Does Google Tasks work offline?
Not on the web. Google Calendar's offline mode can't show tasks, and Gmail's offline mode covers mail only, so tasks.google.com and the Tasks side panel need a connection. Google doesn't document how its Android and iPhone apps behave offline, so if you rely on it, test it on your phone before a flight or a trip.
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What works without a connection
| Where | Offline? |
|---|---|
| tasks.google.com | No. Google publishes no offline mode for it |
| Tasks in Google Calendar on the web | No. Calendar’s offline mode can’t show tasks |
| Tasks side panel in Gmail | No. Gmail’s offline mode is for reading and writing mail |
| Google Tasks app for Android and iPhone | Not documented by Google |
| Google Keep apps for Android and iPhone (for comparison) | Yes, according to Google |
On a computer
Google Tasks has no desktop app, so on a Mac or PC you use it in the browser, and the browser version needs the internet. Gmail and Google Calendar can both be set up to work offline in Chrome, but neither covers tasks, so on a train or a plane you can’t open your list in the browser until you’re back online.
On your phone
Google’s help pages for the Tasks apps don’t mention offline use at all. Apps like this usually keep a copy of your lists on the phone and send changes when the connection returns, but since Google doesn’t promise it, it’s worth checking before you depend on it:
- Open Google Tasks on your phone while online, so your lists load.
- Turn on airplane mode.
- Add a task and complete another.
- Turn airplane mode off and wait a minute.
- Check tasks.google.com on another device. If both changes are there, your phone app syncs what you do offline.
Planning for a trip
- If you have to see your list offline, open it on your phone before you lose the connection, and check it with the steps above.
- Write anything long or important in Google Keep, whose phone apps Google says work offline, and turn the actionable parts into tasks later.
- On a Mac, Sidekick (coming soon) keeps your list on screen without internet. Tick off, add and edit tasks as usual: the changes stay on the Mac, even if you quit or restart, and go to Google in order once you’re back online.
Questions
Can I use Google Tasks offline on my computer?
No. Google Tasks on a computer runs in the browser, and Google's offline modes don't include it: Google Calendar lists tasks among the things you can't use offline, and Gmail's offline mode is for mail.
Does the Google Tasks app work offline on Android or iPhone?
Google doesn't say. Its help pages and app listing don't describe offline use, so test it: turn on airplane mode, add and complete a task, turn the connection back on, and check the change on another device.
Does Google Keep work offline?
In its phone apps, yes. Google says offline use works in the Keep apps for Android and iPhone, but not on computers.
Can I see my Google Tasks on a Mac without internet?
In a browser, no. Sidekick (coming soon) keeps a saved copy of your tasks on the Mac, so your list stays on screen when you're offline, and anything you change is saved on the Mac and syncs to Google when you're back online.