TL;DR: To add a description to a task in Wrike, open the task in Item View and click into the description field below the task title. Start typing, and your changes save automatically in real time.
Hey Community! 👋
One of the first things you'll want to do after creating a task, project or folder is give it some context. That's exactly what the description field is for. Let's walk through how to add and format a description in Wrike.
What Is the Description Field?
The description field is a built-in text area available on every task as well as projects and folders.
It works as a real-time live editor, meaning your changes are saved automatically and instantly. If a teammate is editing the same description at the same time, you'll even see their cursor and name appear in the field.
How to Add a Description to a Task
- Open your task by clicking on it from any view (Board, Table, Gantt Chart, etc.) to open it in Item View.
- Locate the description field. It sits below the task title in the Item View panel.
- Click into the description field. A formatting toolbar will appear above the text area.
- Start typing your description. Add any details, instructions, or context your team needs.
- You can also Write with AI. Click Write with AI in the description field or the AI icon in the formatting toolbar to generate, rewrite, translate, summarize, or improve your description using preset or custom prompts.
- That's it! Your text saves automatically as you type. No save button needed.
Formatting Your Description
Once you click into the description field, a toolbar appears with options to style your text:
Tool | What It Does |
|---|
Headers | Add heading levels for structure |
Bold / Italic / Underline and Strikethrough | Text formatting |
Color and highlight | Change text color or add a background highlight |
Checklist | Create a to-do list with checkboxes |
Bulleted / Numbered lists | Organize information into lists |
Insert Link | Hyperlink selected text |
Insert Image | Embed an image directly in the description |
Insert Table | Add a table for structured data |
Code / Code block | Format text as code for technical content |
AI | Use generative AI to draft or improve your description |
You can also use keyboard shortcuts for formatting. For example: Ctrl+B (Cmd+B on Mac) for bold, Ctrl+I (Cmd+I on Mac) for italics.
A Real-World Example
Let's say you're a marketing manager creating a task called "Write Q3 Blog Post." In the description, you might add:
- Topic: Product launch recap
- Target audience: Existing customers
- Word count: 800-1,000
- Deadline notes: Draft due by Friday, final version by next Wednesday
This gives your writer everything they need without a separate email or message.
Good to Know
- Auto-save is always on. There's no save button. Wrike saves your description changes in real time as you type.
- Real-time collaboration. Multiple people can edit the same description simultaneously. You'll see each person's cursor and name.
- Who can edit? All users except Collaborators, Contributors, and Viewers can edit task descriptions. If you can't edit a description, check your user role or access permissions with your account admin.
- Version history. You can view past versions of a description by clicking the Version History icon on the right side of the formatting toolbar. Helpful if something was accidentally deleted.
- Gantt Chart view. If you're working in Gantt Chart view, hover over a task and click "View details" to open Item View, where you can then edit the description.
Learn More
For a full breakdown of every formatting option and keyboard shortcut, check out our Wrike Help Center articles:
🔗 Description Field
🔗 Generative AI
🔗 Keyboard Shortcuts
📌 Related in this series:
Over to You
How do you use task descriptions in your workflow? Do you keep them short and simple, or do you use checklists, tables, and formatting to build detailed briefs? Share your tips below. 👇
