Triggers and Actions are the two key parts of an Automation. Triggers start the Automation and result in an Action. Actions are the changes you want to automate.
Conditions are an optional part of Automations that add more precision and control.
Learn how to use Triggers to create Automations that will save you clicks!
Feature availability and limits vary by plan and user role. Learn more
How Triggers work
Triggers start Automations. They can apply to tasks, subtasks, or both in a specific Space, Folder, or List.
Conditions are optional criteria available on the Business Plan and above that must be true for the Automation to launch. You can add Conditions to your Triggers to filter which tasks will start your Automation.
If you have multiple Automations with the same Trigger, they will fire at the same time.
Available Triggers
The following table lists the available Automation Triggers. To see the corresponding Actions for these Triggers, take a look at our Use Automation Actions article.
Automations triggered by dates use the timezone that's set for the person who created the Automation. If the date doesn't have a time, the Automation will trigger at 4 am local time.
| Automation Trigger | Description | Options |
| Assignee added |
When an assignee on a task is added, an Action will take place. If multiple assignees are selected, adding a single assignee will trigger the Automation. You can choose the new assignee(s) to be the task Watcher, task creator, Automation triggered by, or a Person Custom Field. Adding an assignee from the task creation menu will not trigger this Automation. |
When an assignee is added to: Choose anyone who has access to the List |
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Assignee removed |
When an assignee on a task is removed, an Action will take place. You can choose the removed assignee(s) to be the task Watcher, task creator, Automation triggered by, or a Person Custom Field. |
When an assignee is removed to: Choose anyone who has access to the List |
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Comment is added |
When a new comment is added to a task, an Action will take place. | |
| Custom Field changes |
When the related change happens on a Custom Field, an Action will take place. Custom Field changes that occur when a template is applied won't trigger any Automations. You can use AI Fields and private Custom Fields in Triggers. |
Click Advanced to choose whether the Automation applies to newly created tasks, updates to existing tasks, or both. You have the option to add multiple values to the Custom Field selected. Click the From dropdown below the selected field. Choose a value or select Add/edit options to create a new value. For example, you can select Any to create the Trigger: If the selected Custom Field changes from Any other Custom Field Then the Action will occur. You can also click the To dropdown. You can select a value, click +Add option to add a custom value, or click Advanced settings to search for a Custom Field. |
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Custom Field changes using numerical Formula Fields Currently, numerical Formula Fields do not work as Triggers. |
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| Checklists resolved | When all the checklists are resolved on a task, an Action will take place | |
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Date is Before/After |
On this date, an Action will take place. For example, 10 days before the due date add a comment to this task and @mention watchers. Automations with this Trigger will fire at 4 am local time on the due date. |
By default, the variables are set to 1 Day Before The start date. To edit these variables:
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| Due date arrives | When a due date arrives, an Action will take place. Automations with this Trigger will fire at 4 am local time on the due date. |
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| Due date changes | When a due date changes, an Action will take place. | |
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Every... / On a schedule |
When a scheduled day and time arrives, an Action will apply to all tasks within the List. For example, every Thursday at 8:00, set a Custom Field. This trigger will not fire on closed or completed tasks. |
Starting on: Select a day for the Action to take place. Repeat: Select a schedule for the Action to repeat. Time: Select a time for the Action to take place. Timezone: By default, this is the timezone set in My Settings. Ends: Select a time for this Trigger to end. |
| Existing task or subtask is added to this location | When an existing task or subtask is added to a specific location, an Action will take place | |
| Priority changes | When a Priority changes on a task, an Action will take place. Optionally, only trigger when changing from or to a certain Priority. | When a priority changes from: Choose from any Priority level, including no Priority. |
| Move to this List | When a task is moved to the List you are automating, an Action will take place. | |
| Start date arrives | When a start date arrives on a task, an Action will take place. | |
| Start date changes | When a start date changes, an Action will take place. | |
| Status changes |
When a status changes on a task, an Action will take place. Optionally, only trigger when changing from or to a certain status. To specify individual statuses, click the caret icon to the right of its status group. |
When a status changes from: Choose from any active, done, or closed status in your List
To: Choose from any active, done, or closed status in your List |
| Subtasks resolved |
When all the subtasks are resolved on a task, an Action will take place. This Trigger will only resolve the subtasks directly beneath the parent task. |
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| Tags added |
When any of the selected tags are added to a task, an Action will take place. To require two or more tags to trigger an Automation, you can combine this Trigger with Conditions. The tags must be applied to tasks in order. Tags in the Condition must be applied to tasks before the tags set in this Trigger. |
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| Tags removed | When any of the selected tags are removed from a task, an Action will take place. |
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| Task or subtask created | When a task or subtask is created in the List, an Action will take place. |
By default, any task or subtask created will trigger the Automation. Use the checkboxes to filter for tasks that were created in specific ways. |
| Task or subtask linked | When a task or subtask is linked in the List, an Action will take place. |
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| Time tracked | When time is tracked by a specific person in a task, an Action will take place. |
User: Choose anyone who has access to the List |
| Task type changes | When a task type is changed, an Action will take place. |
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| Task or subtask unblocked | When a task or subtask is unblocked, an Action will take place. |
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