---
key: break-a-task-into-subtasks
title: Break a task into subtasks
audience: staff
section: projects-tasks
routes: ["/work/tasks/:uid/:tab?/:itemUid?"]
permissions: ["work.tasks.create"]
features: ["work.tasks"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Split a big task into smaller child tasks from its Subtasks tab, give each an owner and a due date, and nest them as deep as you need.
keywords: [subtask, child task, sub-task, checklist of tasks, split task, steps]
related: [work-on-a-task, create-a-task, add-a-task-dependency]
---

In the sidebar, open **Projects & Tasks**, then **Tasks**, open the task, and press the **Subtasks** tab. The page address is `/work/tasks/` followed by the task and `/subtasks`.

Every subtask is a full task with its own page, owner and dates, and a subtask can have subtasks of its own.

## Before you start

- Adding subtasks needs permission to create tasks and to manage subtasks. Picking someone else as owner needs permission to assign tasks.
- The **Subtasks** tab only shows when your plan includes subtasks.

## Steps

1. At the top of the tab, type the first step in **Break this task into another child task**.
2. Pick an **Owner**, or leave it **Unassigned**.
3. Set a due date and time if the step has one.
4. Press **Add child task**. The new subtask appears in the list below.
5. To split a subtask further, press **Add child task** on its row, type the name in **New child task title**, and press **Add child task** again. **Hide composer** closes the box without adding anything.

## What you see

- Each row shows the subtask's name, status, owner, due date and how complete it is. Press the name to open that subtask's own page.
- A row with its own subtasks has a button that shows them, with their count; **Hide child tasks** folds them away. **Load more subtasks** appears when there are many.
- The parent's **Child Tasks** count in the **Delivery** section goes up. If the parent's **Progress Mode** is **Derived**, its progress follows the subtasks as they are finished.
- A subtask's **Parent Task** field points back at this task. To move a subtask under another task, change its **Parent Task** on its own page.

## If something looks different

- There is no box to add a subtask: your role cannot create subtasks.
- **Could not create subtask.**: check the name is filled in and try again.
- **Owner** is greyed out: your role cannot assign tasks to others; the subtask is created unassigned.