How Do I Sync Todo Txt Across Android, IPhone, And Desktop?

Seeking a cross-platform workflow for maintaining the same plaintext tasks list on my laptop and mobile phones—no cloud lock-in preferred.
2025-09-02 00:24:00
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7 Answers

Best Answer
CodyHicks
CodyHicks
Book Clue Finder Engineer
For syncing a todo.txt file across devices, you could try using a cloud storage app like Dropbox or Syncthing, which work on all platforms and can keep the file updated. While not exactly the same, managing tasks across platforms reminds me of the logistical puzzle the protagonist faces in 'The GxG Wet Diary', where she has to coordinate a secret supernatural investigation across different magical factions and locations without leaving a trace. The web novel's approach to scattered, hidden information might offer some indirect inspiration for organizing anything complex.
2026-07-30 19:07:24
94
Tristan
Tristan
Story Interpreter Assistant
Okay, let’s nerd out about this — syncing a plain old 'todo.txt' across Android, iPhone, and desktop is wonderfully simple once you pick the right sync layer and apps, but there are a few little gotchas I’ve learned the hard way.

First, pick your sync service. For most folks Dropbox is the path of least resistance because many dedicated todo.txt apps speak Dropbox natively. If you care more about privacy or run your own server, Nextcloud/WebDAV is stellar. Syncthing is great for direct device-to-device sync (no cloud), but iOS support is fiddly compared to Android and desktop. Once you pick a provider, create one canonical file like ~/Dropbox/todo/todo.txt (or the equivalent folder in iCloud Drive / Nextcloud) so every client points to the same path.

Next, choose the apps. On Android I use 'Simpletask' (or the Simpletask family) because it understands the todo.txt format, supports Dropbox/WebDAV, and has filtering/undo. On iPhone there’s 'Todo.txt Touch' or any plain text editor that can open files via the Files provider — many iOS apps can edit files inside Dropbox or iCloud Drive. On desktop I alternate between a small GUI (like 'todotxt.net' on Windows or a light editor on macOS) and the command-line tool 'todo.sh' / 'todotxt-cli' when I want power. Point every app to the same file path in your chosen sync service and let the cloud do the heavy lifting.

A couple of practical tips from my own messy inbox: always let the sync finish before switching devices to avoid conflicts, and check app settings for atomic saves (some editors rewrite the whole file and can create duplicates). If you expect heavy concurrent editing, consider using Git on top of the file for history and easier conflict resolution, or use Nextcloud’s versioning. Name conventions help: keep one file (not multiple files named todo1.txt/todo2.txt) and use lower-case dot extension like todo.txt. Finally, add automated backups (a daily cron or cloud versioning) and consider small automations — I pipe urgent @today items into my calendar or set phone reminders via shortcuts/Tasker. Once it’s set up, that single plain-text brain is surprisingly calming — like a tidy bookshelf for your tasks.
2025-09-04 13:45:39
41
Finn
Finn
Novel Fan Photographer
I like to keep things short and practical, so here’s a lean playbook that worked for me across Android, iPhone, and desktop.

Pick a sync backend: Dropbox for easiest compatibility, Nextcloud/WebDAV for privacy, or Syncthing if you want peer-to-peer (note: iOS clients for Syncthing are limited). Put a single file in that folder (e.g., /Apps/Todo/todo.txt).

On Android use a todo.txt-aware app (Simpletask or similar) and point it to that file. On iPhone use 'Todo.txt Touch' or any editor that accesses Files (Dropbox or iCloud Drive). On desktop use a CLI like 'todo.sh' or a lightweight editor/GUI (todotxt.net on Windows, any plain editor on macOS/Linux). Enable sync in each app and always wait for syncing to finish before making big edits.

Extras: enable backups/version history, avoid editing the file simultaneously on two devices whenever possible, and consider Git or server-side versioning if you often hit conflicts. If you want reminders, create a small script or use automation (Shortcuts/Tasker) to parse @due/@today and push notifications. That’s it — single file, single source of truth, and a few smart habits to keep everything smooth.
2025-09-04 21:21:56
6
RoryWade
RoryWade
Plot Detective Doctor
Markdown files in a GitHub repository. Edit on desktop with any editor. Use the GitHub app on mobile to edit the file directly. Commit changes are your sync. It's not instant, but it's version-controlled and accessible anywhere. You can even use GitHub Issues as your todo list if you want more structure. For a private repo, it's free. This is a developer-centric workflow, but it's incredibly robust. You can write quick scripts to pull the latest version on device startup. The mobile editing experience in the GitHub app is decent for plain text. It feels professional and separates 'editing' from 'syncing' in a deliberate way, which can reduce the panic of merge conflicts.
2026-07-31 12:27:08
29
JackOwl
JackOwl
Expert Analyst
Use a spreadsheet. Google Sheets or Excel Online. One cell per task, or one row. Easy to sort, filter, add dates. Sync is perfect and built-in. Access from any browser, any device, with dedicated apps. You can color-code, add formulas for deadlines, whatever. It's not a plain text file, but it's a universal format that solves the sync problem completely. Sometimes we cling to a format (plain text) when the real goal is universal access and editing. A spreadsheet is just structured text with world-class collaboration and sync infrastructure behind it. It's boring, but it's arguably the most reliable cross-platform 'document' syncing system in existence.
2026-08-02 00:00:11
12
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