Turn off inbox in Trello

[Lisa Schwartz]

How do I turn off the inbox?

If I can't - how can I create a Butler to automatically move anything that hits the inbox into the List I want it in?

[Shashank Dubey]

Hii @Lisa Schwartz ,

In Trello, the Inbox is a system feature and currently can’t be completely turned off or disabled. It’s designed as a capture space for new items before you organize them into specific lists.
However, you can absolutely automate moving cards out of the Inbox using Butler automation. Here’s how you can set it up:

Option 1: Rule-Based Automation 

Go to your board.
Click Automation → Rules.
Create a new rule with a trigger such as:
“When a card is added to the Inbox list”
Add an action:
“Move the card to [Your Desired List]”
Save the rule.
This will automatically move any new card that lands in Inbox to your selected list.

Option 2: Scheduled Automation 

If cards are coming in from multiple sources and you want periodic cleanup:
Trigger: “Every day at 9:00 am”
Action: “Move all cards in Inbox to [Your Desired List]”

I hope this may help you .

[Lisa Schwartz]

Unless there is something in my setting that's preventing me from doing this. When I create an Automation, Inbox is not in my list of Lists. So I can't use: “When a card is added to the Inbox list”

What are the other options? Do I really have to manually move all these cards?

Is there a workaround where I can skip the inbox? 

[Shashank Dubey]

Hey @Lisa Schwartz  You’re correct — in the new Trello experience, the Inbox is not a normal board list, so it won’t appear in Butler’s list dropdown. That’s why you can’t select

“When a card is added to the Inbox list”

This isn’t a permissions issue or a setting on your side — it’s by design. The Inbox is a system-level capture space, not technically a list on the board.

What are your options?

✅ Option 1: Use a “Card Created” Trigger Instead (Best Workaround)

Instead of targeting the Inbox, create a rule like this:

Trigger:

When a card is created

Condition (optional but recommended):

Add filters such as:

created by email

created via form

has specific label

name contains specific text

Action:

Move the card to “Your Desired List”

This way, any new card (including ones that first pass through Inbox) will automatically be moved to your preferred list.

✅ Option 2: Scheduled Cleanup Rule

If real-time movement isn’t critical:

Trigger:

Every weekday at 8:00 am

Action:

Move all cards assigned to me to “To Do”

or

Move cards with no due date to “Backlog”

This helps reduce manual cleanup.