After more than a decade of empowering project managers and teams worldwide, Microsoft has announced the official retirement of Project Online, effective September 30, 2026. This marks a major shift in the project management landscape, and we recognize the impact it may have on your organization’s workflows, planning processes, and long-term strategy.
This retirement applies exclusively to Project Online. It does not affect:
Project Online has served organizations well, but its legacy architecture limits innovation and integration with modern collaboration tools. As announced in 2018, Microsoft is shifting focus to more scalable, AI-powered solutions like:
These tools are designed to support everything from simple task tracking to complex portfolio management—while integrating deeply across Microsoft 365.
October 1, 2025 End of sale for Project Online-only SKUs
April 2026 Last date to create new tenants in Project Online
September 30, 2026 Official retirement of Project Online
Depending on your needs, here are the recommended paths forward:
While transitions can be challenging, this shift opens the door to a more intelligent, integrated, and collaborative project management experience. Planner is evolving rapidly, with AI-powered enhancements like the Project Manager agent helping teams automate task creation, status updates, and reporting—right within Microsoft 365.
We’re excited about what’s next, and we’re here to help you navigate the change.
Q: What exactly is being retired?
Only Project Online. Project desktop, Project Server Subscription Edition, and Planner are unaffected.
Q: Will my current projects stop working before the retirement date?
No. Project Online will remain fully functional and supported until September 30, 2026.
Q: Why is Microsoft retiring Project Online?
Its legacy architecture limits innovation. Microsoft is investing in Planner and the Project Manager agent to deliver scalable, AI-powered project management tools.
Q: What are my options after retirement?
You can transition to Planner (premium), Project Server Subscription Edition, Dynamics 365 Project Operations, or continue using Project desktop.
Q: Is Planner included in my Microsoft 365 subscription?
Planner Basic is included in Microsoft 365 E3/E5. Premium features are available via Planner Plan 1, Planner and Project Plan 3, or Planner and Project Plan 5.
Q: What is the Project Manager agent?
An AI assistant that automates task creation, execution, and reporting across Planner views. It also supports Copilot chat inside Planner.
Q: What happens to my Project Online data after retirement?
You will lose access to all data in Project Online after September 30, 2026. Be sure to back up your projects and complete your transition beforehand.
Q: What’s happening to Project Server 2016 and 2019?
Both enter extended support on July 14, 2026. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Project Server Subscription Edition.
PPM3 - Project Management AI
Harness the power of Microsoft Copilot to streamline your project management workflows with intelligent recommendations, automated updates, and proactive guidance. Our AI-enhanced solutions go beyond task tracking—they anticipate needs, surface insights, and help your teams focus on outcomes, not upkeep.