 365. That changed, though, with the introduction of Microsoft To Do.

What is Microsoft To Do?

Microsoft To Do is a cloud-based personal task management tool. It is part of an Office 365 suite, so that means that it is accessible, just like the rest of Office 365 apps in the cloud (read: from any device with an internet connection).

Microsoft To Do vs. Planner

Unlike Planner, which is a TEAM task management tool, To Do is strictly an app that is accessible just by the user (unless you share your tasks/lists with others). Using an analogy of OneDrive and SharePoint, where OneDrive is personal storage space in the cloud, while SharePoint is a team collaboration tool, To Do is a personal task management tool, unlike Planner.

Microsoft To Do vs. Outlook Tasks

Remember how ancient Task experience was with Outlook Tasks?

Old Task Experience in Outlook Web

Well, guess what, Microsoft To Do is a replacement for Outlook Tasks now!

NOTE: Since Microsoft To Do is a web-based application, the desktop Outlook task experience is still the same and did not change.

Example of a Task List in Outlook Desktop App

What are Microsoft To Do’s core features?

List functionality

Tasks can be organized into Lists. A list is essentially a group of related tasks (i.e., shopping list, things to pack for vacation list).

Groups

You can take it one step further and group lists into Groups! For example, if you have a shopping list + a list of activities to do around the house this weekend, you can group the two separate lists into one group called Home Tasks. It is just another way for you to organize tasks, that’s all!

My Day

My Day is a built-in list that allows you to concentrate on Tasks you deem important on a given date.

Mobile App

Just like with many other Office 365 Apps, To Do has its a mobile app so you can access and complete the tasks on the go.

Integration with Planner

Microsoft To Do integrates natively with Planner and automatically pulls in the tasks from all the plans you are part of. This one is huge! It essentially allows you to access both your personal (i.e., buy milk) and work-related (approve a document) tasks all in one place.