How to create custom task statuses on ClickUp

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Custom task statuses in ClickUp can be created by navigating to your Space settings, selecting the Statuses section, and adding new status categories with custom names and colors. You can configure these statuses to appear in specific Lists or apply them workspace-wide.

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Prerequisites

ClickUp workspace account
Admin or owner permissions for the workspace
Basic familiarity with ClickUp interface

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access Space Settings

Navigate to your desired Space in ClickUp and click on the Settings icon (gear icon) next to the Space name. From the dropdown menu, select Settings to open the Space configuration panel.

Make sure you're in the correct Space as custom statuses are Space-specific by default.

Open Status Management

In the Space settings sidebar, locate and click on Statuses. This will display your current status categories and existing custom statuses for this Space.

You'll see default statuses like 'To Do', 'In Progress', and 'Complete' which can be customized or supplemented.

Create New Status Category

Click the + Add Status button at the top right of the statuses section. Enter your custom status name in the text field that appears (e.g., 'Under Review', 'Waiting for Approval', 'Testing').

Choose descriptive names that clearly communicate the task's current state to your team members.

Configure Status Properties

Select a color for your status by clicking on the color picker circle. Choose the appropriate status type from the dropdown: Open (active tasks), Custom (in-progress variations), or Closed (completed states).

Use consistent color coding - reds for blocked/urgent, yellows for in-progress, and greens for completed statuses.

Set Status Scope

Choose where this status will be available by selecting either This Space or Specific Lists. If you select specific Lists, check the boxes next to the Lists where you want this status to appear.

Start with Space-wide statuses for consistency, then create List-specific ones for specialized workflows.

Configure Status Behavior

Toggle the Template option if you want this status to be available when creating new Spaces. Enable Default for new tasks if you want new tasks to automatically use this status instead of 'To Do'.

Save and Apply Changes

Click Save to create your custom status. The new status will immediately appear in the status dropdown for tasks in the designated scope. You can now assign this status to existing tasks or use it for new tasks.

Test your new status on a sample task to ensure it appears correctly and functions as expected.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Custom status not appearing in task dropdown

Verify that you're working in the correct Space and List scope where the status was created. Check that the status wasn't accidentally set to a different List or Space.

Cannot create new statuses - option is grayed out

Ensure you have Admin or Owner permissions for the workspace. Only users with these permission levels can create custom statuses.

Status color not displaying properly

Try refreshing your browser or clearing your browser cache. If the issue persists, try selecting a different color and saving, then changing back to your preferred color.

Custom status disappeared after creation

Check if the status was accidentally deleted by another admin. Go back to Space Settings > Statuses to verify. Also ensure you're looking in the correct List if you set a specific scope.

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