# How to export your Todoist data *Last updated 2026-09-22 · Matthew Blode* Export a Todoist project as CSV, or a Pro/Business ZIP of all active projects. Google Sheets can include completed tasks; then preview a Done Bear import. ## The short answer > To export Todoist, open a project on web or desktop, select the three dots, then Manage data, then Export as CSV. Pro and Business can download a ZIP of every active project from Settings, Backups. Use Google Sheets when completed tasks matter, because CSV and ZIP skip them. Check recurring dates before you leave. ## Key takeaways - A project CSV is the easiest way to move one active project. - Pro and Business backups contain one CSV for each active project. - Project CSVs and backups leave out completed tasks. - Google Sheets can include completed tasks but is made for reporting. - The main API sync request saves active data, not completed task records. --- Todoist has four export routes, and each one leaves something out. A project CSV works on every plan. A ZIP backup of every active project needs Pro or Business. Google Sheets is the route that includes completed tasks, and the API saves active data as JSON. Pick the route by what you need to keep. ## Pick the right export | Route | Best for | What it misses | | ------------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | Project CSV | Moving one active project | Completed tasks and recurring start dates | | ZIP backup | Copying every active project | Completed tasks and archived projects | | Google Sheets | Reviewing active and finished work | Fields not offered in the export checklist | | API | Active account data in JSON | Completed records and archives need more work | A project CSV is available on every Todoist plan. The ZIP backup is available on Pro and Business. Google Sheets is available through an extension. The API works on every plan but requires a personal token and a command. If you only want a backup for peace of mind, use the route with the fewest steps that keeps the fields you care about. If you are leaving Todoist, check dates, finished work, archived projects, and attachments before choosing. The main API sync request does not solve those gaps by itself. ## Export one project as CSV Use Todoist in a web browser or the Mac or Windows desktop app: 1. Open the project. 2. Select the three dots at the top right. 3. Choose **Manage data**. 4. Choose **Export as CSV**. The CSV downloads to your computer. Repeat these steps for each project you want to move. The file includes active tasks, sections, descriptions, dates, times, comments, and links to attachments. It does not include completed tasks. Labels appear inside the task name as `@labelname`, and subtasks are shown by their indent number. Open the file before moving it. The first row names the columns, and each later row can be a task, section, or note. A note row belongs to the task above it. Avoid rearranging rows unless you understand that structure, because moving a note can attach a comment to the wrong task. Recurring tasks need extra care. Todoist says a task such as “every year starting January 31” becomes “every year” because the start date is not saved. Write down those start dates before you move. ## Download every active project as a ZIP Todoist creates backups for Pro and Business accounts. To download one: 1. Select your avatar. 2. Open **Settings**. 3. Open **Backups**. 4. Choose **Download** beside a backup. 5. Extract the ZIP file on your computer. The ZIP contains one CSV for every active project. It leaves out completed tasks and archived projects. If an archived project matters, unarchive it before the next backup. The main API sync request is not a complete archive either. Todoist stores up to 21 backups and removes the oldest as new ones appear. Download a copy if you want to keep that particular day. A backup is a folder of project files. No single file in it recreates the whole account in another app. Open the ZIP and check that every expected active project has a CSV. Shared project settings, filters, and the place each project had in your sidebar sit outside those files, so write down anything you will need to rebuild. ## Export completed tasks to Google Sheets First add Todoist’s Export to Google Sheets extension under **Settings → Integrations**. Then open a project, select the three dots, choose **Export to Google Sheets**, choose the fields, include completed tasks, and select **Export**. Todoist lists due date, priority, creation date, description, section, and assignee among the available fields. Check the field list before you export, because Todoist built this route for reports and it is not a full account backup. A large project can take a while or time out. Check Google Sheets before trying again. Todoist also says an active repeating task is treated as unfinished until you complete it forever. ## Save active data with the API This route is optional. Use it when you want active projects, tasks, labels, and other current account data in JSON and are comfortable with a terminal. Get your personal token from Todoist’s integration settings, then run: ```bash curl -o todoist-active-export.json \ -X POST https://api.todoist.com/api/v1/sync \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \ -d sync_token='*' \ -d resource_types='["all"]' ``` The command saves the response as `todoist-active-export.json`. Keep the token private. This sync response covers active resources. Its `completed_info` data contains completion statistics, not completed task records, and archived projects are not a complete history here. Todoist provides separate completed-task endpoints, but they are beyond this beginner-friendly path. Use Google Sheets when completed tasks are the main reason for exporting. Do not paste the token into a shared document or a command you plan to publish. The response can contain task names, descriptions, comments, and other private work. Store it like a backup, then remove the token from your terminal history if other people use the same computer. ## Check the export before you leave Open the exported file and find five things you already know: 1. An active task with a date. 2. A completed task, if you meant to keep history. 3. A recurring task with a known start date. 4. A subtask. 5. A task with an attachment. If something is missing in this small check, it will be missing after the move. Choose another route or make a separate copy of that information. Keep Todoist installed until the new list has survived normal use. For a ZIP backup, compare the number of extracted CSV files with the number of active projects in Todoist. For Google Sheets, search for one old completed task and one active repeating task. For the API snapshot, open `todoist-active-export.json` with a text editor and search for an active project name you recognise. Do not expect a completed task record to appear in that sync response. Exporting does not delete or change your Todoist tasks. Do the export before you cancel or downgrade, because backup access and visible activity history depend on the plan. ## Import a Todoist CSV into Done Bear [Start free and open the Todoist importer](/sign-up?returnTo=%2Fonboarding%3Fintent%3Dimport%26source%3Dtodoist) to preview a project export before adding it to your list. Open **Settings → Import**, choose **Todoist**, and upload one project CSV. If you downloaded a ZIP backup, extract it first and import the CSV files one at a time. Done Bear shows a preview before importing. Check the task and project counts, dates, and fields it could not read. Done Bear does not import a CSV's section names or comment rows, and labels stay in the task title as `@labelname` text. Write down any sections you want to rebuild as headings. The [Todoist migration page](/migrate/todoist) maps every field. If a date has a time zone, check one morning or late-night task because those are the easiest to shift to another day. If the preview lists a field Done Bear does not use, that field is not imported, so copy anything you need from it first. After the import, download the report from the completion screen if any rows could not be read. Start with one small project. Choose where it should go, confirm the import, and check the result. The original Todoist project is not changed. The [Done Bear import guide](/docs/help/importing) explains the preview, repeat imports, and undo. If Todoist already works well for you, keep it. The [Todoist comparison](/todoist-alternative) explains the platform and workflow trade-offs. If you searched because you use Todoist on a PC, [Todoist for Windows](/blog/todoist-for-windows) covers that path. The [Windows app](/windows) is the native install. Done Bear can also export a workspace to JSON later. The [export guide](/docs/cli/export) lists what that file contains. ## Frequently asked questions ### How do I export Todoist? On the web or desktop app, open a project, select the three dots, choose Manage data, then Export as CSV. For every active project at once, Pro and Business users can open Settings, then Backups, and download a ZIP. Use Google Sheets if completed tasks matter. ### Can I export all my Todoist projects at once? Yes, if you have Pro or Business. Open Settings, choose Backups, and download a ZIP containing one CSV for each active project. Completed tasks and archived projects are not included. The API can save active account data on every plan, but its main sync response is not a complete account history. ### Does a Todoist export include completed tasks? A project CSV and a ZIP backup do not include completed tasks. The Export to Google Sheets extension can include them with fields such as due date, priority, description, section, and assignee. The main API sync response returns active resources and completion statistics, while completed task records use separate endpoints. ### Why does my recurring task look wrong after export? Todoist says a CSV does not save the start date of a recurring date. Its example is a task that repeats every year starting January 31. After export, it becomes every year. Check every recurring task after an export because the file does not flag which ones changed. ### Can I export from the Todoist mobile app? No. Todoist lists project CSV, backup downloads, and the Google Sheets extension for the web and desktop apps, not the mobile apps. Use a Mac, Windows PC, or Todoist in a browser. Export before cancelling or downgrading so you still have access to the route you chose. ## Where this information comes from - [Todoist, Import or export a project as a CSV file in Todoist (CSV export is per project on Beginner, Pro and Business, works on web, macOS and Windows, and excludes completed tasks)](https://www.todoist.com/help/articles/import-or-export-a-project-as-a-csv-file-in-todoist-YC8YvN) - [Todoist, Download or restore backups in Todoist (Pro and Business backups are ZIP files of active-project CSVs and exclude completed tasks and archived projects)](https://www.todoist.com/help/articles/download-or-restore-backups-in-todoist-ywaJeQbN) - [Todoist, Format a CSV file to import into Todoist (Todoist CSVs use structured columns for task type, content, priority, dates and hierarchy)](https://www.todoist.com/help/articles/format-a-csv-file-to-import-into-todoist-UVUXTmm6) - [Todoist, Use the Export to Google Sheets extension with Todoist (the Google Sheets extension can include active and completed tasks with selected reporting fields)](https://www.todoist.com/help/articles/use-the-export-to-google-sheets-extension-with-todoist-A0r79pnM5) - [Todoist, Usage limits in Todoist (the Beginner plan has shorter activity history than Pro and Business)](https://www.todoist.com/help/articles/usage-limits-in-todoist-e5rcSY) - [Todoist, Todoist API v1 reference (a sync request with an asterisk token returns active resources as JSON, while completed task records use separate endpoints)](https://developer.todoist.com/api/v1/) - [Doist, Privacy Policy (Doist provides access to account information through its API)](https://doist.com/privacy) --- Every Done Bear page is listed at https://donebear.com/llms.txt. Any page has a markdown copy at its URL plus `.md`. Start from the map rather than guessing a path.