How to create automations in ClickUp

Set up a ClickUp automation on a list: pick a trigger and an action, such as assigning every new task to a teammate, and save the rule in minutes.

Quick answer

Open a list in ClickUp, click Automate, then choose Add Automation. Pick a trigger such as a task being created, choose an action such as Update assignees, select who to assign, and click Create. The footer summarises the rule as a plain sentence before you save it.

Steps at a glance

  1. Open a list and click Automate.
  2. Click Add Automation.
  3. Open the action menu.
  4. Choose Update assignees.
  5. Select a user, then pick Me.
  6. Click Create to save the rule.

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Summary

A ClickUp automation pairs a trigger with an action so repetitive work happens on its own. You build it in a short panel on any list, and the rule reads back as one plain sentence.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Step 1

    Open the automation panel

    Open the list you want to automate, then click **Automate** in the top right of the list header. A side panel opens with tabs for Automations, Workflows, and Webhooks, plus quick-start templates.

  2. Step 2

    Add a new automation

    In the panel, click **Add Automation** to build a rule from scratch. The builder opens with a Trigger on the left and an Action on the right, and it starts with the trigger set to Task or subtask created.

  3. Step 3

    Open the action menu

    In the Action card, click the action dropdown, which starts as **Update status**. The menu lists actions grouped under headings such as Popular, Add Or Move, and Communication.

  4. Step 4

    Choose Update assignees

    Select **Update assignees** from the Popular group. The Action card changes to show Add assignees, Assign to, and Remove assignees fields, and the sentence at the bottom updates to match.

  5. Step 5

    Pick who to assign

    Click **Select a user** under Add assignees. A picker opens with Watchers, Task creator, Triggered by, and the people in your workspace.

  6. Step 6

    Choose the assignee

    Click **Me** to add yourself as the assignee. Your avatar appears in the Add assignees field, and the sentence at the bottom now reads When a task is created then assign you.

  7. Step 7

    Create the automation

    Check the sentence at the bottom of the builder, then click **Create** to save the rule. The new automation is now set on this list.

Why this matters

You keep assigning every new task in a content list to the same person by hand. One automation does it the moment a task is created, so nothing sits unowned and you stop repeating the same click.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can I start from a template instead?

    Yes. The Automate panel lists quick-start templates such as Put this list on a loop and Start from a webhook, each with its own Add button. Add Automation builds a rule from scratch.

  • Does each automation apply to the whole workspace?

    No. The builder header shows the location the rule lives in, such as Lane B / Content calendar, so the rule is set up for that list.

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