---
url: /guides/capture-to-inbox.md
description: >-
  Get every new task into your Inbox list in a few seconds: from the app,
  Telegram, Claude or Raycast.
---

# Capture tasks to your Inbox list

Capture a task the moment it comes to mind, and sort it out later in a
[GTD session](/guides/run-a-gtd-session). In Hule your Inbox list is an
[ordinary list](/concepts/hule-model) that you choose in the **Inbox list** setting: the
[New Task form](/guides/create-and-edit-tasks#create-a-task) opens on it, so a new task needs
only a title. Capture is the first step of [GTD](/concepts/gtd).

::: info Inbox list, not the Inbox page
The **Inbox** page in the app holds your [notifications](/guides/set-up-notifications). Your
Inbox list is the list you pick below.
:::

## Before you start

You need a list to act as your Inbox list:

* **New to Hule?** [Start with Hule on your own](/get-started/solo) creates an **Inbox** list
  and sets it up in its step 2.
* **Already have a workspace?** [Create a list](/guides/organize-folders-and-lists#create-a-list)
  and name it:

  ```text
  Inbox
  ```

  Then continue below.

::: warning You must be able to create tasks
Your Inbox list has to be a list you can create tasks in, in a workspace where your
[permission set](/reference/permissions-and-access) allows it.
:::

## Inbox list setting

1. Open the menu at the bottom of the sidebar (your name) and choose **Workspace settings**. If
   you belong to several workspaces, pick the workspace in the submenu.
   The settings open for that workspace.

2. Under **Me in this workspace**, open **GTD**.
   The **Default GTD list** section appears.

3. In **Inbox list**, pick your Inbox list.
   The **New task** setting appears under it.

   ::: warning List refused?
   If Hule says "This list can't be your inbox: you can't create tasks in it.", pick a list you
   can add tasks to.
   :::

4. In **New task**, choose when the form should open on your Inbox list:

   * **When no list is chosen** (the default): the form opens on your Inbox list unless a list
     is open, or you start from a list's own **New task** button.
   * **Always**: the form opens on your Inbox list wherever you start it.

   Hule saves your choice at once.

![Workspace settings open on GTD: Inbox list is set to Inbox and New task to Always](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-1.light.webp){.light-only}
![Workspace settings open on GTD: Inbox list is set to Inbox and New task to Always](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-1.dark.webp){.dark-only}

::: info One Inbox list per workspace
The Inbox list is yours alone and set per workspace. If you work in several workspaces, choose
one in each.
:::

## New Task form in the app

1. Click **+** (**Create**) at the top of the sidebar and choose **New task**.
   The **New Task** form opens with **List** already set to your Inbox list.

   ::: warning Form opens on another list?
   A list was open, and **New task** is set to **When no list is chosen**. Set it to **Always** in
   the [Inbox list setting](#inbox-list-setting), or change **List** in the form.
   :::

2. Type the title and press **Create**, or **Create & new** to keep the form open for the next
   one.
   A message confirms `Task "…" created`, and the task is in your Inbox list.

   ![The New Task form with List set to Inbox and the title Draft the Q4 budget typed, next to the Create and Create & new buttons](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-2.light.webp){.light-only}
   ![The New Task form with List set to Inbox and the title Draft the Q4 budget typed, next to the Create and Create & new buttons](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-2.dark.webp){.dark-only}

::: tip Faster ways to capture in the app

* Press `Cmd+N` in the desktop app, or `Cmd+M` in a browser (`Ctrl+N` / `Ctrl+M` on Windows and
  Linux) ([keyboard shortcuts](/reference/keyboard-shortcuts)).
* When your Inbox list is open, type the title into **Add a task, press Enter** at the top and
  press `Enter`. When the row is missing, see
  [Create a task](/guides/create-and-edit-tasks#create-a-task).
  :::

## From Telegram: /new

::: warning Connect the bot first
Link your Telegram account to Hule, then send the
[Hule bot](https://t.me/hule_the_project_stuff_bot):

```text
/start
```

The steps are in [Add tasks from Telegram](/guides/add-tasks-from-telegram#before-you-start).
:::

1. Send the [Hule bot](https://t.me/hule_the_project_stuff_bot) `/new` followed by the task,
   for example:

   ```text
   /new Call the dentist tomorrow
   ```

   The bot asks **Where should this go?** and shows your lists as buttons.

   ![The bot asks Where should this go? for "Call the dentist", due October 1, with list buttons under the workspaces Acme and Personal](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-3.webp)

2. Tap your Inbox list under your workspace's name.
   The bot answers **Task created** and names the list and workspace.

   ::: warning Inbox list not among the buttons?
   The bot shows the first 24 lists you can add tasks to. Pick one that is shown and
   [move the task](/guides/create-and-edit-tasks#move-a-task) to your Inbox list later.
   :::

A day in the message becomes the due date:
[due days the bot reads](/guides/add-tasks-from-telegram#due-days-in-the-message). The bot and
Claude do not read your [Inbox list setting](#inbox-list-setting): you pick the list each time.

## From Claude or another AI agent

::: warning Name the list in every request
Name your Inbox list, and its workspace, in every request. [Claude](/concepts/ai-and-mcp)
creates every task in a list you name.
:::

1. Connect Claude to Hule once: [Connect an AI agent](/guides/connect-an-ai-agent).
   Claude then lists your Hule workspaces when you ask.
2. Ask Claude, naming the list and its workspace:

   ```text
   Add "Renew the car insurance" to the Inbox list in my Personal workspace in Hule.
   ```

   Claude creates the task, and it appears in your Inbox list.

   ![Claude chat: the request to add "Renew the car insurance" to the Inbox list in the Personal workspace, the Hule tool calls ending in Create a task, and Claude confirming the task in Inbox](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-4.webp)

## From Raycast on your Mac

**Quick Add Task** in the Hule extension for [Raycast](https://www.raycast.com) writes to your
Inbox list while **Default List** in the extension's preferences is empty.

::: warning Connect the extension first
Quick Add Task signs in with a personal API token from Hule. The steps are in
[Use Raycast](/guides/use-raycast#get-a-token-for-raycast).
:::

1. Only if you set an Inbox list in several workspaces: in Raycast, open the Hule extension's
   preferences and set **Default List** to the one Quick Add should use, as `Workspace / List`:

   ```text
   Personal / Inbox
   ```

   Quick Add Task now writes to that list.

   ::: warning Raycast says "Several Inbox lists"?
   **Default List** is empty and your Inbox list is set in more than one workspace. Do step 1.
   :::

2. Run **Quick Add Task**, type the title and press Enter.
   Raycast says **Added to Inbox**.

## Sample Inbox list after one morning

By noon, a solo Inbox list might hold three unsorted tasks:

* `Call the dentist`, from Telegram on the way to work;
* `Draft the Q4 budget`, from the app during a meeting;
* `Renew the car insurance`, from Claude while reading an email.

![The Inbox list with three unsorted tasks, Call the dentist, Draft the Q4 budget and Renew the car insurance, and Inbox selected in the sidebar](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-5.light.webp){.light-only}
![The Inbox list with three unsorted tasks, Call the dentist, Draft the Q4 budget and Renew the car insurance, and Inbox selected in the sidebar](/shots/guides/capture-to-inbox-5.dark.webp){.dark-only}

## If it doesn't work

* **The New Task form opens on another list.** A list was open, or you started from a list's
  own **New task** button, and **New task** is set to **When no list is chosen**. Set it to
  **Always** in the [Inbox list setting](#inbox-list-setting), or change **List** in the form.
* **You see "This list can't be your inbox: you can't create tasks in it."** You have no right to
  create tasks in that list. Pick a list you can add tasks to
  ([permissions and access](/reference/permissions-and-access)).
* **Inbox list is greyed out, with "You can't create tasks in this workspace."** Your
  [permission set](/reference/permissions-and-access) does not let you create tasks here. Ask a
  workspace admin, or set your Inbox list in another workspace.
* **Inbox list shows "Not selected" again.** The list was deleted, or you lost access to it.
  Choose another one in the [Inbox list setting](#inbox-list-setting).
* **The form opens without your Inbox list in another workspace.** Each workspace has its own
  Inbox list. [Set one](#inbox-list-setting) there too.
* **Your Inbox list is not among the Telegram buttons.** The bot shows only the first 24 lists
  you can add tasks to. Create the task in a list that is shown and
  [move it](/guides/create-and-edit-tasks#move-a-task) to your Inbox list in the app.
* **Claude asks which Inbox, or picks another list.** Several workspaces may have a list with that
  name. Name the workspace too, as in [the example](#from-claude-or-another-ai-agent).
* **Raycast says "Default List not found" or "Default List is ambiguous".** Check **Default List**
  in the extension's preferences ([Use Raycast](/guides/use-raycast#install-the-extension)): write
  the list's exact name, or `Workspace / List`. If both lists are in one workspace, rename one of
  them in Hule.
* **Raycast says "Several Inbox lists".** You set an Inbox list in more than one workspace. Set
  **Default List** in the extension's preferences
  ([Use Raycast](/guides/use-raycast#install-the-extension)) to the one Quick Add should use.

## Related

* [GTD in Hule](/concepts/gtd): where capture fits among the five steps.
* [Run a GTD session](/guides/run-a-gtd-session): sort what you captured.
* [Add tasks from Telegram](/guides/add-tasks-from-telegram): capture from your phone with `/new`.
* [Connect an AI agent](/guides/connect-an-ai-agent): let Claude add tasks for you.
* [Hule and AI](/concepts/ai-and-mcp): what an agent can do in Hule, and why it acts as you.
* [Create tasks from Claude](/recipes/tasks-from-claude): a daily workflow with Claude and Hule.
* [Inbox flow for a manager](/recipes/inbox-flow-for-a-manager): capture and sort as a team lead.
* [Telegram bot commands](/reference/telegram-bot-commands): every command of the bot.
* [Use Raycast](/guides/use-raycast): connect the Raycast extension and its other commands.
* [Keyboard shortcuts](/reference/keyboard-shortcuts): change the New Task shortcut.