Wishing you could clone a task in MS To Do? Looking to create a task similar to one you already have — without starting anew? Tired of typing information repeatedly for related tasks? Find out here how to duplicate a task in Microsoft To Do as a direct copy or as a starting point and save precious seconds and keystrokes.
First, I Did Not Do It on Purpose
I did not do it on purpose, but in the future, maybe I will.
For I found that a sprinkling of powdered cinnamon works wonders not only for candy crisp, chicken and chocolate; it also masks odors competently in the trash can, all in good Christmasy spirit.
Now that we have removed one thing by addition, let’s duplicate another by copying:
How to Duplicate a Task in Microsoft To Do
Duplicating Tasks in MS To Do on the Web (Easiest)
Time needed: 2 minutes
To create a duplicate copy of a task in Microsoft To Do:
- Open the web version of MS To Do.
Here’s how: Visit to-do.live.com in your favored browser.
Here’s why: Duplicating tasks is easiest done in the web client; for other Microsoft To Do apps, see below. - Go to the to-do list that holds the task you want to duplicate.
- Click with the right mouse button on the task to be duplicated.
More than one: You can also highlight a range of tasks (clicking on the first task, then holding Shift while you click on the last task) and click on any of them with the right mouse button to duplicate multiple tasks.
- Select Copy Task to… from the context menu that has appeared.
- Choose the original to-do list in the menu.
Here’s what happens: MS To Do will dutifully create a copy of the original task on the same list.
- Edit the new task as needed.
Duplicate a Task in MS To Do for Windows or Mac (Possible, but Cumbersome)
To eventually create a duplicate of a task in MS To Do for Windows and Mac:
- Move the task to a list that has only one or few tasks.
Here’s how: You can move a task in MS To Do using dragging and dropping, for example.
Here’s why: Performing the steps that follow on lists with heaps of tasks would create unnecessary further heaps of data. - Duplicate the list.
Here’s how: In MS To Do for Windows, click on the list in the sidebar with the right mouse button and select Duplicate list from the context menu; in MS To Do for Mac, click the list’s three dots menu and select Duplicate List. - Go to the list duplicate.
- Move all tasks you did want to duplicate to the original list.
- Delete the now superfluous duplicate list.
Here’s how: Select Delete list (or Delete List) from the list’s three dots menu and confirm deletion.
How to Duplicate a Task in Microsoft To Do: FAQ
Can I create multiple copies?
Yes, in a roundabout way.
To create multiple copies of a task:
- Create one duplicate.
- Highlight the two created tasks.
- Duplicate the two tasks for a total of four.
- Continue to select larger numbers of tasks until you have reached the desired number.
2n: The at most exponential growth should get you there reasonably quickly.
(Tested with Microsoft To Do 2.125–2.129; first published October 2024, last updated December 2025)