OmniFocus 4.7 introduces a powerful set of new database features: a new “Planned” date type, the ability to create mutually exclusive tags, and improved repeat functionality (including new support for setting a repeat to end after a specific date or set number of repetitions). These features will be available in test builds of OmniFocus 4.7 after completing the database migration flow, which has been updated for clarity and reliability.
Additionally, this release includes a range of improvements which do not require a database migration: Time Sensitive Notifications, shortcut improvements, and more!
Important Note: If you choose to migrate your database while running OmniFocus 4.7 test builds, your OmniFocus database will no longer be compatible with the current release of OmniFocus. If you need to reinstall OmniFocus 4.6.1 after migrating your database, doing so will require reverting to a pre-migration backup of your OmniFocus database.
OmniFocus 4.7 test builds for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro can be installed via TestFlight.
Mac test builds are also available immediately for direct download, Mac TestFlight builds we also be available following TestFlight approval.
An OmniFocus for the Web compatibility update is also available to test.
OmniFocus 4.7 for All Platforms - Initial Test Release Notes
All Platforms
Database Migration — Some features in this release require a new database format. You will be automatically prompted to migrate your database after all syncing copies of OmniFocus have updated to 4.7 (test builds of OmniFocus 4.7 are available for all platforms, including OmniFocus for the Web.
Widgets — While we do not anticipate user-visible changes at this point in time, the code which populates OmniFocus widgets has been updated substantially. Please let us know if you run into unexpected widget behavior!
Documentation — In-progress documentation for test builds is now available on our website.
Planned Dates — Items can now be assigned a Planned Date, in addition to a Defer and a Due Date. A Planned Date is the date an action, action group, or project is scheduled for work. (Planned dates require database migration.)
Mutually Exclusive Tags — Mutually exclusive behavior can now be enabled for tag groups. When enabled, only one tag from tag group can be assigned to an item at a time; when an additional tag from this group is assigned, the previously assigned tag is removed. Mutually exclusive tags can be useful in a variety of workflows, including priority and energy level assignment. (Mutually exclusive tags require database migration.)
Improved Repeats — A range of new repeat behaviors can now be configured in the updated Repeat interface. (New repeat behaviors require database migration.)
Repeat Limits — Repeats can now be set to end after a date or set number of repetitions.
Automatic Catch Up — Repeating items now skip forward to next future date when “Catch up automatically” is enabled.
Repeat Schedules — Improved flexibility for items that repeat on a regular schedule.
Inspector — New interface for editing repeats. When not editing, repeat behavior is now summarized in Inspector.
Shortcuts — New “Find Perspective” Shortcut.
Time Sensitive Notifications — OmniFocus notifications now default to Time Sensitive alert behavior
Copy as Link — Improved consistency of “Copy as Link” behavior across platforms.
Dates — Standardized date terminology throughout app.
Notifications — Clarified language used to describe notifications throughout app.
Notifications — Custom notifications are no longer applied to future instances of repeating actions and projects.
Shortcuts — Sorting options are now available for “Find” Shortcut actions.
Tags — New “Tag group” sidebar icon.
Mac
Sync — Stale sync client recovery flow now matches recovery flow on other platforms.
Archive — Database Archive now migrates to most recent format alongside primary OmniFocus database.
Apple Intelligence — Writing Tools cursor is no longer displayed for project, tag, and date fields in Inspector
Tags — Location Tag type icon now displays more reliably in sidebar.
iPhone & iPad
Menus — Corrected menu item titles for compatibility with forthcoming versions of iPadOS.
Notifications — Time field no longer scrolls off screen when adding a notification on iPhone.
The visionOS app should be available from TestFlight, but sometimes TestFlight can be a bit finicky about showing the latest available build. Maybe try force-quitting TestFlight and reopening it?
Hi! Upgraded to 4.7 on iPhone and Mac - but no prompt to update the database. In the Sync overview it shows both devices as the only syncing devices and on 4.7. Anything I can do to trigger the database upgrade?
Instead of waiting for the app to prompt you, you can choose Migrate Database from the File menu on Mac, or from the app’s Settings on iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS (where you’ll find it near the bottom, just below Backups) .
For more detail, see the Migrating Your Database section of the documentation:
You can repeat a task and end it on a particular date or after a number of repetitions.
Also other things like repeat on the last Thursday of the month.
You can also catch up automatically. If I had something set every week on a Thursday but I haven’t done anything for 4 weeks, I can just complete a task and it will assign the next repeat for the next repetition. In the older version, I’d have to click complete task 4 times to catch up.
The Planned date type feature is a true game-changer. The ‘planned’ tasks appear in the Forecast timeline without the interference of due dates, and that serves as a gentle reminder without sounding an alarm in the head.
Updated test builds of OmniFocus 4.7 (v183.1.49) are now available!
All Platforms
updated - Terminology — Updated language for consistency in Sync Settings and perspective editor.
fixed - Focus — Focus is now applied correctly in Forecast when items with Planned Dates are displayed.
fixed - Migration — Addressed an additional scenario in which an out-of-date OmniFocus for the Web client could silently block database migration.
fixed - Repeats — Currently set value is now displayed in Inspector for Monthly “Days of Week” repeats.
fixed - Omni Automation — Fixed a bug where not specifying the anchor date for a Task.RepetitionRule would cause a blank value to appear in the Repeat inspector’s “Based on” field, instead of showing the default option that was being used (“Based on: Due Date”).
Mac
updated - Outline — Clicking in outline to dismiss a popover no longer changes outline selection.
Updated test builds of OmniFocus 4.7 (v183.1.89) are now available!
All Platforms
updated - Migration — Updated the migration text to count the number of recently synced devices that will no longer be able to sync if you choose to migrate.
updated - Settings — Updated wording and capitalization for some settings.
updated - Sync Setup — When attempting to sync with a newer database than this app supports, report the minimum version of the app required by that database (e.g. “OmniFocus 4.7”). Also, polish up the way these sync errors are presented.
updated - System Information — The obsolete “database version” is no longer included as part of the opt-in system information.
updated - Tag Inspector — Made the “Tag Group Behavior” section title more descriptive.
fixed - Reschedule Crash — Contextual menus no longer offer reschedule options for items which don’t repeat, preventing a crash when those items were chosen.
fixed - Default Time for Planned Dates — Updating the default time for planned dates now takes effect immediately, rather than waiting for a restart of the app.
Mac
new - Settings — In Organization Settings, you can now choose which date gets changed by default when dragging a task in Forecast. (The setting also has an info button next to it which explains how you can override it to set a different date for a specific drag.)
updated - Document Icons — Updated the document icons for databases, archives, etc.
updated - Help — The app documentation is now bundled within the app so it’s available to view while offline, rather than redirecting to the website.
updated - Sync Error Text — When syncing with an incompatible database, the text now tells you that backups are available in the File menu (rather than directing you to Settings, which is where you find those backups on other platforms).
fixed - Migration — Fixed a crash encountered when declining to migrate the database.
fixed - Planned Date Column — Fixed a bug where editing the planned date of a project or action group wouldn’t immediately update the display of inherited planned dates for contained tasks.
iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro
fixed - App Intent — Fixed a crash encountered when a shortcut (or other App Intent) tried to use data before the app finishes opening.
