Use ChatGPT with Todoist (MCP)

Want to manage Todoist without switching tabs 47 times? Connecting Todoist’s MCP (Model Context Protocol) server to ChatGPT lets you read, create, and update tasks and projects from a chat.

This is especially helpful for weekly reviews, planning a project, or turning a brain-dump into a clean set of next actions.

Note

You can also connect Todoist to ChatGPT using the official Todoist app. See Use ChatGPT with Todoist (app) for step-by-step instructions.

Check the requirements

You’ll need access to ChatGPT Developer Mode (beta). Depending on your plan (and if you’re using a team workspace), this may be controlled by your admin.
You’ll be logging in with OAuth, which means you’re authorizing ChatGPT to access Todoist through the official Todoist MCP server.

Enable beta developer features in ChatGPT

Open ChatGPT Settings.
Go to Apps.
Open Advanced Settings.
Turn on Developer mode (beta).

Note

Developer mode is powerful (it enables “write” actions through connected tools), so only enable it if you’re comfortable reviewing and approving actions that can change your data.

Add the Todoist MCP server

In ChatGPT, go to Settings > Apps.
Choose the option to add a custom app (wording varies slightly by plan and UI).
For the server URL, use: https://ai.todoist.net/mcp.
Continue to authentication.

Quick tip

The Todoist MCP server is hosted using Streamable HTTP, so you don’t need to run anything locally. For full technical details, see the Todoist MCP documentation.

Log in to Todoist and approve access

ChatGPT will open a Todoist authorization screen. Log in and approve the requested permissions.

You’ll see exactly what Todoist access is being requested during OAuth. Take a quick look before approving.

What ChatGPT will have access to

Once connected, ChatGPT can use the Todoist MCP server to:

Read your Todoist tasks and projects.
Create tasks and projects.
Update tasks and projects (for example: rename, reschedule, move to a project).

Warning

Because this connection supports “write” actions, ChatGPT can make changes to your Todoist data when you ask it to (or when it’s following your instructions). Developer mode is intended for people who understand the risks and want that extra power.

Examples of what you can do

Here are a few prompts that work well once you’re connected:

Category	Example prompts
Inbox triage	Look at my Todoist Inbox and suggest five quick wins I can finish today. Turn these messy tasks into clearer next actions, and ask me questions only where you truly need more context.
Weekly review support	List my overdue tasks by project and suggest what to reschedule vs. drop. Show me everything due in the next 7 days and help me choose a realistic plan.
Project planning	Create a project called “Website refresh” with sections for “Content,” “Design,” and “Launch” then add a first-pass task list. Move anything tagged “waiting” into a “Waiting for” section and add a follow-up task for next Tuesday.
Natural-language task capture	“Add a task: ‘Call the dentist next week’ and put it in my Personal project.” “Create a task for ‘Submit expenses’ every last Friday.”

Anything you can describe clearly, ChatGPT can usually translate into structured Todoist changes. Just skim before confirming.

Privacy and data handling

When you connect an app in ChatGPT, the data shared is handled according to the app’s terms and privacy policies, which you’ll see before enabling the app.

If you want extra peace of mind, consider using ChatGPT’s data controls. For example, opting out of having chats used to improve models, and being thoughtful about what you paste into any AI chat.

Disconnecting Todoist MCP

You can disconnect in two places:

In ChatGPT: open Settings > Apps and remove or disable the Todoist app.
In Todoist: revoke access from Todoist’s Integrations settings (where you manage developer/integration access).

Troubleshooting

I don’t see Developer mode (beta)

It may not be available on your plan yet, or it may be disabled by your workspace admin.

I see a “lack of access permissions” error (work or company account)

If you finished logging in but ChatGPT still says it lacks access permissions, you’re most likely using a managed ChatGPT account (Business, Enterprise, or Edu) through your workplace or school.

On those plans, individual members can’t add custom apps or turn on Developer mode by themselves. A workspace administrator has to allow it for your role first. Until they do, ChatGPT can keep refusing the connection even after you’ve logged in.

Here’s what helps:

Ask whoever manages your organization’s ChatGPT account to allow Developer mode and the Todoist app for your role, in ChatGPT’s admin settings.
Try connecting with a personal ChatGPT account to confirm the cause. If it works there, the block is your organization’s permission settings.

Note

Because this is controlled on the ChatGPT side, it isn’t something we can enable for you from Todoist.

I can’t get the OAuth window to open, or it keeps failing

Try disabling strict pop-up blockers for the login flow and retry.

I see “Sorry, something went wrong” after I click Allow access

This usually means your browser didn’t send a small security token (a CSRF token) that Todoist needs to finish authorizing, most often because cookies for todoist.com are being blocked, or because the page sat open too long. It isn’t a problem with your account.

Try this, in order:

Use a normal browser window (not private or incognito) and allow cookies for todoist.com.
Log in to Todoist in that same browser first.
Turn off strict tracking protection, ad blockers, or privacy extensions for todoist.com, or try a different browser such as Chrome. (Microsoft Edge’s tracking prevention is a common culprit.)
Start the connection again and click Allow access without waiting too long.
Clear todoist.com cookies and try once more if it persists.

ChatGPT is connected but can’t see or change my tasks

First, make sure Developer mode is enabled and that the Todoist app is switched on for the current chat.

If ChatGPT still can’t read or update your tasks, reconnect from both sides:

In ChatGPT, go to Settings > Apps and remove the Todoist app.
In Todoist, go to Settings > Integrations and revoke access for the ChatGPT connection.
Go back to Add the Todoist MCP server above and reconnect.

I get errors, or the connection drops mid-chat

The Todoist MCP server can occasionally have brief interruptions. If you get an unexpected error during a request, wait a few minutes and try again.

If it keeps happening, disconnect from both ChatGPT (Settings > Apps) and Todoist (Settings > Integrations), then reconnect.

ChatGPT asks me to approve every change. Can I turn that off?

That prompt comes from ChatGPT, not Todoist. Because the Todoist app can change your data, ChatGPT adds a confirmation step before it writes anything. This isn’t a setting we control on the Todoist side.

You can still change how often ChatGPT asks. ChatGPT lets you set a permission level for the Todoist app, ranging from “Always ask” to “Never ask”:

In ChatGPT, open your settings and go to the Todoist app’s permissions.
Choose a less strict level, or “Never ask”, to reduce or remove the per-action prompts.

Note

Because this is a safety step, ChatGPT may still pause on especially sensitive actions, and the exact options can depend on your ChatGPT plan.

Get in touch

If you have questions about connecting Todoist MCP to ChatGPT or want to learn more, get in touch with us.