How do task dependencies work?
Last verified October 18, 2026
A dependency says one task has to finish before another can start. The waiting task shows as Blocked until the task it depends on reaches a Done status, and the link is drawn as an arrow on the Gantt view.
You need: Manage tasks permission to add or remove dependencies
Dependencies are about order. They are separate from subtasks, which split one piece of work into smaller parts. A task can have both.
Add a dependency from the task panel
- Open Tasks and click a task to open its panel.
- Scroll to Dependencies.
- Click Add a task this depends on to pick the task that has to finish first, or Add a task that depends on this to pick one that waits on this task.
The panel lists both sides under Blocked by and Blocks. Click the x on a row to remove that link.
You can also right-click a task (or use its options menu) and choose Task that depends on this or Task this depends on. That creates a new task already linked in that direction.
Link tasks on the Gantt view
- Switch to Gantt with the view toggle.
- Hover a bar and find the small + beside its right end.
- Click it to create a new task that depends on this one, or drag it onto another bar to link the two.
Arrows run from the task that has to finish first to the task that waits. Turn on Group chains in the Gantt header to pull linked tasks onto neighbouring rows. Click it again to go back to your own order.
What "blocked" means
A task is blocked while any task it depends on is in a status that isn't marked Done. You'll see it in a few places:
- On the kanban, the card gets a red outline and a Blocked badge. Linked tasks that aren't blocked show "2 linked" or similar.
- In the List view, Blocked by and Blocks chips appear on the row.
- In the task panel, a warning appears if this task starts before a task it depends on finishes.
Blocked is a signal for the team. It does not stop anyone from moving or completing the task. When you finish a task, anything it was holding up gets a short highlight so you can see what's now free.
Rules
- A task can't depend on itself.
- The same pair can only be linked once.
- Links can't loop. If A waits on B and B waits on A, you get "That would create a circular dependency."