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How to Sort Completed To-Do Items in OneNote

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to configure OneNote to automatically move completed or checked To-Do list items to the top or bottom of a page or list.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing and managing daily task lists or To-Do checklists.
Observed behavior: OneNote lacks a built-in feature to automatically sort or move checked To-Do items, leaving completed tasks mixed randomly with incomplete ones.

Before you start

Before manually reorganizing your tasks, ensure your current OneNote notebooks are fully synced to the cloud to prevent any accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Sort Completed To-Do Items

Since OneNote does not have an automatic sorting feature, manually grouping completed tasks is the most reliable workaround to keep your lists organized.

Microsoft OneNote currently lacks a native setting to automatically push completed items to the bottom of a list. To maintain a clean workspace, users must manually select and move their checked items.

Select the completed tasks

Hover your mouse pointer over the completed To-Do item until the grip icon (a four-headed arrow) appears next to the checkbox, then click it to select the entire line.

Drag items to the bottom

Click and hold the grip icon, then drag the selected task to the bottom of your To-Do list or into a dedicated 'Completed Tasks' section on the page.

Use cut and paste as an alternative

Highlight the completed items, press Ctrl+X (Windows) or Cmd+X (Mac) to cut them, move your cursor to the bottom of the list, and press Ctrl+V or Cmd+V to paste them.

Submit Feature Feedback: You can vote for the 'To-Do List Sort' suggestion in the official OneNote Feedback Community to encourage Microsoft to develop this feature in future updates.

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If you are frustrated by the limitations of Microsoft OneNote and Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, comprehensive suite for creating dynamic checklists, managing documents, and organizing your daily tasks seamlessly.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website, download the free office suite installer for your operating system, and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Access Task Templates: Open WPS Writer or WPS Spreadsheet, navigate to the Home tab, and click 'Templates' to search for 'To-Do List'.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Microsoft add an auto-sort feature for To-Do lists in OneNote?

Microsoft relies on user feedback to prioritize new features. While there is no official release date for an auto-sort feature, many users have upvoted the 'To-Do List Sort' idea in the OneNote Feedback Community.

Can I use tags to organize completed items in OneNote?

Yes. You can use the 'Find Tags' feature located in the Home tab to search for all To-Do tags. This opens the Tags Summary pane, where checked and unchecked items are grouped together for easier review.

Is there a third-party add-in to automatically sort OneNote checkboxes?

Some third-party macro tools, such as Onetastic, offer custom scripts that can sort lists alphabetically or by checkbox status. However, native OneNote applications do not support this out of the box.

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