What’s new in Microsoft Planner – April 2025

The April 2025 update to Microsoft Planner introduces a suite of thoughtful enhancements designed to elevate task management and boost productivity for teams of all sizes. Whether you’re an administrator overseeing multiple projects or a user managing daily tasks, these new features offer practical benefits that streamline workflows and improve collaboration. Let’s explore the key updates and their impact from both the admin and user perspectives.

Real-Time Task Notifications for the Project Manager Agent

One of the standout additions is the introduction of real-time task notifications for the Project Manager agent, now available in public preview within the new Planner experience in Microsoft Teams. This feature ensures that both project managers and team members receive immediate updates when tasks assigned to the Project Manager agent are completed or require input to move forward.

From an admin’s viewpoint, this enhancement significantly improves project oversight and accountability. By receiving timely alerts, project managers can quickly identify bottlenecks and intervene before deadlines slip. This proactive approach helps maintain momentum and ensures that shifting priorities don’t derail progress.

For users, these notifications mean less time spent manually checking task statuses and more confidence that their contributions are recognized and integrated promptly. The notifications are enabled by default but can be customized through Teams settings, offering flexibility to suit different working styles. It’s important to note that access to the Project Manager agent’s capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, which admins will need to manage accordingly.

Customizing Your Task View: Hide Columns in My Day and My Tasks

Another user-centric update is the ability to hide columns in the My Day and My Tasks views. This feature allows users to tailor their task grids by removing columns that are not relevant to their workflow, creating a cleaner and more focused interface. What’s more, these preferences are saved across devices, so users don’t have to reset their views every time they switch devices.

When combined with the column reordering capability introduced in the previous update, this gives users unprecedented control over how they view and prioritize their tasks. For admins, this means fewer support requests related to interface customization and a more satisfied user base who can work more efficiently.

Users benefit from a personalized experience that reduces visual clutter and highlights the task details that matter most to them, ultimately enhancing productivity and reducing cognitive load.

Managing Non-Default Environment Plans Directly in Planner

For organizations that operate across multiple environments, the update now allows viewing and managing non-default environment plans directly within Planner. Recently opened plans from these environments appear under the Recent section, and users can easily identify the environment a plan belongs to by hovering over its name.

This improvement simplifies navigation and management for admins who oversee complex setups involving multiple environments. It reduces the friction of switching contexts and ensures that plans are accessible and manageable from a single interface.

Users also gain from this streamlined access, as it minimizes confusion and saves time when working across different project environments, fostering smoother collaboration and task tracking.

Performance Enhancements and Bug Fixes

Addressing user feedback, Microsoft has resolved performance issues that previously caused Planner to load slowly within Teams and improved response times in basic plans. Additionally, a bug fix ensures that the Board view now loads by default when opening a basic plan, aligning with user expectations for a consistent experience.

For admins, these fixes translate to a more reliable platform that supports team productivity without frustrating delays or unexpected behavior. Users will appreciate the smoother, faster interactions that help maintain focus and reduce downtime.

Engaging with the Planner Community: Share Your Feedback

Microsoft encourages users and admins alike to share their experiences and suggestions through the Feedback button located in the top right corner of the Planner app. Additionally, feature requests and ideas can be submitted via the Planner Feedback Portal. This open channel of communication helps shape future updates and ensures that Planner continues to evolve in ways that meet real-world needs.

Additional Resources to Maximize Your Planner Experience

• Explore the Planner adoption page for guidance on integrating Planner into your organization.
• Stay informed by signing up for Planner newsletters to receive the latest updates and tips.
• Track upcoming features and release timelines on the Microsoft 365 roadmap.
• Gain inspiration from practical use cases by watching Planner demos on YouTube.
• Visit the Planner help page for detailed support and tutorials.

In summary, the April 2025 Microsoft Planner update delivers meaningful improvements that enhance task visibility, customization, and performance. Whether you’re managing projects at scale or focusing on your daily to-dos, these features empower you to work smarter and stay aligned with your team’s goals. Embracing these updates can lead to more efficient workflows, better communication, and ultimately, greater success in your projects.

Source: Microsoft

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