How to Use Filters in Todoist (Query Syntax + Examples, 2026)
Filters are Todoist’s most powerful and most underused feature. They’re saved searches: you write a query once, and Todoist assembles a live view that pulls matching tasks from every project at once. “Everything urgent due today,” “errands I can do at home,” “anything I forgot to schedule” — all one-line queries. Here’s the syntax and a set of filters worth copying straight in.
Plan note: Filters are a Pro feature. The Free plan includes a small number of filters to get started; Pro unlocks the full set. Labels (used in many filters below) are likewise easiest to use on Pro.
How to Create a Filter
- In the sidebar, click Filters & Labels.
- Next to Filters, click the + icon.
- Enter a name and pick a color.
- In the query field, type your filter query (examples below).
- Click Add.
The filter now lives under Filters & Labels. Click the star to add it to favorites and it’ll pin to the top of your sidebar.
Filter Query Building Blocks
A query is made of conditions joined by operators.
| Element | Syntax | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Project | #ProjectName | #Work |
| Label | @labelname | @email |
| Priority | p1–p4 | p1 |
| Due today | today | today |
| Overdue | overdue (or od) | overdue |
| Next N days | N days | 7 days |
| No date | no date | no date |
| No label | no labels | no labels |
| Assigned to me | assigned to: me | assigned to: me |
| Keyword search | search: word | search: invoice |
| Created date | created before: -30 days | created before: -30 days |
Operators:
&— AND (both conditions must be true)|— OR (either condition)!— NOT (exclude)()— group conditions to control order,— show as separate sections in one filter view
Filter Examples Worth Copying
Today’s real priorities — top-priority tasks due today:
today & p1This week, work only:
7 days & #WorkInbox cleanup — tasks you dumped in without a date:
#Inbox & no dateAnything overdue or due today, excluding a “Someday” project:
(overdue | today) & !#SomedayErrands by context — tasks tagged for when you’re out:
@errands & (today | overdue)Unscheduled and unlabeled — the stuff that falls through the cracks:
no date & no labelsDelegated work — assigned to someone else:
!assigned to: meQuick wins — low effort tagged tasks due soon:
@quick & 3 daysMulti-section daily dashboard — overdue, then today, as two groups in one view:
overdue, todayFiltering by Date More Precisely
Todoist understands relative date math inside filters:
due before: Monday— anything due before next Mondaydue after: today— future-dated tasks onlydue before: +14 days— the next two weeksno time— dated tasks that have no specific time set
Combine them: due before: +7 days & p1 | p2 surfaces the higher-priority work landing this week.
Common Filter Mistakes
Project name has a space. Wrap it in quotes: #"Marketing Campaigns". Without quotes the filter breaks at the space.
Operator precedence surprises. today & @work | @home reads as (today & @work) | @home — that second @home ignores the date. Add parentheses: today & (@work | @home).
overdue shows too much. overdue includes everything in the past. Pair it with a project or label to keep it focused: overdue & #Work.
Nothing shows up. You probably referenced a label or project that doesn’t exist, or misspelled it. Labels need the @ and projects need the #, exactly as they’re named.
Stop Rebuilding the Same Views by Hand
Good filters are only half the battle — you still have to label tasks correctly, set the right priorities, and keep projects tidy for the queries to work. Carly is an AI assistant that connects to 200+ apps including Todoist and can sort, label, and triage tasks for you, so your filters surface the right work without manual upkeep on every task.
More on Todoist: How to add labels in Todoist · How to use sections in Todoist · How to use natural language in Todoist · Todoist alternatives · Best AI personal assistants
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