I'm a big fan of Windows apps that launch quickly and get straight to the point without draining too much of my PC's memory. It might seem like a redundant preference, but when some of Microsoft's most basic software becomes oversaturated with unusual features, like AI writing tools in Notepad (which were later scaled back), performance can feel like an afterthought.

Plus, Windows 11 is regularly under fire for its more unpopular changes and additions, while some genuinely useful inclusions are often overlooked. Even so, it's not like Microsoft To Do is the best in its class, because it really isn't. Plenty of enthusiasts would likely point me towards something like Todoist rather than Microsoft's restructured version of what was Wunderlist.

However, there's nothing inherently wrong with To Do, either. It's lightweight and runs on all my PCs — even my Android phone — with a functional widget I can add to the cover screen of my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 for glanceable reminders. It pulls hints from natural language to set due dates and, more importantly, helps me remember everything in my daily workflow.

I make Microsoft's to-do list work for me

I find that a to-do list can either make my day much more manageable by breaking it into chunks, or it can freeze up my brain when I look at a daunting list of deadlines. It all depends on how you use it, but I've certainly found it helps me keep track of recurring tasks that pop up every day. Plus, the little 'ping' sound that plays when I mark a task as complete delivers a nice hit of serotonin.

However, part of the reason I keep Microsoft's own offering around is that it syncs so naturally across my devices. Again, there are probably third-party apps that deliver the same experience — perhaps something even better — but I'm not trying to overcomplicate a list of daily tasks. That, and my brain thinks differently as soon as I walk away from the computer, so reminders really work.

The future of Microsoft To Do seems to have two potential outcomes, though one of them is far more likely than the other. First, it could eventually be abandoned. Microsoft still has the Windows 10 icon on the app's download page, so it's hardly treated as cutting-edge among its portfolio, and its plot in the Microsoft Graveyard might already be reserved.

Second, it goes the way of Microsoft Whiteboard and is absorbed into Microsoft 365, potentially renamed or adapted entirely as a feature in another app. This one feels less likely because it doesn't offer much collaborative substance to lock behind a paywall, but stranger things have happened. I'm trying to remain optimistic, but there's a small chance To Do transforms into something else.

Ultimately, this feels like the same trend as when I recently praised accessible gaming efforts with the XBOX Adaptive Joystick; I just want a chance to be heard by the right person at Microsoft and let them know that their in-house apps are still appreciated — at least when they're done right — and I'll happily use them despite there being alternatives out there.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

What you need to know

• The most recent update to Microsoft To Do on iOS and Android adds a She-Hulk theme to the app.
• The same update also fixes a bug that affected sharing on Microsoft To Do for iOS.
• Microsoft and Disney partnered together for the cross-promotion of products from each company.

Microsoft and Disney have taken the next step in their promotional partnership centered around She-Hulk. Microsoft To Do users can now use a She-Hulk theme within the app. When To Do is set to the She-Hulk theme, a stylized photo appears throughout the application. It includes Jennifer Walters in her human form as well as She-Hulk.

Disney and Microsoft have several promotions connecting She-Hulk with Microsoft products. An ad featuring the super-powered character shows her using a Surface Pro 8, Windows 11, and the Microsoft Store. Several Microsoft products appear in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which currently has new episodes each week on Disney+. No spoilers, but you can spot a Surface Studio in the first episode of the show if you know where to look.

There seems to be an issue with the theme rolling out to everyone. OnMSFT wasn't able to see the option to enable the theme at first, and we ran into a similar issue. The theme also appears to be limited to the mobile versions of To Do, so Windows users are left out.

New episodes of She-Hulk premiere each Thursday on Disney+. Perhaps Walters will use Microsoft To Do to track her tasks and reminders as she navigates the legal world. Anything is possible.

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do now allows you to create reminders and tasks using natural language.
• When creating an item, you can use words such as "tomorrow," "daily," and "noon" and the app will automatically add those details to your entry.
• You can choose to turn off smart date and time recognition on a case-by-case basis.

Microsoft To Do recently gained support for natural language. Users of the app can now type details for a task and have To Do extract important information for an entry. For example, you could enter "submit project report tomorrow" and the app would set the due date for the next day.

Natural language supports adding a due date, creating a reminder, and setting a task to recur on a regular basis. Microsoft shares some examples of how to use the new functionality in a Tech Community post.

In some cases, a word may have two meanings, which could lead Microsoft To Do to create a reminder when you don't want it to. The app supports turning off smart date and time recognition on a case-by-case basis. For example, you may type a reminder that says "buy food for April" referring to a dog named April rather than the month.

If you press the backspace key on a highlighted word, you can have Microsoft To Do unrecognize that word.

At the moment, natural language support only works in the Windows version of Microsoft To Do. The feature is also restricted to those who have their language set to English (EN-).

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do now works with IFTTT.
• The integration allows Microsoft To Do to sync with several other services, such as Google Tasks.
• People will likely create new applets over time, expanding the capabilities of IFTTT and Microsoft To Do working together.

Microsoft To Do can now work with the automation tool IFTTT. By integrating with IFTTT, Microsoft To do is able to connect with several other popular services, such as Slack, iOS Calendar, and Google Tasks. IFTTT works as a middleman, connecting services to each other. People can create applets to automate functionality.

Microsoft's Vishnu Nath shared the news on Twitter. Nath also linked to a page of applets for Microsoft To Do. This should grow over time as people find new ways to integrate Microsoft To Do with other services.

Here are a few options that are already available:

• When an event that matches your search is added to your iOS Calendar, a new task will be added to your Microsoft To Do list.
• Whenever a Microsoft To Do task in your specified list is completed, send a message in a Slack channel.
• When a new item is added to iOS Reminders, this task will add it as a new item in Microsoft To Do.
• When a new task is added to your Amazon Alexa list, this Applet will add a new item to your Microsoft To Do list.

It's possible to create custom applets, so you may be able to come up with unique combinations. For example, you could probably set up your smart lights to flash when you complete a task, though we still have to test this for ourselves.

What you need to know

• The Microsoft To Do team will hold an AMA on September 21, 2021.
• People can virtually meet the Microsoft To Do team at the event and ask questions.
• You have to register to attend the event through Microsoft's website.

The Microsoft To Do team wants to help people be more productive. To teach people how to get more organized and to manage tasks, the Microsoft To Do team will hold an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) on September 21, 2021. The event kicks off at 12 PM EST (5 PM BST) and will last for an hour. If you want to participate in the AMA, you have to register for it through Microsoft's website.

"Meet the To Do product team and get your questions answered about productivity, upcoming features and tips," reads the registration page.

The Microsoft 365 Twitter account also highlighted the event.

As you'd expect, the event will teach people how to use Microsoft To Do to be more productive, but it also looks like it will include general tips for managing tasks and getting work done.

Microsoft To Do is one of the best to-do list apps and regularly gains new features from Microsoft. You can ask the app's makers about upcoming features during the AMA.

What you need to know

• SwiftKey's latest version is here.
• It contains Microsoft To Do integration.

Update August 31, 2021: The feature is in the standard release of SwiftKey, and the post's text has been updated.

The virtual keyboard app, SwiftKey, has a new update. In the update, you'll notice Microsoft To Do has been integrated.

As spotted by Android Police, To Do has made its way to SwiftKey. Specifically, it appears as a toolbar shortcut, helping you make tasks more easily.

To Do should be enabled by default once you update to the latest version of SwiftKey, and using it is as simple as pulling up the toolbar and giving the To Do checkmark a tap. It's useful for making tasks as well as saving whatever's on your clipboard, in case there's a link you want to store for later.

Some features, such as priority setting, still need to be done directly in To Do, but this first swing at integration is a start for the introduction of the latter Microsoft tool into the former.

This isn't Microsoft To Do's only notable appearance as of late. To Do also has a starring role in the new Windows 11 Clock app, which introduces a feature called Focus Sessions. In the new Clock app, To Do and Spotify are both integrated so you can keep track of priorities and chores while jamming out to your favorite tunes, all with the benefit of the app's Focus Sessions keeping track of time for you, monitoring breaks, and more. And, of course, if you just want to check the time, there's that, too.

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do now supports a hashtag picker on iOS.
• The feature lets you quickly add hashtags to tasks within the app.
• The same update also fixes some bugs related to attachments in the app.

Microsoft To Do for iOS has a new feature that lets you quickly add hashtags to any task within the app. The latest version of the app (2.49) supports a hashtag picker. The same update also brings bug fixes for issues related to attachments, as well as a fix for problems with app badges.

Here's the full changelog from Microsoft:

• We have added a Hashtag Picker. Now, you can quickly add hashtags to your tasks. We fixed some bugs related to attachments and app badges.

While the app's changelog lists support for the hashtag picker, it doesn't appear for some people right now. OnMSFT reports that the feature doesn't work on their iOS device at this time. It's probably safe to assume that support for the hashtag picker will roll out to everyone in the near future.

Microsoft To Do is one of the best to-do list apps available. It works on Windows 10, iOS, Android, and the web. With it, you can create lists of tasks that can be shared with anyone on a wide range of devices. It also works well with several Microsoft services, such as Outlook.

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do has updates available on iOS, Android, and Windows.
• The update for the Windows version of Microsoft To Do improves app syncing and accessibility.
• The widget of the Android version of the app is improved with its latest update.

Microsoft recently shipped updates to Microsoft To Do on Android, iOS, and Windows (via OnMSFT). None of the changes are groundbreaking, but they all help the app a bit on each platform. The biggest change is likely in the Windows version, which improves accessibility and app syncing with its most recent update. Microsoft To Do is already the best to-do list app for Windows, but updates are always welcome.

Recent updates also improve the Microsoft To Do widget on Android and improve syncing for the iOS version.

Here's what's new for the Windows version of Microsoft To Do:

• We've made a few accessibility fixes and improvements to the app sync process to facilitate a seamless in-app and cross-device experience for you.

If you're on Android, you'll receive the following changes:

• We heard your feedback and have improved the Widget experience by reducing the snackbar display time.
• There are improvements in notes and reminder experience as well. 

Here's Microsoft's changelog of the iOS version of Microsoft To Do:

• In this release, we have made UX improvements for a better sync experience. There are some accessibility bug fixes as well.

Some of the updates started rolling out last week, but they're all relatively new, so we've gathered them together for convenience.

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do for Android recently received an update that helps fix syncing issues.
• The update brings actionable UX messages, which help resolve login and sync issues.
• The daily planning reminder message has also been improved in the update.

Microsoft just rolled out an update to Microsoft To Do on Android. The update doesn't include many new features in terms of productivity, but it does bring some changes that help address issues. The update brings actionable UX messages to resolve sync and login issues and fixes several bugs. It also improves the daily planning reminder message. The update brings Microsoft To Do on Android to version 2.44.192.

Microsoft To Do is one of the best to-do list apps for Windows 10, and a big part of it being so good is that it seamlessly syncs to Android, iOS, and the web. The improvements in the latest update should help syncing stay seamless.

Here's the complete list of everything that's new in the latest update:

• In this release, we have improved the daily planning reminder message.
• For a seamless app experience we have fixed app crash, talkback and UX bugs.
• We have also introduced actionable UX messages for guiding you to resolve certain sync and login issues.

The update is available now through the Google Play Store.

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do on Android now lets you create a task by sharing an image.
• When you create a task this way, the image remains attached to the task.
• The latest update to the app also addresses some bugs that cause the app to crash.

Microsoft To Do is a straightforward app for managing tasks and to-do lists. It's available on every major platform and the web, and it's designed to make it easy to create new tasks. With the latest update to Microsoft To Do for Android, you can create a task by sharing an image.

The same update also has some bug fixes. Here's everything new, as found on its changelog:

• Now you can create a task by sharing an image in To Do.
• In this version we have also fixed app crash bugs and bug for a smooth Widget experience.

Following the update, creating a task through Microsoft To Do becomes a share target. When you're in an app that supports the sharing menu, such as your phone's gallery or Google Photos, you can select "Add new task." You're then taken into Microsoft To Do to add any details, such as a due date or reminder.

Adding an image to a task is a simple way to make the task more memorable. The new shortcut option makes it easier to create rich to-do list items.

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do now requires your phone to run iOS 13 or higher to receive updates.
• iOS 13 is available on devices as old as the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s.
• The same update also includes some bug fixes for Microsoft To Do.

Microsoft To Do recently received an update on iOS that brings a new requirement for the app. Going forward, your phone has to run iOS 13 or newer to receive updates for Microsoft To Do. The update also includes some bug fixes for Microsoft To Do.

The update brings Microsoft To Do to version 2.41. Here's everything that's new, as found in its changelog:

• We squashed some bugs. Also, if you're on iOS 12 or below, you won't see any more To Do updates until you switch to iOS 13.

The changelog doesn't state that Microsoft To Do will stop working on phones that are on iOS 12 or older, just that it won't receive any more app updates until you update your phone.

Luckily for anyone with an iOS device, this change shouldn't affect you. iOS 13 is available on devices going back all the way to the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s. In fact, most people should be able to grab the newer iOS 14 for their device.

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do now lets you share lists between personal and work accounts.
• Previously, you could only share lists between personal accounts or between work accounts within the same organization.

Microsoft To Do makes it easy to share tasks and lists between devices and other people. But until recently, you couldn't share lists between personal accounts and work accounts. A recent update to Microsoft To Do brings support for sharing lists between the two types of accounts.

Before this update, you could only share lists between personal accounts or between work (or school) accounts within the same organization. Now, you can easily share lists across account types.

Microsoft explains all of the different scenarios you can share lists in a Tech Community post:

• Sharing between personal Microsoft accounts.
• Sharing between accounts within the same place of work or education.
• Sharing between personal accounts and work accounts. Work accounts can join lists owned by personal accounts provided enterprise admins have enabled this feature for their respective organizations. However, personal accounts cannot join lists owned by work accounts.

While many people like to keep their work and personal lives separate, there are times when you need to share lists across different types of accounts. Microsoft shares some examples of when you might want to share across account types:

What you need to know

• Microsoft To Do has an update for iOS 14.
• Widget support is now available.
• There are four new widgets for users to choose from.

Apple's "new" widgets are clearly an old idea borrowed from other operating systems, but it's still advantageous. But the inability to create a To Do widget was a tad infuriating – after all, if there is any case for a widget, it's to put your reminders front and center.

Today, Microsoft answered your requests. It just announced that To Do now supports widgets for Your Tasks and My Day on iOS 14, and they are now live.

There are four widget styles to choose from, with one square for My Day to glance at what you need to do, a small Add Task, and two for Your Tasks with differing sizes.

If you click on the widget, it opens the rest of your list in To Do. Since iOS lets you add multiple widgets, you can mix and match as you please, or even add them to a "widget stack," which cycles through various widgets in one area.

Sure, making this happen is totally expected by Microsoft, but for those who live and die by your To Do and tasks list, this changes everything. Now you just have to rethink your entire iOS home screen layout, so good luck with that.

And if you are on Android, well, you have had one single widget option for a long time. Hopefully, Microsoft will offer more alternatives in the future.