# Creating one-off tasks

Need something done today that isn't on a checklist? Create a one-off task for one person or the whole location, on the web or in the app, or straight from a chat message.

For: Managers, Admins · On: Web, iOS, Android · [Help Center](https://www.mays.app/help) › [Tasks & checklists](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists) · Last updated October 13, 2026 · Mays Team

Need something done that isn't on a checklist? Managers and admins can create a one-off task for one person or the whole location, on the web or in the app, or from a chat message.

One-off tasks show up at the top of the list in the app, in a group called **Custom**. For work that repeats, build a checklist template instead. See [Creating a checklist template](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/create-a-checklist-template).

## Create a task on the web

1. Go to **Tasks → Tasks** and click **Create Task**.
2. Open the **Custom Task** tab.
3. Enter the **Task Title** and, if you like, a **Description**.
4. Pick the **Response Type** and the **Priority** (**High**, **Medium** or **Low**). For the answer types, see [Task answer types](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/task-response-types).
5. Pick the **Location**.
6. Under **Assign To**, leave **Location Task (any staff)** or pick one person.
7. Tick **Carry unfinished duties through the week** if it may take a few days. Otherwise the task drops off the list after today.
8. Click **Create Task**.

![The Create Task window on the web with the Custom Task tab: Task Title Wipe down the specials board, a description, Response Type Checkbox, Priority Medium, Location South, Assign To Location Task (any staff), the Carry unfinished duties through the week box and the Create Task button](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__one-off-tasks__01-create-task-web.562052f35a.png)

A task created on the web is always for today. To set another day, create it in the app.

The **From Template** tab adds all the tasks of a checklist template to a location's list for today, optionally for one person. Use it when you need an extra run of a checklist.

## Create a task in the app

1. In the **Tasks** tab, tap **+** (top right on iPhone, bottom right on Android). If you can also add vendor invoices, **+** asks what to add: choose **New task**.
2. Enter the **Title** and, if you like, a **Description** and **Instructions**.
3. If you have more than one location, pick the **Branch**.
4. Under **Assign to**, leave **Everyone at branch** or pick one person.
5. Pick the **Response Type**. Some types have extra settings:
   - **Number:** a unit (for example *boxes*) and a **Min** and **Max**.
   - **Text:** an optional maximum length.
   - **Multiple Choice:** at least two options.
6. Pick the priority and the **Due Date**. It starts on today.
7. Tap **Create**.

![The New Task screen on iPhone: the title Photograph the espresso grinder serial plate, a description, Assign to Olivia South, Response Type Photo, Priority High and Due Date Sep 24, 2026](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__one-off-tasks__02-new-task-app.592fe2ba40.png)

The task appears on the list for its due date.

## Create a task from a chat message (iPhone)

Press and hold a message, choose **Create Task**, and **New Task** opens with the message's text as the title. If the title is empty, type one. Then continue as above. On Android, **Create Task** in the chat menu doesn't work yet, so use the **+** in the **Tasks** tab.

![A chat message on iPhone held down to show its menu: the reactions, and Reply, Copy, Forward and Create Task](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__one-off-tasks__03-create-task-from-message.91747855c6.png)

## Who sees it and who's told

| Assigned to | Who sees it in the app | Notification |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **One person** | Only that person. | They get *New Task Assigned: You have a new task: (title)*. |
| **Everyone at the location** | Everyone at that location. | If it's due today, everyone with a published shift there right now gets *New Task: Just added: (title)*. |

Staff whose location asks them to clock in first see the task once they're clocked in there. See [Why can't I see my tasks?](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/why-cant-i-see-my-tasks)

In the app, managers see the location's tasks and their own, but not a task assigned to someone else. To follow those, use **Tasks → Tasks** on the web. The **Custom (ad-hoc)** filter shows one-off tasks only.

## Change or delete a one-off task

You can change or delete a one-off task until someone completes it.

- **Web:** open it from **Tasks → Tasks** and use the **Edit task** or **Delete task** icon.
- **iPhone:** open the task, tap **⋯** and choose **Edit task** or **Delete task**.
- **Android:** open the task and tap the pencil or the bin.

Editing changes the title, description and instructions. To change anything else, delete the task and create it again. Deleting asks you to confirm and can't be undone.

## Who can create one-off tasks

Managers, for their own locations, and admins. For a custom role, the permission is **Create custom tasks, reject submissions**.

## Good to know

- **Multiple choice and inventory counts from the web can't be completed.** The web has no place for the options or the items, and the app needs them. Create a multiple-choice task in the app, and use a checklist template for inventory counts (see [Inventory-count and restock tasks](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/inventory-count-tasks)).
- **Completed one-off tasks** appear in **History** like any other task, and managers can review and reject them. See [Reviewing and rejecting completed tasks](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/review-and-reject-tasks).
- **Photo answers** can be checked by AI like any other photo task. See [AI photo verification](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/ai-photo-verification).

## Related articles

- Tasks & checklists: [Task answer types](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/task-response-types) — Every task has an answer type that decides how staff complete it. Tick a box, take a photo, enter a number or text, pick an option, record a location, count stock or fill in a form.
- Tasks & checklists: [Creating a checklist template](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/create-a-checklist-template) — Build an opening, closing or cleaning checklist once as a template — groups, tasks and answer types — and Mays turns it into your team's task list in the app.
- Tasks & checklists: [Completing your tasks in the app](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/complete-tasks-on-mobile) — Your checklist lives in the Tasks tab of the Mays app. Tick checkboxes with one tap, take photos, enter numbers, add a note — and fix and resend a task your manager sent back.
- Tasks & checklists: [Reviewing and rejecting completed tasks](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/review-and-reject-tasks) — Check what your team completed — photos, numbers, notes — on the web Tasks page or in the app, and send a task back with a reason when it isn't done right.
- Team chat: [Replies, reactions and other message actions](https://www.mays.app/help/team-chat/message-actions) — Press and hold a message to react, reply, forward, copy, edit or delete it, see who read it, or turn it into a task. What each action does in the Mays app.
- Tasks & checklists: [Why can't I see my tasks?](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/why-cant-i-see-my-tasks) — The Tasks tab is empty or a checklist is missing? Usually you need to clock in, it's outside the checklist's hours, or it isn't assigned to your role or location. Here's how to check.
- Inventory: [Inventory-count and restock tasks](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/inventory-count-tasks) — Add an Inventory Count task to a checklist so staff count a short list of items. Anything under its minimum becomes a Restock Order task for managers.

## Still need help?

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Canonical: https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/one-off-tasks