Omnifocus iMac - Cannot set defer or due times only dates

OmniFocus
1

As per the title: When I create or edit a task I can set the defer and due dates but not the times. They always reset to 00:00. I have a default defer time of 08:00 and due time of 16:00 but even these are ignored. Whatever I do the tasks times always revert to 00:00. Any ideas?

Currently, the only way I can set times is by editing the tasks on my iPhone or iPad.

2

You made the mistake of giving the project a due date and time that is earlier than the due dates (and of course times) of the individual tasks. This means that your project is due before the individual tasks are also due.
The due date of a project is the date (and time) on which the project is completed. All tasks in the project need dates and times before the end of the project!!!

Example:

PROJECT “Annual Report” (DUE = January 30, 2026, 16:00)
TASK: “Create a schedule” (DUE = January 15, 2026, 4:30)
TASK: “Find the necessary documents” (DUE = January 16, 2026, 9:45)
TASK: “Send an email to all employees asking them to send you the necessary missing documents” (DUE = January. 16, 2026, 11:45)
…

TASK: “Submit the annual report to management” (DUE = January. 30, 2026, 11:30)

In your case, the unchangeable times were determined by the due date and time of your project, as you cannot specify dates after the due date and time of your project.

3

Hi Monica,
Thanks for your response on this. Unfortunately, I don’t think that this is the problem for several reasons:

  • The projects do not have dates specified.
  • It is only times that are being reset to 00:00. Even when I manually enter a time and even if the date is in the past. It happens when I tab away from the due or defer field to any other field. It happens on all tasks
  • I can set dates without any problem.
  • The problem only occurs on my iMac.
  • I can set the times correctly on these same tasks using my iPhone or iPad.

I’m still open to suggestions as to what I might have missed, given that no-one else appears to be having this problem.