Create a project in Project desktop

Applies To
Project Online Desktop Client Project Professional 2024 Project Standard 2024 Project Professional 2021 Project Standard 2021 Project Professional 2019 Project Standard 2019 Project Professional 2016 Project Standard 2016

In Project, you can:

  • Create project plans.
  • Build project teams and allocate resources.
  • See different views of task and resources.
  • Measure progress.
  • Manage budgets.

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Note

  • This Quick Start is specific to Microsoft Project 2019, 2016, and the Microsoft 365 subscription Project Online Desktop Client. Project Online has some additional features that support online interaction.
  • For more detailed information about creating a new project, see Create a new project.

Create a project from a template

  1. Open Project.
    Or select File > New if you're already working in a project plan.
  2. Select a template or type in the Search for online templates box and then press Enter.
    Or, choose Blank Project to create a project from scratch.
  3. When you select a template, select the options you want, and select Create.
    Change the resources, tasks, and durations in the template so they are right for your project.

Note

To create a new project from an existing project, change the project start and finish dates, and then save the project file with a new name or in a different location.

Screenshot of project plan templates in the Business category.

Add tasks to a project

  1. Select View > Task Views > Gantt Chart.
  2. Type a task name in the first empty Task Name field.
  3. Press Enter.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to enter the tasks you want.

If adding tasks one at a time starts to take too long, you can also:

Screenshot of automatically scheduled tasks entered in a new project plan.