# Toggling and Changing Task Statuses
<span class="related-pages">#feature/statuses</span>
## Summary
This page describes ways to mark a task line as `TODO` or `DONE`, or any other [[Statuses]] and [[Custom Statuses]] your vault may be configured to use.
You can [[#Toggling Tasks with mouse|left-click]] or [[#'Change task status' context menu|right-click]] on task checkboxes.
Other options are commands ([[#'Tasks Toggle task done' command|toggle]] or [[#'Tasks Change status to...' commands|set to a specific status]]) and a [[#Edit task modal|modal]].
> [!tip] What is "toggling"?
> The simplest meaning of 'toggling' is converting a task between these two states:
>
> 1. `- [ ] ...` - meaning `to do`.
> 2. `- [x] ...` - meaning `done`.
## Toggling Tasks with mouse
The most common way to change a task status is to **single-click on its checkbox**.
| Where | Viewing Mode | Works? |
| ----------------------------- | ------------ | ------ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Source mode | ❌ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Live Preview | ✅ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Reading mode | ✅ |
| In Tasks query search results | Live Preview | ✅ |
| In Tasks query search results | Reading mode | ✅ |
## 'Change task status' context menu
**Right-click** or **press-and-hold** on **a task's checkbox** to bring up a menu to allow any known status to be applied to the task.
This works in both **Reading mode** and in **Tasks Query results**.
<span class="caption">Sample 'Change task status' context menu, in a vault with various [[Custom Statuses]] added.</span>
> [!tip]
> The 'Change task status' context menu does correctly add Done dates, and create new instances of recurring tasks, when appropriate.
The statuses are obtained from the vault's [[Status Settings]].
- [[Core Statuses]] are shown first,
- then any [[Custom Statuses]].
Changing from one `DONE` status to another:
- retains any original Done date.
- does not create a new recurrence of recurring tasks.
| Where | Viewing Mode | Works? |
| ----------------------------- | ------------ | ------ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Source mode | ❌ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Live Preview | ❌ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Reading mode | ✅ |
| In Tasks query search results | Live Preview | ✅ |
| In Tasks query search results | Reading mode | ✅ |
> [!released]
> The 'Change task status' context menu was introduced in Tasks 5.3.0.
## 'Tasks: Toggle task done' command
There is also a command 'Tasks: Toggle task done'.
Obsidian allows you to assign a [hotkey](https://help.obsidian.md/Customization/Custom+hotkeys) to commands, for ease of use.
| Where | Viewing Mode | Works? |
| ----------------------------- | ------------ | ------ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Source mode | ✅ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Live Preview | ✅ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Reading mode | ❌ |
| In Tasks query search results | Live Preview | ❌ |
| In Tasks query search results | Reading mode | ❌ |
Since Tasks 7.2.0, this command can also be triggered programmatically via the [[Tasks Api#`executeToggleTaskDoneCommand (line string, path string) => string;`|Tasks API]].
## 'Tasks: Change status to...' commands
There is a set of commands to directly set a task's status to any specific registered status.
For example:
- 'Tasks: Change status to: [ ] Todo'
- 'Tasks: Change status to: [/] In Progress'
- 'Tasks: Change status to: [x] Done'
- 'Tasks: Change status to: [-] Cancelled'
One command is created for each status in your [[Status Settings]], including both [[Core Statuses]] and any [[Custom Statuses]] you have configured.
Obsidian allows you to assign a [hotkey](https://help.obsidian.md/Customization/Custom+hotkeys) to commands, for ease of use. This makes it easy to, for example, assign a hotkey to quickly mark a task as 'In Progress' or 'Cancelled'.
> [!note]
> Currently the 'Change status to' commands only act on lines which are recognised by Tasks.
> When run on other lines, the message '**Cannot set status: line is not a task or does not match global filter**' is shown.
| Where | Viewing Mode | Works? |
| ----------------------------- | ------------ | ------ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Source mode | ✅ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Live Preview | ✅ |
| Task lines in markdown files | Reading mode | ❌ |
| In Tasks query search results | Live Preview | ❌ |
| In Tasks query search results | Reading mode | ❌ |
> [!tip]
> These commands correctly add Done dates and create new instances of recurring tasks when changing to a `DONE` status, just like the [[#'Change task status' context menu]].
> [!released]
> The 'Change status to...' commands were introduced in Tasks 7.24.0.
## Edit task modal
The [[Create or edit Task]] modal also allows editing of task statuses.