Getting Started
Welcome to Locus GTD!
Locus is built for ultimate simplicity and efficiency. This guide will help you get up and running with this powerful task management app — whether you're looking for a simple, handy to-do tool or want to build a complete GTD (Getting Things Done) system, you'll find the approach that works best for you.
What is GTD?
Getting Things Done (GTD) is a classic time management methodology created by David Allen. Its core idea is: get everything out of your head and into an external system you trust, so you can focus with a clear mind on what matters most right now.
The GTD workflow can be summarized in four steps:
- Capture — Collect everything that has your attention
- Organize — Determine what each item means and put it where it belongs
- Review — Regularly reflect on and update your system
- Engage — Confidently choose and complete tasks
Locus is designed entirely around these four steps. Let's walk through the workflow together.
Step 1: Capture — Get It Into the Inbox
One of GTD's core principles: you should capture every thought that crosses your mind into a reliable inbox, no matter how big or small. When you know everything important is safely stored in a place you can always access, you can let go of anxiety and focus on what's in front of you.
Adding tasks to the inbox in Locus is simple:
- Tap the + button at the bottom of the homepage
- Type your thought
- Tap save — done!
That's it. Whether it's something small like "clean up the balcony" or something big like "find a new job," just toss it into the inbox, put down your phone, and get back to what you were doing.
More Ways to Capture
- Long press the + button: Opens the full task editor where you can set project, tags, dates, and more
- Long press the app icon: Quick add a task from the home screen
- Home screen widget: Tap the add button on the widget
- Siri Shortcuts: Say "Add to Locus" for hands-free capture
- Share extension: Share content from other apps directly to Locus
Step 2: Clarify & Organize — Process Your Inbox
When you have a moment, it's time to process your inbox. Go through each item, think about what it means, and make a decision.
Locus provides a dedicated Processing Mode: tap the action button on the homepage (top-left on iOS 26 and above, bottom-left on earlier versions), then select "Process" to enter a card-based interface where you can process items one by one. You can also enter the Inbox view and tap the processing button in the top-right corner.
For each item, consider the following questions:
| Question | Action |
|---|---|
| Can it be done in a few minutes? | Do it now and mark as completed |
| Is it part of a bigger goal? | Assign to an existing project, or create a new one |
| Is it tied to a specific context? (place, person, tool, etc.) | Add the appropriate tag |
| Must it be done by a certain date? | Set a due date |
| Can it be deferred until a later date? | Set a defer date |
| How long will it take? | Set an estimated duration |
| Is it a recurring task? | Set up repeat rules |
| Do you need a reminder at a specific time? | Add a custom notification |
| Are there related files or materials? | Add attachments |
| Is it a complex, multi-step effort? | Convert it to a project |
You Don't Have to Get It Perfect
When starting out, you don't need to make a complete decision for every item. Just set the most important details (like assigning a project or setting a due date) and fill in the rest later. If you can't decide what to do with something, feel free to skip it and come back next time.
Step 3: Engage — Choose and Complete Tasks
After processing a number of inbox items, you'll find that you now have task lists across multiple dimensions. Locus provides rich views to help you find the right task to work on:
Schedule
The schedule displays your tasks on a timeline, divided into Past, Today, Soon, and Future sections. This is where you should look every day — prioritize overdue and today's tasks first.
Projects
In the Projects view, you can see each project's task list and progress. For sequential projects, Locus automatically identifies the next action — the task you should work on right now.
Tags
Tags help you filter tasks by context. For example, when you're at the office, check all tasks under the "Office" tag; when you need to make calls, check the "Phone" tag.
Perspectives
Perspectives are one of Locus's most powerful features — you can define custom filter rules combining status, dates, tags, projects, and more to create task views tailored exactly to your needs.
Tips for Engagement
- Trust your instincts: Start with the task you feel is most important or most appropriate right now
- Check the schedule: Handle overdue and today's tasks
- Use context: Look at the tags that match your current situation
- Browse projects: Check each project's next action
Step 4: Review — Keep Your System Healthy
Another key part of GTD is regular review. Over time, the status of tasks and projects will change. If you don't update your system accordingly, it will gradually lose its reliability. Building a habit of regular review is essential.
Why Review?
In Locus, every task appears in at least one of these three places:
- Inbox — which you're already processing regularly
- A project's task list — which needs to be updated through review
- Schedule — which will remind you as dates approach
The inbox and schedule have natural processing mechanisms, so the focus of review is your project list.
Using Locus's Review Feature
When projects are due for review, tap the action button on the homepage (top-left on iOS 26 and above, bottom-left on earlier versions), then select "Review" to enter review mode. You'll walk through each project that needs reviewing:
For each project, ask yourself:
- Is this project complete? If so, mark it as done
- Has anything changed? Do you need to add new tasks, mark tasks as complete, or adjust priorities?
- What's the next action?
Each project can have a review interval (e.g., weekly, biweekly, monthly), and Locus will automatically remind you when a review is due.
Suggested Review Rhythm
- Daily: Quickly scan the schedule to confirm today's tasks
- Weekly: Review all active projects, clear the inbox, update task statuses
More Powerful Features
With the four steps above, you've mastered the core workflow for managing your daily life and work with Locus. But this is just the tip of the iceberg — Locus offers many more powerful features to help you handle more complex scenarios:
| Feature | Description | Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| 📥 Inbox Processing | Card-based processing flow for efficient inbox triage | Inbox Processing |
| 📋 Project Management | Parallel/sequential/single action lists with folder hierarchy | Project Management |
| 🏷️ Tag System | Multi-level tags, tag groups, and location-based contexts | Tags & Contexts |
| 🎯 Custom Perspectives | Flexible rule combinations to build your own task views | Custom Perspectives |
| 📅 Calendar Integration | Seamless Apple Calendar integration for a unified schedule | Calendar Integration |
| 🔔 Smart Notifications | Due date reminders, custom notifications, location alerts | Glossary |
| 🔁 Repeating Tasks | Flexible repeat rules for automatically recurring tasks | Glossary |
| 📱 Home Screen Widgets | Quickly view today's tasks and inbox from your home screen | Glossary |
| ☁️ iCloud Sync | Automatic multi-device sync with privacy and security | Glossary |
Need Help?
Check out our FAQ, or contact us through the app's settings page.