# Lists and Todos in Bear

> Learn how to use lists in Bear to organize your notes, including unordered, ordered, and todo lists, nesting options, keyboard shortcuts, and tips for managing and folding lists

Source: https://bear.app/faq/lists-and-todos-in-bear/

Bear provides a variety of list options to keep your note content organized and clean.

## Types of lists
Bear supports three main styles of lists. You can create these using **Markdown** or **Shortcuts**. You can also insert lists quickly via **BIU keyboard** above the keyboard on iOS or at the top right corner of the editor on Mac.

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/list_keyb_2.jpg)
### Unordered Lists
Unordered lists are best for simple collections of items where order doesn't matter. To add an unordered list:

* Via **B*I*U** keyboard on iOS or **B*I*U** style bar on Mac
* **Markdown**: type *, -, or + followed by a space
* **Shortcut**: ⌘ L

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/list_1.jpg)
### Ordered Lists
If you are writing a step-by-step instructions or rankings in your notes, ordered lists can help. You can start with any number in a ordered list and Bear will automatically increment the numbers as you press Return. To add an ordered list:

* Via **B*I*U** keyboard on iOS or **B*I*U** style bar on Mac
* **Markdown**: type 1. followed by a space
* **Shortcut**: ⇧ ⌘ L

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/list_2.jpg)
### Todo Lists
Todo lists are ideal for grocery shopping or managing tasks. To start a todo list:

* Via **B*I*U** keyboard on iOS or **B*I*U** style bar on Mac
* **Markdown**: Type - [ ] followed by a space
* **Shortcut**: ⌘ T
  
![](https://bear.app/faq/images/list_3.jpg)
## Sub-lists and hierarchy
Nesting lists allows you to create structured lists and group sub-tasks under main tasks.
* **Indent**: Press Tab to move a list item one level deeper
* **Outdent**: Press ⇧ Tab to move a list item back to the previous level
* **Limitless Levels**: Bear supports infinite nesting, though 3 to 4 levels are recommended for readability!

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/list_4.jpg)
## Managing your lists
### Reordering Items
You don't need to cut and paste to move things around.
* **Mac**: Click and hold the bullet point or todo icon to the left of the text, then drag it to your desired position. Alternatively, you can use Shortcut ⌥⌘↑
* **iOS**: Move items with up/down arrow button in **B*I*U** keyboard

Folding Lists
For long notes, you can fold (collapse) nested lists to stay focused.
* **Mac**: Hover over a parent item and click the folding chevron in the Side Action area (left margin). Click again to unfold.
* **iOS**: You can toggle list folding with Side Actions. By default, the Side Action buttons are hidden. You can toggle the Side Action buttons via ⫶ menu.

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/list_5.jpg)
### Ending a List
To exit a list and return to normal text, press ⇧  Return to move cursor to a new line without a bullet point. Alternatively, you can press Return 2 times to outdent the list item or close the list.