Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and answers about Locus GTD.

General Questions

What is GTD?

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a time management method created by David Allen. It's based on the idea of moving tasks out of your mind and into an external system, freeing your mental space for focusing on actually doing the work.

The five steps of GTD are:

1. Capture: Collect what has your attention
2. Clarify: Process what it means
3. Organize: Put it where it belongs
4. Reflect: Review frequently
5. Engage: Simply do

Is Locus GTD free?

Locus GTD offers both free and premium features:

• Free: Basic task management, projects, tags, and perspectives
• Premium: Advanced features, unlimited projects, calendar integration, and more

Check the app for current pricing and subscription options.

Does Locus GTD sync across devices?

Yes! Locus GTD uses iCloud to sync your data across all your Apple devices:

• iPhone
• iPad
• Mac (if available)

All your tasks, projects, and settings stay in sync automatically.

Getting Started

How do I start using Locus GTD?

1. Capture everything: Spend 15-30 minutes adding all your tasks to the inbox
2. Process your inbox: Organize tasks into projects and add tags
3. Create perspectives: Set up custom views for your workflow
4. Start doing: Use Next Actions to focus on what's important

What's the difference between a task and a project?

• Task: A single action item (e.g., "Call dentist")
• Project: Any outcome requiring multiple steps (e.g., "Plan vacation")

If it takes more than one action, it's a project!

Should I use tags for everything?

No! Only tag about 30% of your tasks:

• ✅ Tag tasks you'll filter by context
• ✅ Tag tasks needing specific conditions
• ❌ Don't tag every single task
• ❌ Don't create too many tags

Tasks & Projects

How do I create a subtask?

Two ways:

1. Drag and drop: Drag a task over another task and hold
2. In task editor: Set the parent task field

What's the difference between parallel and sequential projects?

• Parallel: Tasks can be done in any order (most projects)
• Sequential: Tasks must be done in a specific order (step-by-step processes)
• Single Action List: Independent tasks grouped by theme

Can I move tasks between projects?

Yes! Open the task and change the project field. The task will move to the new project.

How do I archive completed projects?

1. Open the project
2. Change status to Completed
3. Completed projects are automatically archived

You can view archived projects in Settings.

Inbox & Processing

What should go in the inbox?

Everything! The inbox is for:

• Quick thoughts and ideas
• Tasks you haven't organized yet
• Items needing clarification
• Anything capturing your attention

How often should I process my inbox?

Recommended schedule:

• Daily: Quick 5-minute review
• Weekly: Thorough clearing to zero

The goal is to keep your inbox empty or near-empty.

What's the two-minute rule?

If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it immediately instead of adding it to your system. This prevents small tasks from cluttering your lists.

Tags & Perspectives

How many tags should I create?

Start with 10-15 essential tags:

• 3 energy levels
• 3-5 locations
• 2-3 collaboration types
• A few special contexts

Add more only when you have a clear need.

What's the difference between tags and projects?

• Projects: Group related tasks toward a goal
• Tags: Describe the context needed to do a task

Example: A task in "Website Redesign" project might have tags "Computer" and "High Energy".

How do I create a good perspective?

Ask yourself:

1. What do I want to see? (e.g., quick tasks, office work)
2. When will I use this? (e.g., morning, at office)
3. What conditions must be met? (e.g., tags, duration, project)

Test it for a week and refine.

Can I share perspectives with others?

Not currently, but you can manually recreate a perspective by sharing the filter rules.

Calendar & Scheduling

Do I need to enable calendar integration?

No, it's optional. Enable it if you want to:

• View calendar events alongside tasks
• Manage everything in one place
• See your complete schedule

Will Locus GTD create calendar events?

Only if you:

1. Mark a task as an "Event", or
2. Manually create an event in Locus

Regular tasks don't create calendar events automatically.

What's the difference between due date and defer date?

• Due Date: When the task should be completed
• Defer Date: When the task becomes available to work on

Use defer dates for tasks you can't start yet.

Reminders & Notifications

How do I set up task reminders?

Two types:

1. Due Date Reminder: Automatic notification at due time
2. Custom Reminders: Add specific notification times in task editor

What are alarm reminders?

iOS 26.0+ only: Alarm reminders use the system alarm:

• Stronger notification
• Can't be dismissed easily
• Shows in Dynamic Island
• Snooze option available

Enable by tapping the bell icon when setting due time.

Why am I not receiving notifications?

Check:

1. App Permissions: Settings → Notifications → Locus GTD
2. Focus Mode: Ensure Locus is allowed during Focus
3. Time-Sensitive: Enable for important reminders
4. Task Settings: Verify reminder is set correctly

Syncing & Data

Where is my data stored?

• Locally: On your device using SwiftData
• Cloud: Synced via iCloud (encrypted)
• No third-party servers: Your data stays in Apple's ecosystem

What if I don't use iCloud?

You can still use Locus GTD! Features without iCloud:

• ✅ All task management features
• ✅ Projects, tags, perspectives
• ❌ Sync across devices
• ❌ Automatic backups

How do I backup my data?

Your data is automatically backed up through:

1. iCloud Backup: If iCloud is enabled
2. Device Backup: iTunes/Finder backups

Can I export my data?

Currently, data export is limited. Future versions will include:

• Export to CSV
• Export to JSON
• Backup files

Subscription & Billing

What's included in the free version?

Free features include:

• Unlimited tasks
• Basic projects (limited number)
• Tags and perspectives
• Inbox processing
• Next Actions view

What do I get with Premium?

Premium unlocks:

• Unlimited projects and folders
• Calendar integration
• Advanced perspectives
• Priority support
• Future premium features

Can I try Premium before subscribing?

Yes! Premium includes a free trial period. Check the app for current trial length.

How do I cancel my subscription?

1. Open iOS Settings
2. Tap your name → Subscriptions
3. Find Locus GTD
4. Tap Cancel Subscription

Troubleshooting

The app is slow or laggy

Try these steps:

1. Restart the app: Force quit and reopen
2. Check storage: Ensure device has free space
3. Update app: Install latest version
4. Reduce tasks: Archive completed projects

Tasks aren't syncing

Check:

1. iCloud Status: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud
2. Internet Connection: Ensure you're online
3. iCloud Drive: Must be enabled
4. Wait: Sync can take a few minutes

I accidentally deleted a task/project

Unfortunately, there's no undo for deletions currently. Best practices:

• Use "On Hold" status instead of deleting
• Regular backups via iCloud
• Be careful with swipe-to-delete

The app crashed

If the app crashes:

1. Update: Install latest version
2. Restart device: Power off and on
3. Report: Use in-app feedback to report crash
4. Reinstall: Last resort - uninstall and reinstall

Tips & Best Practices

How do I stay consistent with GTD?

1. Daily: Process inbox (5 min)
2. Weekly: Review all projects (30-60 min)
3. Monthly: Review goals and perspectives
4. Keep it simple: Don't over-organize

What's the best way to organize projects?

Use folders and categories:

📁 Work
├── 📋 Active Projects
└── 📋 Ongoing Responsibilities

📁 Personal
├── 📋 Home
├── 📋 Health
└── 📋 Learning

How do I handle recurring tasks?

1. Create the task
2. Set due date
3. Enable repeat settings
4. Choose pattern (daily, weekly, monthly)

Task will automatically recreate after completion.

Should I use flagging or perspectives?

Both!

• Flagging: Quick, temporary priority marking
• Perspectives: Permanent, filtered views

Use flags for "today's priorities" and perspectives for "ongoing contexts".

Contact & Support

How do I report a bug?

1. Go to Settings → Feedback
2. Describe the issue
3. Include steps to reproduce
4. Submit

How do I request a feature?

Same as bug reports:

1. Settings → Feedback
2. Describe your feature request
3. Explain your use case
4. Submit

Where can I learn more about GTD?

Resources:

• Book: "Getting Things Done" by David Allen
• Website: gettingthingsdone.com
• Community: GTD forums and subreddits
• Courses: Official GTD training programs

Is there a user community?

Check the app's website or social media for:

• User forums
• Discord/Slack communities
• Social media groups
• Newsletter

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Can't find your answer? Contact support through the app's Settings → Feedback.