A simpler way to get started.

Add your first deadline

1. Choose + or New Deadline.
2. Enter a title and due date. Turn on a time if the task is due at a specific hour.
3. Choose a category, and add a note or reminder if needed. Save the deadline.
4. Choose Mark as Done when finished. Find it in Completed to reopen it.

Start free with up to three active deadlines. Completed items do not count toward that limit. Pro adds unlimited active deadlines and editable categories.

Find and organise your work

Use All Deadlines, Today, Upcoming, Overdue, Completed or Calendar in the navigation. Select a category to filter the list, or use search to find a task. Summary tiles and the live clock give you a quick overview.

With Pro, personalise category names, colours and icons, and arrange their order. Deleting a category keeps its tasks and moves them to General.

Bring your calendar events into Deadline Desk

Turn selected events into tasks with your choice of categories. Your original calendar stays unchanged; imported tasks are a one-time copy.

1. For Apple or Phone Calendar, allow calendar access when asked. For Google or Microsoft, sign in and approve read-only access; an existing sign-in may be offered.
2. Choose a calendar and date range. Include notes/details only if you want them copied.
3. Preview events and select the ones to add. Choose a category for each event, or use Apply category to all. General is the default.
4. Check the dates and times, then import. The free plan includes up to three active deadlines; Pro gives you more room.

On Android, Phone Calendar shows calendars available through the device’s calendar storage. For calendars stored only with Google or Microsoft, choose the direct connection instead. How your calendar information is handled →

Set a reminder

1. Open a task’s add/edit screen and choose its reminder option.
2. Choose the available reminder timing, save, and allow notifications when asked.
3. If reminders do not appear, check notification permissions, Focus/Do Not Disturb and battery/background restrictions.

Reminders are delivered by your device, not an email service. Check permissions on every device you use.

Make it feel like your app

Choose Light, Dark or System appearance and your preferred 12- or 24-hour time format. On iPhone/iPad and Mac, use the settings gear/menu. On Windows and Android Beta 2.3, open Settings.

The live clock keeps the current time in view alongside your planning summary.

Keep Apple devices in sync

1. Use the same Apple Account on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
2. Enable iCloud for Deadline Desk and check that iCloud has space.
3. Open the apps online and allow sync to finish.

No Deadline Desk account or Windows PC is needed. If the app says low battery is delaying iCloud, connect the device to a charger. For a full-storage warning, free iCloud space. Local tasks remain on the device while transfer waits.

iCloud task sync is separate from iCloud Drive backup files. Mac uses iCloud, not the Windows account connection.

Connect iPhone/iPad or Android to Windows

1. On Windows, open Connect Your Devices and enter your email. Verify the emailed code; a new account is created if needed.
2. Finish any initial review, then choose Connect Another Device to show a QR code.
3. On iPhone/iPad, choose Connect Your Devices → Connect to Your Windows PC. On Android Beta, open its connection option in Settings. Read the instructions, then scan the QR.
4. Compare the number on both screens and approve on Windows only if it matches.
5. Review tasks/categories and confirm backup and sync. Choose the correct copy for any real conflicts.
6. Optionally link an eligible Pro purchase afterward. Task sync alone does not share Pro.

The QR expires after five minutes and is single-use. Generate a fresh one if needed. There is no manual connection-code fallback; the emailed Windows sign-in code is not a phone connection code. Mac does not offer this account connection.

Sync changes and resolve differences

After initial review, compatible connected apps send local changes and react to account changes while open. Offline changes stay on the device. Reconnect and open both apps; use refresh/Sync now if you need to check immediately. Resume account sync if paused.

Most recognised one-sided changes merge automatically. Different edits to the same field, or an edit versus deletion, can need review. Compare the values, choose the correct copy and confirm. Do not assume the last device edited must win, or delete similar-looking tasks merely because their names match.

Sync can carry edits and deletions to your connected devices. It is not a permanent backup. On Apple devices, iCloud activity takes priority; account transfer may wait until it is ready.

Back up and restore safely

Keep an independent copy

Open Backup & Restore and export/save a backup to a private location outside the app. Do this before uninstalling, changing devices or making recovery changes.

Restore a copy

1. Select an automatic backup to preview, or choose a backup file from another location.
2. Check its date and contents. Open Show all where offered for older copies.
3. Read the restore summary, then confirm. Restored items may include deleted tasks and may sync to connected devices.
4. Check tasks and sync afterward. Complete any conflict review rather than repeatedly restoring.

For Apple cloud copies, check that the upload completed. After reinstalling, use the backup file picker to browse iCloud Drive → Deadline Desk → Backups. Backups contain tasks/categories—not sign-in credentials or Pro. Restore purchases separately.

Buy, restore or share Pro

Buy or restore on this device

Open Upgrade to Pro to view plans and any eligible offer. The full charge and renewal terms appear before you confirm. Apple uses the App Store, Android Beta uses Google Play, and Windows uses Stripe. No separate Deadline Desk account is needed to buy locally.

• Apple: choose Restore Purchases with the purchasing Apple Account.
• Android: use the purchasing Google Play account and the restore control on the Pro screen.
• Windows: open the Pro screen or the purchase recovery/refresh option in Settings. Verify the Stripe purchase email to move an activation; the previous Windows activation is deactivated.

Share an eligible purchase

On Windows, iPhone/iPad or Android, connect to the same Deadline Desk account and finish sync review. Use the purchase-link/share option on the device that owns Pro, wait for success, then refresh Pro on the receiving device. Mac has no cross-platform account-sharing controls; use the Apple purchase and Restore Purchases there.

A valid purchase can link to one existing account at a time. Deleting that account releases its link, but does not cancel or refund the subscription. Real Google Play beta purchases are charged normally; configured test-card and TestFlight purchases are separate test entitlements.

Manage renewal or redeem an offer

Manage renewal through Apple subscriptions, Google Play subscriptions or Windows’ Stripe management option. Deleting the app/account does not cancel it. Apple offer codes follow their displayed eligibility, expiry and renewal terms; redeem using the private link or the App Store’s Redeem option. Read purchase FAQs or subscription terms.

Disconnect without losing track of your data

Pause account sync to stop transfers without deleting the account. Sign out to end that device’s account connection; local task copies remain. Windows account management lets you inspect/remove connected devices. Removing a connection is not a remote wipe of downloaded data.

Deleting the account removes its cloud account/data and other devices sign out when they detect deletion online. Local files, private iCloud data and native purchases are separate. Read the deletion guide first.

Need a hand?

Visit Support. Include your device and app version, and hide private details in screenshots. Never share passwords, verification codes or full backups publicly.