How to automate task assignments in ClickUp

How to Automate Task Assignments in ClickUp

ClickUp provides built-in automation that can automatically assign tasks based on triggers like status changes, due dates, custom field updates, and task creation. As of April 2026, automation is available on all ClickUp plans (with usage limits on free and lower tiers).

Step 1: Access the Automation Panel

Navigate to the Space, Folder, or List where the automation should apply. Click the lightning bolt icon in the top-right toolbar, then select "Add Automation." Automations apply to the scope where they are created (Space-level automations run on all tasks in that Space).

Step 2: Choose a Trigger

Select the event that should start the automation. Common triggers for task assignment include:

• When status changes to — Assign a reviewer when a task moves to "In Review"
• When task is created — Auto-assign new tasks to a default owner
• When priority changes to — Route urgent tasks to senior team members
• When custom field changes — Assign based on department, region, or category
• When due date arrives — Reassign overdue tasks to a manager

Step 3: Configure the Assignment Action

Select "Change Assignees" as the action. Options include:

• Add assignee — Add a specific person or the task creator
• Remove assignee — Remove the current assignee
• Replace assignee — Swap one person for another

Use "Dynamic Assignees" to assign based on custom field values rather than hardcoded team members.

Step 4: Add Conditions (Optional)

Add conditions to make the automation more specific. For example, "When status changes to In Review AND priority is Urgent, assign to [Senior Reviewer]." Conditions support AND/OR logic with custom field comparisons.

Round-Robin Assignment

ClickUp does not natively support round-robin assignment in its automation builder. To distribute tasks evenly, use a custom field with team member rotation or connect ClickUp to Zapier/Make, which can track assignment counts and rotate automatically.

Practical Example

A content team automating article reviews:

1. Trigger: When status changes to "Ready for Review"
2. Action: Add assignee "Editor"
3. Action: Set due date to 2 business days from trigger
4. Action: Post comment "@Editor — new article ready for review"

This eliminates manual handoff notifications and ensures no article sits unassigned in the review queue.

Usage Limits

As of April 2026, ClickUp automation usage limits by plan:

• Free: 100 automations/month
• Unlimited ($7/member/month): 1,000 automations/month
• Business ($12/member/month): 10,000 automations/month
• Enterprise: 250,000 automations/month