Subtasks add an additional level of organization to your Workspace Hierarchy, allowing you to create more detailed goals or smaller to-do items as part of a task. When a subtask is added, we refer to the original task as the parent task.

Just like tasks, you can add detailed information to like assignees, due dates, and priorities to subtasks.

What you'll need

• Subtasks are available on every ClickUp Plan.

• Guests with Edit permissions, cannot create or delete subtasks.

• Each task can have up to 1,000 subtasks.

View all subtasks

You can view a task's subtasks from the Subtask Sidebar or Subtasks section.

Subtask Sidebar

To view all subtasks from the Subtask Sidebar, click the Subtask Sidebar icon in the upper-left corner. 

Subtasks section

To view all subtasks from the Subtasks section:

1. Open a task.
2. Under the task description, click the subtasks icon.
   • This icon only displays if the task has subtasks. Alternatively, you can scroll down to the Subtasks section.

Create a subtask

You can create subtasks wherever a parent task exists. You can create subtasks from a task or from views.

From tasks

You can create subtasks in Task view using the Subtask Sidebar or Subtasks section.

Subtask Sidebar

To create a subtask from the Subtask Sidebar:

1. In the upper-left corner, click the Subtask Sidebar icon.
2. Click Add subtask.
3. Name the subtask and press Enter on PC or Return on Mac.
4. Click the subtask to open and customize it.

Subtasks section

To create a subtask from the Subtasks section:

1. Under the task description, click the subtasks icon.
   • This icon only displays if the task has subtasks. Alternatively, you can scroll down to the Subtasks section.
2. Click New Task or Add subtask.
   
3. Add the name of your task and any other details.
4. Click Save.

From views

Create subtasks using the Add subtask button to the right of the task name.

Using ClickUp AI

AI is available everywhere in ClickUp text can be used.

Create AI-generated subtasks from any open task that has at least a name.

Take a look at our Intro to ClickUp Brain article for more info on purchasing and using AI. 

Convert a task into a subtask

To convert a task into a subtask:

1. Find the task you want to change.
2. Click on the ellipsis ... at the top of the task window.
3. Select Convert to.
4. Select Convert to subtask.
5. Choose the parent task you want the subtask to be under.

If the tasks you want to convert to subtasks are located in the same view, you can drag one task onto another, and the task will automatically be converted.

Tasks that are converted into subtasks will be given the same permissions as the parent task. 

Convert a subtask into a task

To convert a subtask into a task:

1. Find the subtask you want to change.
2. Click on the ellipsis ... at the top of the subtask window.
3. Select Convert to.
4. Select Convert to task.

Convert nested subtasks

You can move nested subtasks to different nesting levels from the task ellipsis menu, or by dragging and dropping them in List view. 

From tasks

To move a nested subtask, and convert it from a nested subtask to a subtask:

1. In the subtask modal, click the ellipsis ... icon.
2. Select Move.
3. Choose a new location for the task.
   
4. Click Continue to confirm.

You can use Bulk Action Toolbar to select multiple subtasks and make changes in bulk.

Display subtasks across views

You can display all subtasks under a parent task in a List, Board, or Team view. Find the Subtasks button at the top of your Workspace and choose a display option:

• Collapse all: Subtasks are collapsed under their parent tasks. This option is on by default.
• Expand all: Subtasks are expanded under their parent task.
• As separate tasks: Display all subtasks and tasks at the same level. Subtasks can be identified by the subtask icon.

Subtasks that are displayed as separate tasks also remain connected to the parent task.