Blog Post on Planning Strategies
Microsoft has announced that it will be transitioning from Project for the Web to Planner as part of its efforts to consolidate its planning and task management tools. This transition is set to occur in August 2025, when Project for the Web and the related Project and Roadmap apps in Microsoft Teams will be retired, and users will be automatically redirected to Microsoft Planner.
Existing plans from Project for the Web will remain accessible within Planner, and no migration or change in licensing is necessary for users to continue accessing their premium plans. This move is aimed at providing a scalable and intelligent solution that supports all levels of planning, from basic task management to complex project workflows, while integrating new AI features like Microsoft Copilot.
The updated Microsoft Planner will bring together the ease of Microsoft To Do with the collaboration features of Planner in a unified web app, released in July 2025. Planner Premium (formerly Project for the Web) offers advanced features such as timeline views, goals, resource planning, status reporting, budget tracking, and portfolio visibility. These premium features will be integrated under the Planner umbrella, allowing seamless access to project management and work planning tools without separate apps or licenses.
Tenants with premium licenses without a Microsoft 365 license will gain access to basic plan functionality in Planner from the same period. The Project Power App will retain its user experience and be renamed "Planner Power App." The ability to import .mpp files is not available in Planner but can be done through Planner (formerly Project) Power Apps/Accelerator.
The transition also includes the automation of plan creation, task generation, and progress tracking in Planner with the Project Manager agent. Roadmaps will not be supported in Planner, but users can re-create their existing Roadmaps as Portfolios in Planner. Portfolios in Planner will not support adding rows for Azure DevOps or Project Online.
Microsoft Planner supports a company's work management journey with a focus on innovation, AI, and security. Users can access familiar capabilities such as basic plans, along with premium features like Goals, Sprints, Task History, Advanced Dependencies, Baselines, and more in Planner. Planner offers access to both premium and basic plans and features, from task management to enterprise-level capabilities with low code/no code extensibility.
Project Microsoft 365 admin center settings will migrate to the Planner page between late April and early September 2025. Users are advised to prepare by familiarising themselves with Microsoft Planner's new interface and capabilities as they will replace Project for the Web workflows starting in August 2025.
In summary:
- Transition Date: August 2025
- Process: Automatic redirection from Project for the Web to Planner; no migration required; existing plans remain accessible
- Licensing: No changes or new licenses required; premium plans accessible in Planner
- New Features & Capabilities: Unified web app combining Microsoft To Do and Planner capabilities; AI-powered features (Copilot); advanced project management features like Timeline, Goals, resource & budget tracking, portfolio views
[1] Microsoft (2023). Product roadmap update: Project for the web [2] Microsoft (2023). Microsoft Planner: Your home for work management [3] Microsoft (2023). Planner roadmap
- As Microsoft consolidates its planning and task management tools, it's evident that the finance sector, integrated with technology, will benefit from the AI-powered solutions in Planner, such as Microsoft Copilot, offering scalable and intelligent project management.
- In the context of Microsoft's transition from Project for the Web to Planner, businesses can anticipate seamless access to both premium and basic planning features, fostering a more secure and innovative work management journey.
