Frequently asked questions
How Action Manager works, what it costs (nothing) and what happens to your data.
Getting started
What is Action Manager?
A to-do list in your browser where every task can have subtasks, and every subtask its own, as deep as you need. You break a project down until the next step is obvious, then tick things off one by one. It has been online since 2009.
Is it really free?
Yes. There's no paid plan, no trial period and no limit on the number of tasks: every feature comes with the free account.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Action Manager runs in your web browser, on Windows, macOS or Linux. Log in from any computer, at home or at work, and your lists are there.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
It opens in any modern browser, but the task list is designed for a computer: dragging tasks around and the keyboard shortcuts need a mouse and a keyboard.
How do I create an account?
Sign up with your email address and a password of at least 6 characters. We email you a link to confirm the address: open it, log in at the top of the page, and your list is ready.
Working with tasks
How many levels of subtasks can I create?
As many as you need: there's no depth limit. A subtask can have its own subtasks, which can have theirs, and so on.
How do I add a task or a subtask?
Click New task to start a top-level task. From the keyboard, select a task with ↑ ↓ and press Enter to add a subtask under it, or Ctrl Enter to add a task just below it, at the same level.
How do I move a task somewhere else?
Drag it with the mouse, onto another branch if you like. From the keyboard, Shift ↑ / ↓ moves it up or down, Tab and Shift Tab change its level, and Ctrl X then Ctrl V moves it below the task you selected. Its subtasks move with it.
Can I add details to a task?
Yes. Besides its title (up to 255 characters), each task has a note of up to 1,000 characters for the details, and its panel shows when it was created and completed. Press F2 to edit a task, Ctrl B to put it in bold.
What happens when I tick a task off?
It is marked done, with its completion date and time, and moves to your completed tasks below the active ones. A task can only be ticked off once all its subtasks are done, so a project closes with its last step. To hide the completed tasks, untick Show my completed tasks in your profile.
Why can't I delete a task?
A task can't be deleted while it still has unfinished subtasks, so a whole branch never disappears by accident. Delete them, finish them or move them elsewhere first.
Can I hide the parts I'm not working on?
Yes: fold a branch with ← and unfold it with →, or use collapse all and expand all above the list. Folded branches stay folded the next time you log in.
Which keyboard shortcuts are there?
Select a task with ↑ ↓, then Enter adds a subtask, Shift Enter marks it done, F2 edits it and Delete deletes it. See all the shortcuts.
Your account
I didn't get the confirmation email. What can I do?
Look in your spam folder first. Then ask for a new link with your email address and password. If the link doesn't open, the email also contains a code to enter on the validation code page.
I forgot my password. How do I log in?
Enter your email address on the forgotten password page: we send you a link to choose a new password. The link works for 60 minutes.
Can I change my email address or my password?
Yes, in your profile. A new email address replaces the old one once you open the confirmation link we send to it.
Can I choose how dates are shown?
Yes: day first, month first or year first, in the Display section of your profile.
How do I delete my account?
In your profile, choose Delete my account and confirm with your password. Your account and all your tasks are deleted at once and can't be recovered.
How can I contact you?
Write to us with the contact form: a question, a bug report or an idea. The answer comes by email.
Privacy and security
Who can see my tasks?
Only you, once logged in: lists are never shared or published. What you write stays yours, as the terms of service say.
How is my password stored?
Never in plain text: it is stored as a bcrypt hash. That's why we can't email it back to you, only a link to choose a new one. The whole site is served over HTTPS.
What do you use my email address for?
To confirm your account, and to send you a reset link if you forget your password. We never share it.