# 🚀 Automated task status based on completion of subtasks **URL:** \ **Category:** Forum Leader tips\ **Tags:** forum-leader-tip\ **Created:** [27 October 2024 13:13 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664 "2024-10-27T13:13:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Richard\_Sather](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/asana/user_avatar/forum.asana.com/richard_sather/32/276096_2.png) [@Richard\_Sather](https://forum.asana.com/u/Richard_Sather)\ **Post date:** [27 October 2024 13:13 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/1 "2024-10-27T13:13:53Z")
Similar to my workaround for [🔋 Automated task progress battery bars to show completion of subtasks](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-progress-battery-bars-to-show-completion-of-subtasks/959387), this workaround will automatically update the status of a parent task, based on the completion of subtasks! Below is a small preview where we see that the 🚀 **Stage** field of the parent task automatically displays the subtask that is currently in progress. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/asana/original/4X/f/a/6/fa67ba2a92f7e13c8baf598d0591e0b7dc894a82.png) ❗Note that this workaround works with predefined subtasks which could either be created using a Task template or the custom rule action **Create subtasks**. In this example, each Blog post task will always contain 6 subtasks, no more. However, if you want the **Stage** field to change based on a certain percentage of subtasks being complete, then you could use a combination of the below workaround along with [this one](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-progress-battery-bars-to-show-completion-of-subtasks/959387). Here’s the recipe: 1. If you don’t already have a status/stage field, create one and add it to your project. In this example, we will use a 🚀 **Stage** field with the same/similar values as per the subtasks, like the below: 2. Create & add a number field called ↪ **Complete** (or anything you like such as ‘Completed subtasks’) without any decimal places. 3. Create a custom rule so that when (sub)tasks are completed, set the ↪ **Complete** value to 1 and if incomplete, to clear it. 4. Create a formula field called **Stage #** as per below, using the Rollup function: 5. Create a custom rule as per below using the new [number comparison conditions in rules](https://forum.asana.com/t/number-formula-comparison-condition/863255/14) and make sure to set this rule to run on tasks (in the top right area, select **Run on tasks** ). 6. Now for the best part! Whenever you complete a subtask, its ↪ **Complete** field will get populated with a 1 value, which in turn will populate the **# Stage** rollup value, which in turn will set the 🚀 **Stage** field in line with the current subtask, as per below: 7. Finally, hide the **↪ Complete** and **Stage #** fields so your project looks cleaner like this: 8. For those on Enterprise tiers, I recommend you [add a restriction](https://help.asana.com/s/article/edit-restriction-on-custom-field-values?language=en_US) to the **↪ Complete** and 🚀 **Stage** fields so that only Project Admins can edit them, making sure no one else accidentally tampers with this system! 9. For those on Enterprise tiers, you can add/apply this entire system to any other projects by adding all the above into a [Bundle](https://help.asana.com/s/article/applying-bundles-to-projects?language=en_US)! You may also want to have a look at [🔋 Automated task progress battery bars to show progress of subtasks](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-progress-battery-bars-to-show-progress-of-subtasks/959387) _🚀 See all of my top tips & tricks on my [website](https://www.richardsather.com/top-tips-tricks)_. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_TeamKickstart](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/asana/user_avatar/forum.asana.com/bryan_teamkickstart/32/293196_2.png) [@Bryan\_TeamKickstart](https://forum.asana.com/u/Bryan_TeamKickstart)\ **Post date:** [2 November 2024 21:35 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/2 "2024-11-02T21:35:47Z")
@Richard_Sather - this is freaking nuts! What a brilliant creative workaround! I really hope this is automated natively in the future, but super cool idea in the meantime! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Sather](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/asana/user_avatar/forum.asana.com/richard_sather/32/276096_2.png) [@Richard\_Sather](https://forum.asana.com/u/Richard_Sather)\ **Post date:** [2 November 2024 22:22 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/3 "2024-11-02T22:22:28Z")
Thanks @Bryan_TeamKickstart ! Love your enthusiasm ❤ ---
**Author:** ![Kleanthis\_Sizopoulo1](https://luna1.co/8d76cd.png) [@Kleanthis\_Sizopoulo1](https://forum.asana.com/u/Kleanthis_Sizopoulo1)\ **Post date:** [16 July 2025 13:36 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/4 "2025-07-16T13:36:36Z")
@Richard_Sather This is amazing! Is there a way to show the stage even if we skipped Stage 4, for example, and completed Stage 5? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Sather](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/asana/user_avatar/forum.asana.com/richard_sather/32/276096_2.png) [@Richard\_Sather](https://forum.asana.com/u/Richard_Sather)\ **Post date:** [16 July 2025 18:13 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/5 "2025-07-16T18:13:03Z")
Καλησπέρα @Kleanthis_Sizopoulo1 👋 Glad you like this workaround! For skipping any subtask, you could right click and convert it to an Approval type task and then mark it as rejected. That will clearly mark it as ‘skipped’ (with a red X) but since it will complete the subtask, it should also update the status of the parent task. Let me know if that works for you! ---
**Author:** ![Kleanthis\_Sizopoulo1](https://luna1.co/8d76cd.png) [@Kleanthis\_Sizopoulo1](https://forum.asana.com/u/Kleanthis_Sizopoulo1)\ **Post date:** [17 July 2025 05:45 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/6 "2025-07-17T05:45:36Z")
Thank you, @Richard_Sather for your prompt reply. I will try your suggestion out. ---
**Author:** ![Morgan\_Fox](https://luna1.co/8d76cd.png) [@Morgan\_Fox](https://forum.asana.com/u/Morgan_Fox)\ **Post date:** [12 March 2026 17:42 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/7 "2026-03-12T17:42:14Z")
This is awesome! Has anyone tried to create this backwards? So if a custom field is changed, it will complete the subtask? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Sather](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/asana/user_avatar/forum.asana.com/richard_sather/32/276096_2.png) [@Richard\_Sather](https://forum.asana.com/u/Richard_Sather)\ **Post date:** [12 March 2026 17:51 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/8 "2026-03-12T17:51:40Z")
Hi @Morgan_Fox , glad you like this! As for your question, I don’t see how that would be possible natively. Perhaps with custom script rule actions as long as each status option was mapped to the Nth subtask..? Curious what the use case would be though. I’m thinking why would you even need subtasks? ---
**Author:** ![Morgan\_Fox](https://luna1.co/8d76cd.png) [@Morgan\_Fox](https://forum.asana.com/u/Morgan_Fox)\ **Post date:** [12 March 2026 20:41 UTC](https://forum.asana.com/t/automated-task-status-based-on-completion-of-subtasks/959664/9 "2026-03-12T20:41:24Z")
I did end up figure out how to automate it using scripts! I know - seems a little redundant… We have a custom field that gets updated via an API to Knak (Email builder). We need subtasks to show due dates and deadlines, but that custom field gets changed automatically when they take an action in Knak. I’m trying to trigger the subtask completion by the field change so that they don’t have to do redundant work. Unless there is another way to track due dates and SLAs….