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How two-way sync with Google Tasks works
What goes back and forth between Team Tasks and Google Tasks, how often it happens, and what to do when it stops.
On a Google-synced board, every column is a Google Tasks list in the board's team Google account. Title, notes, due date, and done status sync both ways. Assignees, comments, and labels stay in Team Tasks because Google Tasks has nowhere to store them. Google changes come in about once a minute while the board is open, about every 10 minutes otherwise, or right away when you click Sync now.
Which boards sync
A board syncs with Google Tasks when it was created with Board mode set to lists (Google) and has a team Google account. Those boards show a Sync now button in the header. Boards with no team account, and boards in status mode, live only in Team Tasks and never touch Google.
On a synced board:
- Each column is one Google Tasks list in the team account.
- Adding a column creates a new Google Tasks list.
- Columns are renamed and removed through the Google list, so the board and Google always agree.
- A column that isn't linked to a list shows "Not in Google Tasks" and a Create Google list button.
What syncs, field by field
| Field | Syncs with Google Tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Both ways | Most recent edit wins |
| Notes | Both ways | Most recent edit wins |
| Due date | Both ways | Date only. Google Tasks has no due time |
| Done / not done | Both ways | |
| Column | Yes | Moving a card to another column moves the task into that column's Google list |
| Assignee | Team Tasks only | Google Tasks has no assignee field |
| Comments, labels, dependencies | Team Tasks only | No equivalent in Google Tasks |
How often it syncs
- Team Tasks to Google: your edits appear for everyone on the board immediately and are sent to Google in the background, usually within seconds. A card shows syncing… while that's in progress.
- Google to Team Tasks: Google Tasks doesn't notify other apps about changes, so Team Tasks checks for them. It checks about once a minute while anyone has the board open, and about every 10 minutes otherwise.
- Right now: click Sync now in the board header. You'll see a message like "Synced — pulled 3, pushed 1."
Deleting tasks and lists
- Deleted in Team Tasks: the task is deleted in Google Tasks too. It goes to the board's Recently deleted page (open it from the Activity sidebar) for 30 days. Restore brings it back on the board and in Google Tasks.
- Deleted in Google Tasks: the task is removed from the board on the next sync and lands in Recently deleted, where you can still restore it.
- A whole list deleted in Google: the column stays on the board with its tasks, but stops syncing, and the board shows a notice. Use Create Google list on that column to link it to a new list.
Fixing sync problems
"Google access was lost — reconnect the team account."
Google stopped accepting the board's team account. This usually happens after a password change, after access was removed in that Google account's security settings, or when the sign-in expires. Whoever owns that Google account should open Profile in Team Tasks and find Google connection. If it says Reauthorization needed or Disconnected, click Refresh access or Reconnect. Then click Sync now on the board.
On your personal My Tasks board, the same problem reads "Google access was lost — sign in again to reconnect."
"Sync failed — try again."
A temporary error talking to Google. Wait a moment and click Sync now. If a card keeps showing sync failed, email support@team-tasks.io with the board link and the code shown in the message.
A change I made in Google Tasks isn't on the board yet
If nobody has the board open, Team Tasks checks for changes only about every 10 minutes. Click Sync now to pull them immediately. Also check that you edited the task in the board's team Google account, not in a personal copy of the list in your own account.
The person who owns the team account is leaving
Before you remove them, have a department admin move the board to another member's Google account. Use Sharing › Google account, choose the new Team Google account, and click Re-home. Your tasks stay on the board. Afterwards, re-link the columns to the new account's lists.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't assignees show up in Google Tasks?
Google Tasks has no field for an assignee, a comment, or a label, so Team Tasks can't write them there. Title, notes, due date, and done status sync both ways; assignees, comments, labels, and department membership stay in Team Tasks.
How fast do changes in Google Tasks show up in Team Tasks?
About once a minute while someone has the board open, and about every 10 minutes otherwise. Click Sync now in the board header to pull changes immediately. Changes made in Team Tasks show up for everyone on the board right away and are sent to Google in the background.
Does Team Tasks sync the time of a due date?
No. Google Tasks stores due dates as a date only, so only the date syncs. A time of day you set in Team Tasks stays in Team Tasks.
I deleted a task by mistake. Can I get it back?
Yes, for 30 days. Open the board's Recently deleted page from the Activity sidebar and click Restore. If the board is linked to Google Tasks, the task is added back there too.
What does 'Google access was lost' mean?
Google stopped accepting the team account's access, usually because its password changed, access was removed in the Google account's security settings, or the sign-in expired. Whoever owns that Google account should open their Profile in Team Tasks and click Reconnect or Refresh access under Google connection.
Still stuck?
Email us. Every message is read and answered by the people who build Team Tasks.
Email support@team-tasks.io