| Message Content |
[What and Why:]
Microsoft is introducing Custom templates in Microsoft Planner, allowing users to convert existing plans into reusable templates that can be shared across Microsoft 365 groups. This capability helps organizations standardize recurring work, reduce setup effort, improve consistency, and accelerate project creation.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 512431.
[Rollout Schedule:]
- General Availability (Worldwide): Beginning in early July 2026; expected to complete by late July 2026
[Impact on Your Organization:]
Who is affected:
- Users with Microsoft Planner access
- Members of Microsoft 365 Groups with Planner plans
- Teams using recurring project workflows
Platforms/Services:
- Microsoft Planner
- Microsoft 365 Groups
What will happen:
- Users can publish existing plans as templates using Share > Publish as template.
- Templates can include tasks, buckets, labels, goals, notes, checklists, and attachment links.
- Users can create new plans from Shared and Created by me template galleries.
- Templates are shared at the Microsoft 365 Group level.
- New plans created from templates reset task progress and status.
- Changes to templates do not update previously created plans.
- Any Microsoft 365 Group member can delete a shared template.
- The feature is enabled by default.
- No new admin configuration is required.
- Existing Planner and Microsoft 365 Group permissions continue to apply.
[Action Required/Recommendations:]
No administrative action is required.
Recommended actions:
- Review internal Planner training materials and documentation to include template functionality.
- Notify Planner users and project teams about the new capability.
- Review Microsoft 365 Group governance policies, as group membership determines template visibility and usage.
- Educate users that:
- Templates are shared assets within the Microsoft 365 Group.
- Any group member can delete a template.
- Plans created from templates do not inherit future template updates.
- Consider establishing naming and lifecycle standards for templates used across departments.
Learn more:
[Compliance Considerations:]
| Compliance Consideration |
Explanation |
| Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed? |
Planner plan content (tasks, buckets, labels, goals, notes, checklists, and attachment links) can be reused through templates, providing a new way to access and replicate existing plan data. |
| Does the change provide a new way of communicating between users, tenants, or subscriptions? |
Templates are shared and discoverable by Microsoft 365 group members, improving collaboration, but they do not introduce a new communication channel. |
| Does the change alter how admins can monitor, report on, or demonstrate compliance activities? |
Shared templates may become additional Planner artifacts that organizations may choose to include in governance, retention, and compliance reviews. |
| Does the change modify how users can access, export, delete, or correct their personal data within Microsoft 365 services? |
Users can create, reuse, and delete shared templates within Microsoft 365 groups, potentially affecting how Planner content is reused and managed. |
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