To move a finished task out of an active project list in Reminders on Mac, first reveal the list’s Completed section and mark the reminder incomplete. Move it to a destination list using its List field or by dragging it to the sidebar, then mark it complete again. Apple documents these controls separately; its guide does not describe moving a reminder directly while it remains completed. This sequence keeps the task recorded as complete in its new list. (Mark reminders as completed or incomplete on Mac; Move reminders on Mac)

Why you need to reopen the reminder first

Completing a reminder hides it from the active portion of its list, but does not delete it. To find it, open the project list and scroll to the top until you see Completed, then click Show. The finished reminder should appear in that section. (Apple’s guide to completing reminders on Mac)

Apple’s documented move methods operate on selected reminders or the reminder’s details. Since its guide does not specify moving an item directly from the Completed section, reopen the reminder before moving it. Then complete it again in the destination list. This is a two-stage change of state: temporarily active so it can be relocated, then complete again after relocation.

Move one completed reminder

  1. In Reminders, select the project list in the sidebar. If the sidebar is hidden, choose View > Show Sidebar.
  2. Scroll to the top of the list and click Show beside Completed.
  3. Find the reminder and click its filled completion button to mark it incomplete. It should return to the active reminders in that list.
  4. Move it to its destination. For a single item, hover over it, click Edit Details, open the List pop-up menu, choose the destination, then click outside the menu to save. Or select the reminder and drag it onto the destination list in the sidebar.
  5. Open the destination list, find the now-active reminder, and click its completion button. It will be recorded as complete there.

Apple documents changing a reminder’s list through Edit Details and moving selected reminders by dragging them to another sidebar list. If the sidebar is not visible, choose View > Show Sidebar. (Move reminders on Mac)

Move several completed reminders

Repeat the reveal and reopen steps for the completed items you want to relocate. Once they are active, you can select multiple reminders and drag the selection to a destination list. Apple documents Command-click to select multiple reminders for dragging. After the move, select the relocated reminders and click the completion button beside one of them to mark them complete together. Check the destination afterward to confirm the intended items appear in its Completed section. The multi-select move and completion controls are documented, though Apple does not specifically describe this exact completed-items workflow as a single operation. (Move reminders on Mac; Mark reminders as completed or incomplete on Mac)

Check the destination and special cases

Confirm the reminder is in the intended list and marked complete there. If you selected a Custom Smart List, Apple says its criteria are applied to a moved reminder and it may appear in both the current list and the Smart List; that view does not necessarily mean a duplicate was created. For a normal destination list, look there for the completed item. (Move reminders on Mac)

Take extra care with repeating reminders. Apple says marking a completed reminder incomplete removes its repeating setting. If the completed item is recurring, inspect its details before reopening it; the reopen-and-complete workaround can therefore change its repeat behavior. Apple notes that some Reminders features vary with the account provider and that the full set described in its guide is available with updated iCloud reminders. If your controls differ, check the account and list setup before proceeding. (Mark reminders as completed or incomplete on Mac; Add or change reminders on Mac)

When moving is unnecessary

If you only want to clear completed tasks from view temporarily, leave them completed and collapse the Completed section by clicking Hide. Use the move sequence when you want the completed task associated with another list, such as a project archive, while keeping it marked done. Avoid deleting the reminder if your goal is simply to remove it from the active project view: completion preserves it in the list, while deletion is a separate action.

The practical limit is that Apple’s current instructions establish the ingredients—show completed items, mark them incomplete, move between lists, then complete them—but do not promise a direct transfer of a completed item. For a one-time task, that sequence is a documented-control workaround; for repeating tasks, the effect on recurrence makes checking the repeat setting essential.

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