Switch from Things
Things 3 has no export button, but OpenTodo can read a copy of its database directly. Your areas, projects, headings, to-dos, checklists, tags and notes come with you.
On this page
Copy the Things database#
On a Mac, as Cultured Code's support article "Accessing the Things database" describes:
- Quit Things. The copy must be made while the app is closed.
- In Finder, choose Go → Go to Folder and open
~/Library/Group Containers/JLMPQHK86H.com.culturedcode.ThingsMac/. - Open the
ThingsData-…folder and copy (do not move)Things Database.thingsdatabaseto your Desktop. - Right-click the copy, choose Show Package Contents, and find
main.sqlite. Alternatively, compress the whole folder into a ZIP.
On iPhone or iPad, the same article lists a diagnostics code (Settings → General → Diagnostics → Enter Code) that sends Things Database.aar. Save it to Files, tap it to unpack it into Things Database.thingsdatabase, and use the main.sqlite inside.
Import into OpenTodo#
- Open Settings → Data → Import data (or press
gthenShift+I). - Choose
main.sqlite(or the ZIP). The preview shows Things 3 database. - Check the warnings and select Import.
The file is read on your server from a private copy, read-only, and deleted right after the preview or import.
What carries over#
- Areas become parent projects; projects stay inside them.
- Headings become sections; to-dos keep their heading.
- Checklist items become subtasks, completed ones included.
- Tags become labels (nested tags as
parent/child). - Notes, the start date ("When") as the due date, and reminder times.
- Repeating to-dos, when OpenTodo's recurrence rules can express them.
- Completed and canceled items (canceled ones get the label
canceled).
The full mapping is in Import formats.
What does not#
- Deadlines are kept as a "Deadline: …" line in the description.
- Someday and This Evening are not imported as such; the to-dos arrive with a warning.
- Trashed items are skipped.