How to Use Google Tasks on Desktop

Let’s be honest, most people including me didn’t like the Google Tasks webapp. It was just a stretched-out version of the mobile app and had a lot of white space making it look like incomplete work. But nonetheless, it helped to get the work done. If you are looking to get the same Tasks app back, here is a small workaround.

1. Getting Google Tasks Back

You can’t access Tasks just by opening tasks.google.com anymore, but people at StackOverflow found a workaround with a hidden link that works. It is the same website that you are looking for which Google killed a while ago. This is how it works – when you want to open Google Tasks in the sidebar of Google Calendar, Google fetches the results from the above link. So now, you can directly access it to use Google Tasks in a full-screen browser window. Pros

Can get the official Google Tasks app back

Cons

Lot of whitespaces and can’t take the full usage of desktop displayShould go to that specific link every time to access

Open Google Tasks

2. TasksBoard

TasksBoard is a third-party service that provides Google Tasks lists on a Kanban board. The free plan offers even more features than the official Google Tasks app like drag-n-drop tasks from one list to another, creating multiple boards, sharing lists with anyone, exporting the list to a spreadsheet, etc. You also have a paid plan that starts at $3.30/month allowing you can add labels, set priorities, apply themes, create project boards to work with fellow workers, etc. The premium tier can make your Google Tasks work somewhat like Trello. All of this is offered in the same Google’s material design layout and style. All this data is also synced with Google Tasks for you to use in the Gmail sidebar and Android and iOS apps. As this is a PWA, you can actually install it on your desktop just like an app. Pros

Drop and drop tasks from one list to anotherView tasks in a Kanban boardPaid option adds even more features like collaborationCan install it as PWA on desktop

Cons

No Android/iOS app support to use all these additional features on smartphone

Visit TasksBoard

3. Full Screen for Google Tasks

This Chrome extension takes a completely new take on Google Tasks. It provides all the lists in the left sidebar, all the tasks within the list at the center, and details of each task in the right sidebar. Thus taking advantage of all that desktop space. This is sort of a Chrome app, so once you have downloaded the extension and open it, it launches a new window that you can pin to Taskbar and use as a native app. Pros

Better layout for Google Tasks on desktopKeyboard shortcuts

Cons

Option to delete tasks in not enabled by default

Add Full-Srceen for Google Tasks Extension to Chrome

4. Use Emulator

To use the Google Tasks Android app on your Windows or Mac computer, you need an Android Emulator. While there are many, I prefer the Nox Player which is lightweight and works great. Just head over to the Nox Player website to download and install the app. Once done, open it and complete the set-up process. Now open the Play Store, log in with Google and search for the Google Tasks to download and install it. While the emulator works well, if you are on Windows and own a Samsung phone, you have a better option in the Microsoft’s Your Phone app. Once you have installed and completed the set-up, open the apps section and you are ready to use all the apps installed on your Samsung phone from the desktop itself. Android emulator will work similarly for non-Samsung phones. Pros

Ability to access many other Android apps along with Google Tasks

Cons

Emulators are heavy to run on low-end PCsYou need to open the emulator app every time you want to access Google Tasks

Download Nox Player | Your Phone Companion

Wrap up – How to use Google Tasks on Desktop

While the first method is will bring the Google Tasks website back from the dead, I prefer the TasksBoard app that has way more functionality and a Kanban layout. If TasksBoard is overkill, you can try Full Screen for Google Tasks to get the same Google Tasks features but with a better full-screen layout. On the other hand, Android emulators and Your Phone can access not only Tasks but all Android apps on the desktop. Also Read: Microsoft To Do vs Google Tasks: Why I Use the Former