How to organize tasks with sections on Asana

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Sections in Asana help organize tasks within projects by grouping related items together. You can create sections by clicking the plus icon or using the Tab+N keyboard shortcut, then drag and drop tasks between sections for better organization.

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Prerequisites

Active Asana account
Access to a project in Asana
Basic familiarity with Asana's interface
Tasks already created in your project

Step-by-Step Instructions

Navigate to your project

Open Asana and click on the project where you want to organize tasks with sections. Make sure you're viewing the project in List view or Board view as sections work best in these layouts.

Board view displays sections as columns, while List view shows them as grouped rows - choose based on your preference.

Create your first section

Click the + Add section button at the top of your task list, or use the keyboard shortcut Tab + N. Type a descriptive name for your section such as "To Do", "In Progress", or "Completed", then press Enter.

Use clear, action-oriented section names that reflect the status or category of tasks.

Add multiple sections

Repeat the process to create additional sections for your workflow. Common section structures include:

Status-based: To Do, In Progress, Review, Done
Priority-based: High Priority, Medium Priority, Low Priority
Category-based: Marketing, Development, Design, Admin

Limit yourself to 5-7 sections to avoid overwhelming your project view.

Move tasks into sections

Drag and drop existing tasks from the main task area into your newly created sections. Click and hold a task, then drag it to the appropriate section. You'll see a blue line indicating where the task will be placed when you release it.

You can also move multiple tasks at once by selecting them with Ctrl+click (or Cmd+click on Mac) before dragging.

Customize section settings

Click the three dots menu next to any section name to access options like "Rename section", "Delete section", or "Add description". You can also collapse sections by clicking the arrow icon next to the section name.

Add descriptions to sections to clarify their purpose for team members who may be unfamiliar with your organization system.

Reorder sections

Drag and drop section headers to reorder them within your project. Click and hold the section name, then drag it to your desired position. This is useful for arranging sections in a logical workflow order.

Order sections to match your natural workflow progression, such as planning phases through completion.

Add new tasks to sections

When creating new tasks, click the + Add task button within a specific section to automatically assign the task to that section. Alternatively, create tasks normally and drag them to the appropriate section afterward.

Use the quick add feature by typing the task name and pressing Enter, then immediately dragging to the correct section while the task is still highlighted.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Cannot see the Add Section button

Make sure you're in List view or Board view. The Add Section feature is not available in Timeline or Calendar views. Switch views using the tabs at the top of your project.

Tasks won't drag between sections

Ensure you have edit permissions for the project. If you're a guest or have limited access, contact the project owner to adjust your permissions. Also try refreshing the page if drag-and-drop isn't responding.

Sections disappeared after changing views

Sections are view-specific in some cases. Switch back to List view or Board view to see your sections. In Board view, sections appear as columns rather than grouped rows.

Cannot delete or rename sections

Click the three dots menu next to the section name rather than trying to edit it directly. If the menu doesn't appear, ensure you have sufficient project permissions and try clicking precisely on the section header area.

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