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Microsoft Planner app is everything you need to get your tasks done

9 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Are you looking for an easy yet simple way tocollaborate and share taskswith your team? TheMicrosoft Planner apphelps you do just that, and more.

Since its introduction, the Microsoft Planner app has assisted various teams across the world by helping them create new plans, organize and assign different tasks, share documents, discuss via chat what each person is currently working on, and get progress updates on each task.

Simply put, the app provides a visual way to organize teamwork, and stay updated on progress for various tasks.

The app is built forOffice 365, but is only available only to users withOffice 365Enterprise (E1-E5), Business Essentials, Business Premium, and Education subscription plans.

This means it is not available for government subscription or personal use.

Some of the tasks you can fulfill withMicrosoft Planner appinclude:

How to create a plan on Microsoft Planner app

Microsoft Planner lets you create a plan,organize and build your team, assign tasks and get progress updates.

Users who are new to Microsoft Planner can get started by visitingtasks.office.com, create plans in the web app, then view and update their plans on mobile. Existing users can get Planner via the web or mobile platforms.

To get you started, follow these simple steps below:

Step 1:Signin

As mentioned earlier, Microsoft Planner is only available for work or school subscriptions, so in order tosign in, you need your work or school accountlogincredentials.

It is important to note that you do not need any software installs on your PC or other device to use the app. You simply connect to it through your web browser.

Once yousign in, you are able to do the following:

Here’s how tosign into Microsoft Planner:

Note: if you already signed in, or have theOffice 365 environmentfor your workplace, you can connect directly to Microsoft Planner through the app launcher.

Follow these steps to execute this:

Creating an account with Microsoft Planner

In order tosign in, your work or school institution needs to have signed up for an eligibleOffice 365plan, then your administrator gives you an account.

If you’re not able tosign indespite this, check with your work or school’s help desk.

Step 2: Create a plan

Once you’ve signed into Microsoft Planner, you can access the site and thus be able to see the plans available for each of yourOffice 365groups.

There are two different types of plans: public, and private.

Public plans are visible to everyone in your work orschool organizationmeaning they come up whenever anyone in the organization searches for plan, whereas private plans are visible to specific people added to the plan.

Note: If you make your plan public or private, yourOffice 365Group is also made public or private.

In order to create a plan, follow these steps:

Note: creating a new plan also creates a newOffice 365Group. This eases collaboration both in Microsoft Planner, and otherapplicationssuch as Outlook, andOneDrive, among others.

Once you create a plan, the next step is to add tasks.

Step 3: Add tasks, set dates, and categorize

So you’ve successfully signed in, created a plan, and now you want to add tasks to your plan.

Adding tasks is simply breaking down what needs to get done and by whom.

Here’s how to add tasks to your plan:

You can add more details to your tasks and determine the appearance on the Board.

Microsoft Planner allows you to do the following with the tasks you create:

The first photo, file or link you attach becomes the preview. If you want touse a different attachmentas your preview, or use a description instead, select the task, then select Show on card. To remove the preview, uncheck the Show on card box.

The dates can also be added whenever you create a new task by selecting Set Due Date.

If you find a date is red, it means the task is overdue even if it’s still in progress.

To add labels to your tasks, go to the Board, select a task, choose the colored boxes on the right, then choose the flag you will use and name it.

Step 4: Add people to your team

In order to add people to your team, follow these steps:

Note: currently you can only add people within your organization. However, there is a plan in development to enable users add people outside of their organizations. You can view morefeaturescurrently in development on theOffice 365 Roadmap.

Once you add people, you can then assign tasks to them.

If you need to remove someone from the list, or no longer need someone in your plan, follow these steps:

Step 5: Keep track of progress

You can update progress by choosing the task, then use the Progress drop down menu. You can use a checklist to keep track of progress on tasks. However, if you’re looking for a broader plan, or to view overall progress of tasks, the Charts view will provide this for you. Once you’re done with a task, mark it as completed by pointing to it, and selecting the check mark.

Note:you can view completed tasks by scrolling down the task list and choose Show completed.

Once your tasks are set, you canorganize them into bucketsand add those you will be collaborating with as you work.

How to get email notifications on tasks

Sometimes you want to keep track of your tasks on the go, and this is made possible through theemailnotifications on the Microsoft Planner app.

Emailnotifications are activated once you create a plan, when you are added as a member of an existing plan, if another member comments on a task you commented on, if the plan’s owner turns on task activity notifications, or if you are subscribed to a plan.

Plan owners can also send notifications through the app, to the plan’s feed whenever a task is assigned, or marked as completed.

Notifications are usually off by default, so in order to receive them you need to turn them on.

To getemailnotifications, here’s what you need to do:

To subscribe to a plan, select the three dots on the right of the plan, then choose Follow plan in inbox. Do the same to unsubscribe, but choose Stop following plan in inbox.

Pros and Cons of Microsoft Planner app

Pros

Cons

Download the Planner appfrom the MicrosoftOfficeStore.

Share with us your experience using Microsoft Planner app in the comments section below.

Microsoft Planner app is everything you need to get your tasks done#

How to create a plan on Microsoft Planner app#

How to get email notifications on tasks#

Pros and Cons of Microsoft Planner app#

Microsoft Planner app is everything you need to get your tasks done

How to create a plan on Microsoft Planner app

How to get email notifications on tasks

Pros and Cons of Microsoft Planner app