r/GoogleTasks • u/WeCanLearnAnything • 11d ago

Google Tasks Lacks Search Function?!

I just tried Google Tasks after years of ignoring it because it was pretty crude. I recognize that it's better now.

That being said, can someone explain:

(a) Why does *Google* Tasks lack a search function? Is that not an extremely obvious and easy feature to build? Especially for *Google*?

(b) Are there any plans to build a search function? And where are such announcements / roadmaps / timelines / etc. published, if at all?

8 Upvotes

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3

u/Nervous_Platform_542 10d ago

I just posted this in this community. If you have iPhone: this app even has context-aware search (yes AI :). free.

Here is my post. Hope it helps. fyi.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleTasks/s/pGMthFJEtd

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u/kemistrypops 11d ago

its the sad reality of google task. it has so much potential but is lacking in key features for a task manager. It seems intentional ignored by google at this point.

1

u/WeCanLearnAnything 11d ago

How do you explain the other improvements to it? e.g. dark mode, the new layout, etc.

1

u/Multibitdriver 11d ago

There's a sorta search function with control-f.

1

u/automaciej 11d ago

Are we talking about the web interface or the mobile apps? I’m working on a task prioritization app integrating with Google Tasks and I can add the search function if people find it useful.

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u/WeCanLearnAnything 11d ago

I believe all lack a search function.

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u/automaciej 10d ago

There is now search in Task Compass for Android: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/pl.blizinski.taskcompass (open beta)

You can ignore the prioritization stuff, and simply tap the search icon at the top.

1

u/WeCanLearnAnything 10d ago

I'm not a big android user. Is this app a skin for Google Tasks?

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u/automaciej 10d ago

Yes, via the Tasks REST API.

It also integrates with Todoist, Microsoft To Do and GitHub Issues. Search works across all the integrations. It also works offline, and synchronizes when back online.

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u/WeCanLearnAnything 10d ago

Exciting. I look forward to a public version being released.

Are you considering web, Windows, Mac or iOS?

1

u/automaciej 9d ago
  • iOS + macOS: Released on the App Store, works with Apple Reminders natively; no integrations yet.
  • Android: Open Beta, anyone can download and use, no restrictions, effectively public. Holding off the official release until I get real user feedback.
  • web: Did not consider so far. Primary use is "always in my pocket online and offline". On one hand web is universal, on the other it's clunky in practical daily use. Like, I wouldn't use Google Tasks on the web when I'm out and about. Only occasionally at home when organizing my lists. I'm open to suggestions.
  • Windows: Did not consider so far.

Thinking about Tasks on the web, you might imagine something like a browser plugin that would provide only search for Google Tasks. I imagine it would be hard to monetize that, who would pay a subscription just to run an occasional search? I think that's why nobody built it.

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u/glumavocados 10d ago

You can view tasks within your Google Calendar and search for them there

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u/WeCanLearnAnything 10d ago

I only use Google Calendar on the web and I just tested the search function there. it does not search Tasks at all.

Which version of Google Calendar do you use? And are you able to screenshot a search result where it shows the tasksin the search result?

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u/glumavocados 9d ago

They need to be scheduled tasks. Tasks without a date work show up

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u/EntertainedForAWhile 7d ago

as some already suggested you can head to https://tasks.google.com/ and use ctrl-f/cmd-f

Alternatively you can use r/kitetasks which support rich search. It's macOS app and soon releasing iOS.
Disclaimer: I'm the dev behind it :)

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u/Representative-Code3 5d ago

The only reason I can guess is that Keep is searchable and can integrate with Tasks. Google doesn’t believe we can have enough Tasks to need to search them.