(Updated) Microsoft Planner: Start date and due date are no longer constrained

(Updated) Microsoft Planner: Start date and due date are no longer constrained

Microsoft Planner now allows start dates and due dates to be set independently, removing the previous constraint that due dates must follow start dates. This update, rolling out mid-July to mid-August 2026, affects all Planner users and may require updates to apps or workflows relying on automatic date adjustments.

2026-07-28T19:08:01.360Z

Updated message,User impact,Admin impact

<p>Updated July 28, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;</p><p><b>[What and Why]</b></p><p>We are updating how task dates behave in <i>Microsoft Planner</i> to improve flexibility and predictability when managing tasks. Previously, Planner enforced that a task’s due date must be on or after its start date and automatically adjusted one date when the other was changed. With this update, that constraint is being removed. Users will be able to set a start date after a due date or a due date before a start date. In<i> Planner in Teams </i>and on the web, editing one date will no longer automatically adjust the other date to maintain ordering.</p><p><b>[Rollout Schedule]</b></p><ul><li><b>General Availability (Worldwide and DoD): </b>Rollout begins in <b>mid-July 2026 </b>and is expected to complete by<b>&nbsp;mid-August 2026 </b>(previously mid-October).</li></ul><p><b>[Impact on Your Organization]</b></p><p><i>Who is affected</i></p><ul><li>All Microsoft Planner users across Microsoft 365 tenants</li></ul><p><i>Platforms/Services</i></p><ul><li>Microsoft Planner in Teams (desktop and web)</li><li>Microsoft Planner web app</li></ul><p><i>What will happen</i></p><ul><li>This change updates how task dates behave in <i>Planner</i>.</li><li>The updated behavior will be <b>enabled by default for all users</b>.</li><li>Editing a start date will no longer automatically update the due date.</li><li>Editing a due date will no longer automatically update the start date.</li><li>Users can set start dates and due dates independently.</li><li>Tasks may have a start date later than the due date or a due date earlier than the start date.</li><li>Due dates will remain unchanged unless explicitly modified by the user.</li><li>Some other Planner clients (Planner mobile etc.) may temporarily continue enforcing date ordering during rollout.</li><li>Apps, integrations, or workflows that rely on automatic date adjustment behavior may need to be updated.</li><li>Users who previously relied on automatic date adjustments may notice differences when editing task dates.</li></ul><p><b>[Action Required/Recommendations]</b></p><p>No action is required.</p><p>Admins may consider the following:</p><ul><li>Communicate this change to users to set expectations about updated date behavior.</li><li>Update internal documentation or training materials referencing Planner task dates.</li><li>Review any custom apps, integrations, or automation that depend on automatic date adjustments.</li><li>Prepare support teams to address potential questions during rollout.</li></ul><p><b>[Compliance considerations]</b></p><table class="table table-bordered"><tbody><tr><td><b>Question</b></td><td><b>Answer</b></td></tr><tr><td>Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?</td><td>Yes. This change modifies how task date fields behave during editing. It does not change how or where data is stored.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b></b></p>