Filter custom view by context hours?

[Kira Z]

Hi all, I am trying to generate a more filtered version of my "Active Actions" view to reflect just the things I'm planning on doing today. I noticed that if I create a custom view and filter it by Active, it shows items with closed context hours (e.g., if it's 9pm, the Active Actions view will correctly hide all tasks with the @BusinessHours context, but they will still show up in my filtered list). Is this a bug or intended behavior? Is there any way around this?

Also, while we're at it, is there a way to filter by location, or does that feature only do notifications? I almost never want to be alerted that I got home and I better vacuum, but it'd be convenient if I didn't have to see tasks I couldn't do based on location in my filter views. I know I can filter them out manually, but I'm trying to generate a view that takes as little work as possible to upkeep, and MLO already has the data!

Nitpicks aside it's an incredible app - I've been searching for ages for a todolist that agrees with my that the primary function of such a list should be showing you only the things you actually can and will do.

I'm primarily on Android, most recent version. This is a crosspost from reddit, since it doesn't look like that community is particularly active :)

Thanks,

Kira

[Michael Emerald]

Hi Kira.

I agree, it's a great app. I always give this caveat: everyone using MLO is smart, so if I misunderstood your question, be patient.

ANSWER: When I create a custom view I check (or uncheck) "Include closed contexts". By doing so, I only see tasks with open contexts. That said, I DO recognize that you are asking for "active" tasks! So, if it's closed, how can it be active at the same time? I say, try my idea, and if it works, perfect. Then toast that we (haha actually YOU) found something illogical.

Feel free to reply if you need something else from me or anyone else.

Have a good week,

Michael Emerald

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From: mylifeo...@googlegroups.com <mylifeo...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Kira Z <kira.zhov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 4, 2025 18:10
To: MyLifeOrganized <mylifeo...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [MLO] Filter custom view by context hours?

 

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[Kira Z]

Hi, thanks for the advice! I can find the include-closed checkbox easily on desktop, where it's off by default. That produces exactly the result I want. On mobile it's either missing or I'm very bad at searching. After a lot of digging I concluded I could approximate it by creating an advanced filter with "Context contains (consider open/closed hours)", check all my contexts, and OR it with "Context is empty". (And then add all the other filters I want in a separate condition group). This does seem to work, though it'll require me to manually update the filter every time I add a context. 

It looks like at the default view behavior on desktop and mobile is different, because I hadn't actually deliberately unchecked the included-closed button on desktop. I had just yesterday set up desktop to try, my todo lists are a primarily mobile endeavor, so I hadn't noticed the discrepancy.

Kira

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[Michael Emerald]

(NOTE TO SELF: See? I told you they are smart so don't over-rate my knowledge of MLO.)

Hi Kira.

What you did works. Superb. Here's what I do in such cases, which are common, and why I do it.

On mobile, try this. 

1. Create your filter, but don't worry about contexts. 
2. Once you are back at the main working screen, click on the "filter by context" icon in the bottom center-left toolbar. 
3. There, you'll see both contexts and the magical "include closed contexts"

In other words, I do all my context-ing from the main view, not the advanced filter. This allows me to create different workspaces (Winchester, Coffeeshop, Home), all with the same view but with different contexts selected from the main view.

Let me know if you need anything else.  In particular, if you can't find that "filter by context" icon.

Ciao,

Michael Emerald

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From: mylifeo...@googlegroups.com <mylifeo...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Kira Z <kira.zhov...@gmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, October 5, 2025 18:54
To: mylifeo...@googlegroups.com <mylifeo...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [MLO] Filter custom view by context hours?

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[Kira Z]

Ooh! Found it, thank you! ...I think I may have accidentally toggled that one before I knew what it really did, oops. Sorry for the bother and thank you for the help :)

Kira

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[Michael Emerald]

No bother at all. Bug away! MLO is amazing, I'm glad you found it. I'm amazed this app isn't being used by every enterprise since I think we all agree: it's perfect. Ironically, I've been switching back to paper ("back" meaning since I last used paper in the '80s) simply because I find computers constantly annoying me/interrupting me/sending me someplace/pushing AI...all the time. But MLO is like the bright diamond in the sky. If I've ever complained about MLO...well, I don't remember it 🙂.

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From: mylifeo...@googlegroups.com <mylifeo...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Kira Z <kira.zhov...@gmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, October 5, 2025 19:35

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