---
title: How do I use the Brain's Tasks, Done and Notes?
question: brain tasks done notes new task run retry archive earlier history
area: brain
surface: desktop
audience: beginner
keywords: [Brain workspace, tasks, done, notes, run again, cancelled, interrupted, archive, restore, earlier history, search]
related: [what-is-the-brain, manage-the-brain-drawer, sync-brain-records]
updated: 2026-09-09
visibility: public
---

# How do I use the Brain's Tasks, Done and Notes?

Each Brain has its own **tasks**, **done** and **notes** beside **session**. These are separate from a project's sidebar records. Choose the Brain tab first, then the section you want.

## Before you start

Keep Codus open to run a task. Saving a task records it; it does not start the Brain until you choose **Run**.

## Add and run a task

1. Open **Brain → tasks → New task**.
2. Describe the work and click **Save task**.
3. Click **Run**. A queued task waits for that Brain to be ready.
4. Read its progress in the task row or switch to **session**.
5. Use **Retry** for a failed or interrupted task, or **Run again** for completed work. Re-running can repeat actions, so check what already happened first.

**Edit** is unavailable while a task is running. **Cancel** requests cancellation; check the resulting status before assuming work has stopped. **Archive** hides a non-running task without deleting it. Enable **Show archived**, then **Restore** to bring it back.

## Save a note

1. Open **notes → New note**.
2. Enter the note, with an optional title, type and tags.
3. Click **Save note**. Use **Edit** for changes or **Archive** to hide it.

## Find completed or older work

**done** contains completed tasks and work logged by that Brain. **Remove** asks for confirmation and removes the record, not the code or files produced by the work.

Use **Search**, **Refresh** and **Load more** to find records. **Earlier history** shows shared records from before Brains had separate workspaces. That history is read-only; choose **Back to [Brain name]** to return.

## How do I know it worked?

The new task or note appears under the intended Brain's name. A run progresses beyond queued, and completed work appears in **done**. [Cloud sync status](sync-brain-records.md) tells you whether the record has also reached the cloud.