Task / Shortcut Widgets

The standard way of running a Tasker task is by attaching it to a profile which performs it when the profile becomes active. However, tasks can be directly assigned to icons on the home screen called Widgets or Shortcuts.

Standard Widgets / Shortcuts

These consist of an icon (the Task icon) and a label (the Task name) underneath, and look identical to the normal application icons in the home screen.

Clicking on the icon runs the associated Task.

Task Timer Widgets

This type consists of an icon and label, like the standard widgets, but also has a countdown timer display which counts down Days, Hours, Minutes and Seconds.

When the timer expires (reaches 0) the associated Task is run.

Tapping on the icon of the widget shows a configuration screen where the timer can be configured.

Tapping on the timer section of the widget will pause, restart or reset the timer, depending on its current state.

Note that the timer updates more rarely when it is still a long way from expiry in order to minimize power usage.

Creating a Widget

  1. Click and hold in an empty space on the Android home screen, until a dialog appears.
  2. Select Widgets
  3. Select Task or Task Timer
  4. Use the Widget Configuration screen to configure what should happen when the icon is clicked (or the timer expires, in the case of a Task Timer widget). Take care to select an appropriate name and icon for the task, as these will appear on the home screen.

Creating a Shortcut

  1. Click and hold on an empty space on the Android home screen, until a dialog appears.
  2. Select Shortcuts
  3. Select Task
  4. Use the Shortcut Configuration screen to configure what should happen when the icon is clicked Take care to select an appropriate name and icon for the task, as these will appear on the home screen.

Changing a Widget / Shortcut

The function of widgets or shortcuts created from anonymous or one-time named tasks cannot be changed, it must be deleted and recreated.

On the other hand, if you associate a normal named task with a widget or shortcut then when the task is changed (via the Task Edit screen) the function of the widget or shortcut also changes.

There are also some actions which will change the appearance of any named widget:

The latter two you could use to visually show the status of something e.g. WiFi.

Deleting a Widget / Shortcut

Click and hold on the icon in the Android home screen until the dustbin icon appears. Drag the widget or shortcut icon to the dustbin icon and release.

Differences Between Widgets and Shortcuts

Advantages of Shortcuts
Advantages of Widgets
So a shortcut should be used unless the extra configuration possibilities of a widget are necessary.

For completeness, it should also be mentioned that monitored variables are detected in anonymous widgets, but not in anonymous shortcuts.

General