Microsoft has unveiled its new-look To Do app. First launched in 2017, the productivity app came along two years after the company acquired Wunderlist, but only now does it resemble a like-for-like replacement offering feature parity with the long-running cloud-based task management service. Announcing To Do v2.0, Microsoft had this to say:

to do

When Wunderlist became part of the Microsoft family, our mission was to bring the delightful, simple, and elegant daily task experience and build it into Microsoft's intelligent, interconnected, and security-centric ecosystem to create a new app—Microsoft To Do. Today, we're unveiling the new version of To Do, which includes a fresh new design, access from wherever you are, and more integration with Microsoft apps and services.

The most obvious visual similarity is that To Do now supports background images – and even includes the Berlin TV tower image that longtime Wunderlist users will be familiar with. Every list can be given its own background image, and Microsoft says it has reduced the list header size and added new color theme customization options, with a dark mode for iOS and Mac coming soon.

Otherwise, it looks like business as usual for Wunderlist fans. The app features subtasks, recurring tasks, prioritized tasks, reminders and due dates, file attachments, and notes. Lists can also be grouped, shared with other people, and assigned.

There's a personalized daily planner feature called My Day that refreshes daily and features smart suggestions for tasks. And of course, all lists sync across devices, allowing users to stay organized at work, home, or on the go. Finally, there's deeper integration with Microsoft 365 apps and services like Microsoft Planner, linking to Microsoft-hosted email accounts like Outlook, Hotmail, and Live, and Cortana and Amazon Echo support.


Users without a Microsoft account can register with their existing email address. Once they sign in, the option to import tasks from Wunderlist is displayed, and it can also be found in Settings. Microsoft To Do is a free download for iPhone and iPad available from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

NeXTCube Avatar
49 months ago
And having a background image helps with this??
I think the poster wasn't directly answering the question, but...I think that you could use different background images as a quick visual cue as to which to-do list you were viewing, without having to actually read (or even see) the title at the top of the screen. Other than that, the feature is really just cosmetic, but it is an improvement over the plain backgrounds in the previous revision of Microsoft To-Do.

My big gripe is that it's taken MS more than two years - with the Wunderlist team in-house - to basically re-create Wunderlist, while Wunderlist itself stagnated. It's completely unclear to me what value Microsoft has added (since Wunderlist already integrated with Microsoft online accounts, etc.).
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
49 months ago
Is this something important that people require in a to-do app? :confused:
Yes, my work requires managing 30+ servers, various enterprise applications and security for the servers and also applications. I have frequently have a complex set of multilayered tasks. While I don't have this app, this seems right up my ally.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Palliser Avatar
49 months ago
I still prefer ToDoist over either of these
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BrettArchibald Avatar
49 months ago
Yes, my work requires managing 30+ servers, various enterprise applications and security for the servers and also applications. I have frequently have a complex set of multilayered tasks. While I don't have this app, this seems right up my ally.
And having a background image helps with this??
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kafka27 Avatar
49 months ago
I'll never use a cloud based app. They use/sale all info about you.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
49 months ago
Is this something important that people require in a to-do app? :confused:
Pretty sure it's just one of those extra things that's used to differentiate their app from the other to-do apps. Some users will like and use it. Others won't and won't. Not really sure why you emphasized important and require.:confused: They sure didn't. ;)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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