diff --git a/astrid/res/values/strings-core.xml b/astrid/res/values/strings-core.xml
index 897f34ea8..791027d26 100644
--- a/astrid/res/values/strings-core.xml
+++ b/astrid/res/values/strings-core.xml
@@ -651,10 +651,6 @@
   <!-- slide 33f -->
   <string name="EPr_labs_desc">Try and configure experimental features</string>
   
-  <!-- Preference: swipe between lists performance -->
-  <string name="EPr_swipe_lists_performance_title">Swipe between lists</string>
-  <string name="EPr_swipe_lists_performance_subtitle">Controls the memory performance of swipe between lists</string>
-  
   <!-- slide 49g: Preferences: use the system contact picker for task assignment -->
   <string name="EPr_use_contact_picker">Use contact picker</string>
   <!-- slide 49b -->
@@ -682,6 +678,12 @@
   
   <string name="EPr_swipe_lists_restart_alert">You will need to restart Astrid for this change to take effect</string>
   
+  <!-- Swipe between lists -->
+  
+  <!-- Preference: swipe between lists performance -->
+  <string name="EPr_swipe_lists_performance_title">Swipe between lists</string>
+  <string name="EPr_swipe_lists_performance_subtitle">Controls the memory performance of swipe between lists</string>
+  
   <string-array name="EPr_swipe_lists_performance_mode">
       <item>No swipe</item>
       <item>Conserve Memory</item>
@@ -689,7 +691,6 @@
       <item>High Performance</item>
   </string-array>
   
-  
   <string-array name="EPr_swipe_lists_performance_desc">
   <!-- slide 49a -->
       <item>Swipe between lists is disabled</item>
@@ -698,6 +699,10 @@
       <item>Uses more system resources</item>
   </string-array>
     
+  <string name="swipe_lists_helper_title">Swipe between lists</string>
+  <string name="swipe_lists_helper_header">Swipe left or right to quickly move between lists</string>
+  <string name="swipe_lists_helper_subtitle">Change settings in Settings -> Appearance</string>
+
   <!-- Format string for displaying the currently selected preference. $1 is name of selected mode, $2 is description -->
   <string name="EPr_swipe_lists_display">%1$s - %2$s</string>
   
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/EditPreferences.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/EditPreferences.java
index 970337a79..843dd7ba6 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/EditPreferences.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/EditPreferences.java
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StatisticsService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.TaskService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.sync.SyncProviderPreferences;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.ui.ContactListAdapter;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.ui.TaskListFragmentPager;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.utility.Constants;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.utility.Flags;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.voice.VoiceInputAssistant;
@@ -505,7 +506,14 @@ public class EditPreferences extends TodorooPreferenceActivity {
         else if (booleanPreference(preference, value, R.string.p_autoIdea,
                 R.string.EPr_ideaAuto_desc_disabled, R.string.EPr_ideaAuto_desc_enabled));
         else if (r.getString(R.string.p_swipe_lists_performance_key).equals(preference.getKey())) {
-            preference.setOnPreferenceChangeListener(new SetResultOnPreferenceChangeListener(RESULT_CODE_PERFORMANCE_PREF_CHANGED));
+            preference.setOnPreferenceChangeListener(new SetResultOnPreferenceChangeListener(RESULT_CODE_PERFORMANCE_PREF_CHANGED) {
+                @Override
+                public boolean onPreferenceChange(Preference p, Object newValue) {
+                    // If the user changes the setting themselves, no need to show the helper
+                    Preferences.setBoolean(TaskListFragmentPager.PREF_SHOWED_SWIPE_HELPER, true);
+                    return super.onPreferenceChange(p, newValue);
+                }
+            });
 
             int index = 0;
             if(value instanceof String && !TextUtils.isEmpty((String)value))
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java
index f0bebccf5..6f6cf72f3 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ public class TaskListActivity extends AstridActivity implements MainMenuListener
         setCommentsCount(0);
 
         if (swipeIsEnabled()) {
+            TaskListFragmentPager.showSwipeBetweenHelper(this);
             tlfPager.showFilter((Filter) item);
             return true;
         }
@@ -501,6 +502,8 @@ public class TaskListActivity extends AstridActivity implements MainMenuListener
                 fragment.initiateAutomaticSync();
                 fragment.requestCommentCountUpdate();
             }
+            if (position != 0)
+                Preferences.setBoolean(TaskListFragmentPager.PREF_SHOWED_SWIPE_HELPER, true);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/ui/TaskListFragmentPager.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/ui/TaskListFragmentPager.java
index 537020da0..6dfecbbd4 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/ui/TaskListFragmentPager.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/ui/TaskListFragmentPager.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  */
 package com.todoroo.astrid.ui;
 
+import android.app.Activity;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.graphics.Rect;
 import android.support.v4.view.PagerAdapter;
@@ -14,14 +15,18 @@ import android.view.MotionEvent;
 import android.view.View;
 
 import com.timsu.astrid.R;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.utility.DialogUtilities;
 import com.todoroo.andlib.utility.Preferences;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.activity.TaskListFragment;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.adapter.TaskListFragmentPagerAdapter;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.api.Filter;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.service.ThemeService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.utility.Flags;
 
 public class TaskListFragmentPager extends ViewPager {
 
+    public static final String PREF_SHOWED_SWIPE_HELPER = "showed_swipe_helper"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
     public TaskListFragmentPager(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
         super(context, attrs);
         int offscreenPageLimit = Preferences.getIntegerFromString(R.string.p_swipe_lists_performance_key, 3);
@@ -104,4 +109,22 @@ public class TaskListFragmentPager extends ViewPager {
         }
         return false;
     }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("nls")
+    public static void showSwipeBetweenHelper(Activity activity) {
+        if (!Preferences.getBoolean(PREF_SHOWED_SWIPE_HELPER, false)) {
+            String body = String.format("<h3>%s</h3><img src='%s'><br><br>%s",
+                    activity.getString(R.string.swipe_lists_helper_header),
+                    "subtasks_horizontal.png",
+                    activity.getString(R.string.swipe_lists_helper_subtitle));
+
+            String color = ThemeService.getDialogTextColor();
+            String html = String.format("<html><body style='text-align:center;color:%s'>%s</body></html>",
+                    color, body);
+
+            DialogUtilities.htmlDialog(activity, html, R.string.swipe_lists_helper_title);
+
+            Preferences.setBoolean(PREF_SHOWED_SWIPE_HELPER, true);
+        }
+    }
 }