Microsoft Planner uses a simple three-state progress field for standard tasks: Not started, In progress, and Completed. It does not provide a manually editable percentage field for ordinary Planner tasks.
You can update progress from a task card, the task-details pane, or a Board grouped by progress. For plan-wide reporting, use the Charts view, which also identifies tasks that are late based on their due dates.
Planner task-progress values
Basic Planner progress is a status, not a numeric measurement. The available values are:
| Progress value | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Not started | The task has not begun. |
| In progress | Someone is actively working on the task. |
| Completed | The task is finished. |
Pending, Blocked, On hold, and Done are not additional standard values in Planner’s Progress field. If your team needs to track those conditions, use labels, buckets, task comments, or a checklist alongside the progress status.
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Update progress from the Planner task card
- Open the plan in Planner and locate the task.
- Hover over the task card.
- Select the check mark to mark the task Completed.
For a task that is already In progress, select its In progress status symbol and choose the required status from the menu.
The check mark is a hover control. On a touch-screen device it may not appear. In that case, change the status through the task’s Progress control or open the task details.
Update progress from task details
- Select the task to open its details pane.
- Find the Progress drop-down box.
- Select Not started, In progress, or Completed.
This method is generally more reliable on a tablet or touchscreen because it does not depend on hovering over the card.
Manage progress from a progress-based Board
You can configure the Board so that tasks are arranged in columns according to their current status.
- Open the plan’s Board view.
- Select Group by.
- Choose Progress.
Planner displays columns for Not started, In progress, and Completed. Drag a task card from one column to another to change its progress status. For example, dragging a task from Not started to In progress updates the task’s Progress value at the same time.
Progress is one of several Board grouping options. Depending on your plan and Planner experience, you can also group by Bucket, Assigned to, Due date, or Labels.
View overall plan progress in Charts
- Open the plan.
- At the top of the plan, select Charts.
The Status chart breaks tasks into Not started, In progress, Late, and Completed. Late is a reporting classification based on the task’s due date; it is not a fourth value that you can select in the task’s basic Progress field.
To focus the charts on overdue work, select Filter by → Due date → Late.
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- The Bucket chart shows the number of tasks in each bucket, with the counts color-coded by progress.
- The Members chart shows assigned-task counts, also color-coded by progress.
Show completed tasks that have disappeared
Planner can hide completed tasks at the bottom of a task list. If a completed card is no longer visible:
- Scroll to the bottom of the task list.
- Select Show completed.
This reveals completed tasks without changing their status.
Why you cannot enter a percentage
Instructions that say to open Timeline, choose Open details, and enter a value in % Complete apply to the Project-derived or premium workflow, not the standard Progress field in a basic Planner plan.
For an ordinary Planner task, there is no documented numeric percentage control. You must use the three statuses. If your team needs more detail, add checklist items, notes, or a consistent label scheme—for example, a label for blocked work—rather than assuming that In progress means a particular percentage.
Planner in Microsoft 365 includes the standard Grid, Board, Schedule, and Charts views. A Planner Plan 1 license is required for additional views such as Timeline, People, and Goals. Availability of premium features depends on the plan and license assigned to your organization.
Planner terminology after the Project changes
Microsoft renamed the Tasks by Planner and To Do app in Teams to Planner in April 2024. The new Planner for the web reached general availability in fall 2024, and Project for the web was retired in August 2025. Project-for-the-web plans are now accessed through Planner for the web and Planner in Teams.
If an old Project tab in Teams no longer opens its project, add or re-pin the Planner tab. Existing Roadmap tabs can similarly direct users to Planner. Old task links may also lead to a Planner landing page rather than the specific task, so copy replacement links from Planner where necessary.
Availability and licensing issues
- Users with a Microsoft 365 license can edit several fields on premium plans created by licensed users, including assignments, start and finish dates, and attachments. Advanced premium capabilities still require the applicable paid license.
- Premium capabilities are not currently available in GCC, GCC High, and DoD tenants.
- Planner in Teams currently displays project tasks created in a default environment. Tasks from non-default environments may not appear there.
- Microsoft notes that users in GCC, GCC High, or DoD environments should continue following the documented task-progress instructions while the newer Planner experience is updated.
Do not confuse these changes with Project Online. Project Online retired on September 30, 2026; that is separate from both Planner and the August 2025 retirement of Project for the web.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThere is no command-line setting for task progress
Configuring and updating Planner task progress through the documented Microsoft interface does not involve PowerShell, a command prompt, or text commands. Use the Planner web or Teams interface and the Progress control described above.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
How many progress statuses does Microsoft Planner have?
Standard Planner task progress has three statuses: Not started, In progress, and Completed.
Can I set a Planner task to 50% complete?
Not on a basic Planner task. Standard Planner uses status values rather than a manually editable percentage. Numeric % Complete instructions belong to the Project-derived or premium workflow.
How do I mark a Planner task complete?
Hover over the task card and select the check mark. On a touchscreen, use the task’s Progress control or open the task details and select Completed.
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Why is Late shown in Charts but not in the Progress menu?
Late is calculated from the task’s due-date status for reporting. It is a Charts classification, not a selectable value in the basic Progress field.
How do I display only late Planner tasks?
Open Charts and select Filter by → Due date → Late.
Where are my completed Planner tasks?
Completed tasks can be hidden at the bottom of a task list. Scroll down and select Show completed.
Can I change many task statuses by dragging cards?
Yes. In Board view, choose Group by → Progress, then drag cards between the Not started, In progress, and Completed columns.
The Bottom Line
For standard Planner plans, manage task progress with the three documented statuses: Not started, In progress, and Completed. Use the card, task details, or a Board grouped by Progress to change a task, and use Charts to review status and late work. If you see percentage-complete instructions, check that they refer to a premium or Project-derived plan rather than basic Planner.
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