Transitioning to Microsoft Planner and retiring Microsoft Project for the web
Posted inPlanner

Transitioning to Microsoft Planner and retiring Microsoft Project for the web

Posted inPlanner

The landscape of work management tools is evolving, and Microsoft is leading the charge with a significant transition that promises to streamline how teams plan, track, and collaborate on projects. Starting August 2025, Microsoft will retire Project for the web along with the Project and Roadmap apps in Microsoft Teams, consolidating these capabilities into a unified experience through Planner. This strategic move aims to simplify workflows, reduce confusion, and enhance productivity by bringing together the best features of multiple platforms into one cohesive solution.

Unified Work Management: What This Means for You

Historically, users have juggled between Project for the web, Project in Teams, Roadmap in Teams, and Planner, each serving different but overlapping purposes. This fragmentation often led to confusion and inefficiencies. With the transition, Planner will become the central hub for work management, integrating both basic and premium plans under one roof. This means whether you hold a Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 license or a premium plan, you’ll access your tasks and projects seamlessly within Planner for the web or Planner in Teams.

For administrators, this consolidation simplifies management by reducing the number of endpoints to monitor and support. It also streamlines licensing considerations, as no migration or license changes are required—existing plans from Project for the web will be fully accessible in Planner. Users benefit from a consistent, intuitive interface that combines familiar features with powerful new capabilities, all designed to enhance collaboration and project visibility.

Key Features and Innovations Driving Productivity

Planner is not just a rebranding; it’s a leap forward in work management technology. It offers a consolidated view of all your tasks through “My Tasks” and “My Day,” helping users prioritize and stay organized. The platform supports a wide range of plans—from simple task lists to complex enterprise-level projects—while enabling low-code/no-code extensibility for custom workflows.

One of the standout innovations is the integration of AI-powered tools. The public preview of Project Manager agent and Copilot in Planner introduces intelligent automation that can create plans, generate tasks from goals, assign responsibilities, and track progress. This collaboration between human insight and AI efficiency promises to reduce manual overhead and accelerate project delivery.

From an administrative perspective, these AI capabilities offer opportunities to optimize resource allocation and monitor project health proactively. For users, the experience becomes more dynamic and responsive, with AI assisting in routine tasks and providing actionable insights.

Transition Timeline and What to Expect

Beginning early August 2025, users who attempt to access Project for the web or Roadmap for the web will be redirected to Planner for the web. Similarly, existing Project and Roadmap tabs in Microsoft Teams will prompt users to switch to Planner tabs, as the older apps will no longer be available in the Teams app store.

This transition is designed to be seamless, with no required action from administrators or users to migrate existing plans. However, it is recommended that organizations proactively re-pin their Teams tabs to Planner and re-create Roadmaps as Portfolios within Planner to maintain continuity. Detailed guidance and resources are available to support this process.

Benefits of Consolidation: A Win-Win for Admins and Users

For administrators, consolidating multiple apps into Planner reduces complexity in deployment, support, and training. It also centralizes administrative controls, as Project settings will migrate to the Planner page in the Microsoft 365 admin center. This unified approach simplifies governance and security management, ensuring enterprise-grade protection across all work management activities.

Users gain a more intuitive and integrated experience. The ability to access both basic and premium plans in one place eliminates the need to switch between apps, fostering better collaboration and visibility. The inclusion of AI tools like Copilot and the Project Manager agent empowers users to work smarter, automating repetitive tasks and providing intelligent recommendations.

What Features Are Changing or Being Retired?

While Planner brings many enhancements, some features from Project for the web will not carry over to simplify the platform. Notably, Roadmaps will no longer be supported directly; instead, users can leverage the Portfolio feature in Planner to recreate Roadmaps. However, integration with Azure DevOps or Project Online rows in Portfolios will not be available, and Roadmap data will remain accessible in Dataverse.

Additionally, importing .mpp files from Project desktop is not supported directly in Planner but can be accomplished through the Planner Power Apps/Accelerator. The Roadmap tab in Teams will also be retired, with no option to pin Portfolios as tabs.

Preparing for the Transition: Best Practices

To ensure a smooth shift to Planner, administrators should communicate upcoming changes clearly to their teams and update internal documentation accordingly. Encouraging users to familiarize themselves with Planner’s features and AI tools ahead of the transition will help maintain productivity.

Organizations are encouraged to re-create existing Roadmaps as Portfolios before the redirect begins and to re-pin Project tabs in Teams using Planner tabs. Microsoft provides comprehensive resources to assist with these steps, including:

Additional Resources for a Successful Transition

Staying informed is key to leveraging the full potential of Planner. Here are some valuable resources to explore:

This transition marks a pivotal moment in Microsoft’s commitment to delivering a modern, integrated, and intelligent work management experience. By unifying tools and embedding AI-driven capabilities, Planner is poised to empower teams and administrators alike to achieve more with less friction. Embracing this change will not only simplify project management but also unlock new levels of productivity and collaboration.

Source: Microsoft



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