Where's the drag handle?

It fades in at the left edge of each checklist item when you hover the row (a small grip of dots). Grab it and drag the item up or down; a line shows where it'll land. Let go to drop. On touch, press the handle and drag.

Do I need to be in Edit mode?

No. Reordering happens right on the read view, the same as ticking items off. Drafty rewrites the underlying markdown for you and saves it — no save button, and it shows for every viewer.

Which lists can be reordered?

Bullet checklists on markdown canvases — lines written as `- [ ] item`. Numbered checklists (`1.`) and items inside a quote aren't draggable, since reordering them would leave the source out of step. A handle only appears where dragging is safe.

Can I move an item between two different lists?

No — you reorder within a single list. Drop targets are the other items in the same list; an item with sub-items carries its children with it.

Does the new order pull down through the CLI?

Yes. Reordering edits the canvas content itself, so `drafty canvas pull` and any new version reflect the order you set — it's a real edit, not a personal view.

Updated June 16, 2026

How do I reorder a checklist on a Drafty canvas?

Quick answer

If you own the canvas, hover a checklist item and a drag handle appears at its left edge — grab it and drop the item where you want it in the list. The order saves automatically and updates for everyone, just like ticking a box. It works on markdown canvases with bullet checklists (`- [ ] …`); you don't need to open Edit.

A checklist is only useful if the order means something. On a markdown canvas you own, you can drag items into priority order right on the page — no Edit mode, the same as ticking a box.

How to reorder

Hover a checklist item and a small drag handle fades in at its left edge. Grab it and drag the item up or down — a line shows where it'll land — then let go. Drafty rewrites the underlying markdown for you and saves it, so the new order shows for everyone reading the canvas.

On touch devices the handle stays visible (there's no hover), so press it and drag.

What can be reordered

Bullet checklists — lines written as - [ ] item — on markdown canvases. A handle only appears where reordering is safe:

Numbered checklists (1. [ ] …) aren't draggable, since moving lines would leave the source numbers out of step.
Quoted checklists (inside a > block) aren't draggable.
You reorder within a single list; an item with sub-items carries its children along.

Who can do it

Only the owner — the account that published the canvas. Everyone else reads the list in its current order and can comment, exactly as before.

It's a real edit

Reordering changes the canvas content itself, not just your view — so drafty canvas pull and every new version reflect the order you set. Like ticking items off, it saves continuously with no save button.

Open your canvases

Frequently asked

Where's the drag handle?: It fades in at the left edge of each checklist item when you hover the row (a small grip of dots). Grab it and drag the item up or down; a line shows where it'll land. Let go to drop. On touch, press the handle and drag.
Do I need to be in Edit mode?: No. Reordering happens right on the read view, the same as ticking items off. Drafty rewrites the underlying markdown for you and saves it — no save button, and it shows for every viewer.
Who can reorder a checklist?: Only the owner — the account that published the canvas. Everyone else reads the list in its current order and can comment, as before.
Which lists can be reordered?: Bullet checklists on markdown canvases — lines written as `- [ ] item`. Numbered checklists (`1.`) and items inside a quote aren't draggable, since reordering them would leave the source out of step. A handle only appears where dragging is safe.
Can I move an item between two different lists?: No — you reorder within a single list. Drop targets are the other items in the same list; an item with sub-items carries its children with it.
Does the new order pull down through the CLI?: Yes. Reordering edits the canvas content itself, so `drafty canvas pull` and any new version reflect the order you set — it's a real edit, not a personal view.