Task statuses explained

What each task status means in your Chykalophia ClickUp workspace, and what action (if any) is needed from you.

Time
4 min read
Difficulty
Beginner
Last updated
Updated
Share

Every task in ClickUp has a colored status label that tells you where that piece of work stands right now. This guide explains what each status means, and when one requires something from you.

What the statuses mean

The table below covers the standard statuses in your workspace. Status colors are picked when a project's statuses are set up, so the colors in your project may differ slightly. Go by the status name.

StatusColorWhat it meansDo you need to act?
To DoGrayWork is planned but hasn't started yet.No
In ProgressBlueA team member is actively working on this right now.No
Waiting on ClientYellow / OrangeWe need something from you: feedback, a file, or a decision.Yes
In ReviewPurpleWork is done and is being reviewed internally before we send it to you.No
CompleteGreenThe task is finished.No

Watch for 'Waiting on Client'

When a task switches to Waiting on Client, we'll usually tag you in a comment to explain exactly what we need. You'll get a notification. Check the task's comments section for details.

How status changes happen

The Chykalophia team moves tasks through statuses as work progresses. The one exception is sign-off: when work is ready for you, we may ask you to set the status yourself if your access allows it. See How to approve work in ClickUp and How to request changes. Otherwise you won't need to change statuses, but it's useful to know what each one signals.

Here's the typical journey of a task:

To Do: The task has been created and added to the project. We haven't started it yet. It may be waiting for a scheduled sprint or for earlier tasks to finish first.

In Progress: A team member has picked it up and is working on it. No action needed from you at this point.

Waiting on Client: Work has paused because we need input from you. Open the task, read the latest comment, and respond as soon as you can. Delays here can push back your project timeline.

In Review: We've completed the work and are doing a final internal check. You may receive a preview or proof link shortly.

Complete: The task is done. If you have follow-up requests, you can leave a comment or submit a new request.

Custom statuses

Depending on your project, your workspace may have additional or slightly different statuses. For example, Needs Approval (work is ready for your sign-off), Approved, Changes Requested, or Blocked. These will follow the same principle: a status either means work is flowing normally, or it signals that something needs your attention.

If you ever see a status you don't recognize, leave a comment on the task or ask your project lead.

Finding tasks by status

You can filter your task list to show only tasks with a particular status, for example, to quickly see everything that's Waiting on Client.

Open your project from the Shared with me section of the left sidebar.

Click the Filter button at the top of the view to see the filter options.

Select "Status" from the filter options.

Choose the status you want to see, for example, Waiting on Client.

Your task list updates to show only tasks with that status. Completed tasks are hidden in List view by default. To see them, click Show closed at the top of the list.

Common questions

A task is stuck on 'Waiting on Client': what do I do?

Open the task and read the most recent comment. We'll have explained what we need from you. Leave a comment with your response, attach any files needed, or let us know if you have questions. See How to comment on a task for help.

A task says 'Complete' but I think something is still wrong.

Leave a comment on the task explaining what you're seeing. Or, if significant new work is needed, use How to submit a new request and reference the original task.

Can I change the status of a task myself?

Mostly we handle it, so the workflow stays accurate. The exception is sign-off: if your access allows it, we may ask you to move a task to Approved or Changes Requested yourself. See How to approve work in ClickUp. In ClickUp, someone with comment-only access can change a task's status only on tasks they're assigned to, so if you don't see a way to change it, just leave a comment on the task and we'll sort it out.

What does 'Blocked' mean if I see it?

Blocked means work has stopped because of an external dependency, for example, waiting on a third-party vendor, a license key, or content we need from you. It's similar to Waiting on Client but not always your action to take. The task comment will say more.

Learn more

Was this page helpful?

Go deeper on chykalophia.com

Need a hand?

Stuck? We'll help.

Email us with your website address and a screenshot if you can, and we’ll take it from there.

Last updated