Checking every subtask on iPhone does not close the parent reminder. Tap the parent’s empty circle once when the nested steps are done. That single tap marks the whole group complete and clears it from Today.

If you run packing lists, launch checklists, or chore batches with three nested steps, this is for you.

What the top guides agree on

Apple Support and the first page of search results say the same basics:

  • Tap the circle next to any line to mark it complete.
  • Completing the parent also completes its subtasks.
  • Indent or drag to nest items under a header.
  • Show Completed lives under the list menu if you need to undo.

All true. Almost none of them say out loud that the arrow only runs one direction. Your takeaway: subtasks do not auto-finish the parent.

The DONE Fork (pick your branch in 30 seconds)

Start at the symptom, not a settings scavenger hunt.

  1. D = Display completed subtasks. Open the list, tap ⋯, choose Show Completed. Confirm every nested line has a checkmark. If one subtask is still open, finish that first.
  2. O = Open the parent row. Collapse and expand the parent so you see its own empty circle on the left. That circle is separate from the subtask checks.
  3. N = Name what “done” means. If the parent is only a label (for example Pack for Denver), one tap on the parent is the whole job. If the parent is real work too, leave one subtask for the actual task and date only that line.
  4. E = Execute one parent tap. Tap the parent circle once. The group should slide to completed and leave Today. If it snaps back, you are in the repeat branch below.

Your takeaway: one header tap beats re-checking four circles tomorrow.

Walkthrough: Priya and the stuck “Launch post” parent

Priya built Launch post with three subtasks: Draft caption, Export clip, and Schedule in app. She checked all three from her lock screen widget. Today still shows Launch post in bold.

Step D: She opens Reminders → Work list → ⋯ → Show Completed. All three subtasks show checks.

Step O: She taps the chevron on Launch post. The parent’s empty circle sits above the nested list, not inside it.

Step N: The parent is a header only. No fourth hidden step. She is safe to close the whole card.

Step E: One tap on the parent circle. The group grays out and leaves Today. She hides completed items again so the list stays short.

She set up the nested lines using our 3-Step Parent Rule for subtasks. That post covers caps and dates. This fork covers the finish line.

Mistakes that keep the parent hanging open

These patterns show up in Apple Community threads more than “broken sync.”

  • Checking the parent early. One tap on the parent before subtasks are ready marks everything done. Fix: use Show Completed, tap the parent again to uncomplete, then finish subtasks one by one.
  • Repeating parent, static subtasks. Weekly Clean kitchen repeats, but subtasks stay checked from last Sunday. Fix: after each week, show completed subtasks and uncheck them, or flatten to three separate repeating tasks.
  • Timed subtasks without a parent date. A subtask with 9:00 a.m. can appear in Today even when the parent looks “done enough.” Fix: put the alert on the parent or on the one subtask that actually needs a ping.
  • Widget only checks subtasks. The home screen widget completes visible lines, not always the header. Fix: open the list once and run step E.

Your takeaway: repeating checklists need a reset ritual, not more nested lines.

When DONE is not enough

If the parent refuses to stay complete, branch on repeat settings before you rebuild the list.

  1. Repeats on? Tap i on the parent. If Repeat is Daily or Weekly, expect subtasks to behave like a one-time checklist. See our STOP Fork for repeating reminders if the card keeps cloning.
  2. Assigned shared list? Someone else may reopen the parent on their phone. Confirm in a shared Work list before you duplicate the task.
  3. Need the card back? Show completed items, tap the parent circle to uncomplete, and only reopen the subtasks you still owe.

Your takeaway: repeats and shared lists change who gets the last tap.

Mini FAQ

Do subtasks automatically complete the parent on iPhone?

No. Checking every subtask leaves the parent open until you tap its empty circle. The parent is a header, not a progress bar. Tap the parent once when the subtasks are done and the whole group moves to completed.

What happens if I complete the parent first?

Apple marks the parent and all subtasks completed in one move. If you only needed one subtask done, complete subtasks individually instead of tapping the parent early.

Why do repeating reminders keep checked subtasks?

Repeating parents often recycle the title while subtasks stay checked from last week. Either uncheck subtasks after each cycle with Show Completed on, or split the repeat into flat tasks without a nested checklist.

Open the parent that survived Today, run the DONE Fork once, then hide completed items so tomorrow’s list starts clean.

More phone-first task workflows live on the Divux product page, or download Divux free on the App Store.