Built-in Automations
Seven ready-made rules that cover the most common PrimeTask workflows - timers, focus prompts, completion celebrations, and tidy-up helpers. Available on every license, off by default.
PrimeTask ships with seven built-in automations that cover the workflows most people want to automate on day one. Every license gets all seven. They're off until you turn them on - nothing runs on your behalf until you say so.
Each rule is designed to solve one specific problem: forget to start the timer? Let one of the rules do it. Finish a task but forget to stop tracking? Same story. Bumping a task to top priority? PrimeTask can ask if you want to focus on it right now.
For the broader picture, see Automations Overview. For the Pro custom rule builder, see Building Custom Rules.
Every built-in is disabled by default
Nothing happens until you enable a rule. You pick the Space, enable the rules you want, and they run from then on in that Space only.
What you can do
Turn on any of the seven built-in rules
per Space, in one click.
Keep Spaces separate
enable a rule in your Work Space without affecting Personal.
Disable a rule
at any time if it's getting in the way.
Pair built-ins with custom rules
on Pro for a full personalised setup.
How to turn a built-in rule on
Step 1
Open Settings → Automations.
Step 2
Turn the Space's master switch on.
Step 3
Find the built-in rule and flip its switch on.
That's it - the rule runs from the next matching event. For the settings card details, see Automations Settings.
The seven built-in rules
1. Set start date when Active
What it does - When you move a task into an active status (In Progress, Working, or any status in the active category), PrimeTask sets the task's start date to now.
When it's useful - You track when work actually began, not when a task was created. Perfect for project reporting, billing, or simply knowing "when did I actually start on this?"
See Custom Statuses and Priorities for what counts as an active status.
2. Start timer when Active
What it does - When a task goes into an active status, PrimeTask starts the timer for that task automatically.
When it's useful - You bill time, run Pomodoros, or just want a record of what you worked on. Never lose time because you forgot to press play.
See Task Time Tracking for how the timer integrates with reports and project metrics.
3. Stop timer when task completed
What it does - When a task is completed, PrimeTask stops the timer.
When it's useful - Pairs well with Start timer when Active. Move a task to In Progress, work on it, mark it done - the timer handles itself from start to finish.
4. Focus on highest priority task
What it does - When a task's priority changes to Highest, PrimeTask shows a prompt offering to focus on that task right now.
When it's useful - Something urgent just came in. Bump it to Highest and PrimeTask asks if you want to drop everything and go deep on it for a focus session.
See Task Focus Mode.
5. Celebrate task completion
What it does - When a task is completed, PrimeTask shows a celebration and stops the timer.
When it's useful - Small positive feedback makes finishing things feel good. This variant is silent.
6. Celebrate task completion + Sound
What it does - Same as the silent Celebrate rule, with a completion sound when it fires.
When it's useful - You want a quick audio cue when a task wraps up.
The sound is a Pro capability
The sound effect on automation runs is part of the Pro tier. On every license you can use the silent Celebrate task completion rule instead for the same celebration without the sound. See License Settings.
7. Complete all items on task completion
What it does - When you complete a task that still has pending subtasks or checklist items, PrimeTask asks whether you want to mark them all complete too.
When it's useful - You finished the work - the subtasks and checklist just weren't ticked off along the way. This rule keeps things tidy without forcing anything.
See Subtasks.
Things worth knowing
Rules are per Space
A rule you turn on in your Work Space doesn't run in your Personal Space. Enable the rules you want in each Space.
The master switch is the kill switch
Every Space has a top-level toggle - turn it off and every rule in the Space stops firing, without losing your rule configurations. Turn it on later and your rules resume.
Built-ins are all Standard + Pro
Every built-in is available on every license. The only nuance is the sound effect in the Celebrate + Sound variant - that's a Pro capability. Standard users can run the silent Celebrate variant instead.
Rules can conflict if you let them
Turning on Start timer when Active and Stop timer when task completed at the same time is the common combination. Turning on both Celebrate variants at the same time will fire two celebrations per completion. Pick the combination that fits how you work.
Enable one at a time for a few days
Live with each rule for a couple of days to see how it actually affects your workflow. Cumulative rules sneak up on you - one at a time keeps things predictable.
Common questions
"Do I need Pro to use built-ins?"
No. All seven built-in rules work on every license. Pro adds the custom rule builder and a few specific capabilities like sound effects and keyboard-shortcut triggers.
"Why isn't a built-in rule running?"
Check: the Space's master switch is on, the specific rule is enabled, and the trigger has actually happened (for example, the Set start date when Active rule only fires when a status in the active category is chosen - not every status change).
"Can I edit a built-in rule?"
Built-ins can't be modified - they're fixed templates. If you want a tweaked version, build a custom rule that matches your exact condition. See Building Custom Rules.
"What counts as an active or complete status?"
Statuses are grouped into categories - not_started, active, complete, closed. Rules that reference a category fire on any status in that category. For how categories work, see Custom Statuses and Priorities.
"Can I disable a rule without losing my settings?"
Yes - just flip the switch off. The rule stays in place; it simply doesn't fire until re-enabled. The Space's master switch does the same for every rule at once.
"Does PrimeTask track how often a rule runs?"
Yes. Each rule shows how many times it has fired and the last time it fired, so you can see which automations are actually doing work.
Where to go next
| If you want to… | Read this |
|---|---|
| Understand automations overall | Automations Overview |
| Build your own custom rule | Building Custom Rules |
| Test a rule before enabling | Testing and Running Rules |
| Look up every trigger, condition, action | Triggers and Actions Reference |
| Track time on tasks | Task Time Tracking |
| Run a focus session | Task Focus Mode |