How to Import Tasks into Foci from Google Tasks, Todoist, Asana, or Notion

Switching focus apps shouldn't mean retyping weeks of work. Foci imports tasks from the tools you already use — Google Tasks, Todoist, Asana, Notion, or any plain CSV — and shows you a preview before anything lands in your workspace.

This is the single guide for all of it. Pick your source below, or skip ahead to Choose where imported tasks land to see how Foci keeps your lists organized.

Where to find Import in Foci

There are three ways in, and all of them open the same screen (Settings → Data → Import & export):

1. During onboarding — the welcome card links to "Coming from another app? Import tasks"
2. The ⋯ menu — open Menu → Import tasks…
3. The Projects page — click Import next to New project

No account is required. Imports write to your device's local workspace until you choose to sync.

Step 1: Export from your current tool

Google Tasks

Google Tasks has no direct CSV button, so use Google Takeout:

1. Go to Google Takeout
2. Click Deselect all, then check Tasks
3. Click Next step → Create export
4. Download the ZIP and unzip it — the JSON file lives in the Tasks folder

Todoist

1. Open Settings → Backups in Todoist
2. Create and download the backup (a ZIP containing CSV)
3. Or export a single project from its ⋯ menu → Export as CSV

Asana

1. Open the project in Asana
2. Use the ⋯ → Export/Print → CSV option
3. Save the CSV

Notion

1. Open your task database and switch to Table view
2. Use ⋯ → Export → CSV
3. Download and unzip if needed

Any other app

If a tool can export a CSV with a title column, Foci can read it. Name the column Title, Name, or Task, and add optional Project, Due, Completed, and Notes columns if you have them.

Step 2: Preview before you import

Click Choose file to import and select your file. Foci auto-detects the format and shows a preview badge — Google Tasks, Todoist, Asana, Notion, Foci, or CSV — so you know it read the right thing.

The preview lists the first few tasks, shows how many were found, and lets you:

• Toggle completed tasks on or off (leave them out to start with a clean, open list)
• Choose a destination for the tasks (see below)

Nothing is written until you click Import.

Choose where imported tasks land

Foci gives you three destinations, so an import never silently dumps tasks into the wrong place:

| Destination | What it does | |---|---| | Existing project | Puts every imported task into one project you pick | | New project | Creates a project with the name you type and fills it | | Projects from file | Uses the file's Project column — creating projects that don't exist yet, and matching ones that do |

When you choose Projects from file, the preview labels each name as New or Existing ahead of time, so you can see exactly which projects will be created and which will receive tasks.

What carries over

| Source field | Foci field | |---|---| | Task title | Title | | Completion status | Completed | | Due date | Due date | | Project / list (CSV sources) | Project | | Notes / description (CSV sources) | Task description | | Subtasks (Foci backup) | Subtasks |

Notes and list names aren't part of the Google Tasks JSON export, so only titles, completion status, and due dates come across from Google Tasks. Everything still lands in Foci — just assign projects after import.

Step 3: Start focusing

Imported tasks are ordinary Foci tasks. From here you can:

1. Star one as Today's One Thing
2. Start a focus session and log time against it
3. Group work into projects and let Smart Plan schedule the week
4. Keep the streak going as you finish each task

Newly imported projects are moved to the front of your workspace so you can see them right away.

Tips for a clean migration

• Import into a new project first if you're unsure — it's easy to move tasks later
• Leave completed tasks out to start with a short, motivating open list
• Use the Project column when your CSV has one; it recreates your old lists as Foci projects
• Export regularly — Foci can export everything as JSON or CSV for backup at any time

Frequently asked questions

Can I import from more than one app? Yes. Repeat the import for each file. Foci merges them into your existing workspace and adds new projects as needed.

Will importing overwrite my current tasks? No. Imports are additive — nothing in your workspace is replaced or deleted.

Do I need an account to import? No. Import works for guests and writes locally; sign in later to sync everything across devices.

Ready to bring your tasks over? Open Foci →