When a task needs more detailed planning, use connected plans to link it to another plan in Microsoft Planner. Your team can manage the detailed work in the connected plan while keeping the task in the plan where it started.
You can create a connected plan from scratch, start from a template, or connect a plan your team already uses.
Understand how connected plans work
In this article, the main plan is the plan containing the task you want to connect. The connected plan is the plan you link to that task.
For example, a client implementation project might include an integration workstream that needs its own detailed planning:
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Main plan | Client implementation |
| Task in the main plan | Configure integrations |
| Connected plan | Integration delivery |
The main plan keeps the overall project organized. In the connected plan, your team can break down the integration work into tasks, assign owners, and manage dates.
Before you start
These steps use Planner on the web or Planner in Teams. Open a basic plan you can edit and choose a task that would benefit from more detailed planning. A larger project with several workstreams is a useful starting point, but you don't need a large plan to use connected plans.
If you want to connect an existing plan, make sure you can access it and that it is a basic plan. Premium plans will not appear as an option for connecting existing plans.
Create a new connected plan
Create a new plan when the detailed work isn't already organized in another plan.
- In your main plan, use either of these entry points:
- In Grid view, select More options for the task.
- Open the task details page, and then select More options.
- Select Connect to a plan, and then select New plan.
- Select Create your own plan to start with an empty plan, or select a template under Choose a template. Select Continue. If you choose an empty plan, select Create basic plan to complete the creation flow.
- Under Plan name, keep the suggested name or enter a name that describes the work.
- Review Share with your group and the other plan settings.
The task stays in your main plan and links to the new connected plan. Open the connected plan to add detailed tasks or adapt the tasks provided by your template.
Connect an existing plan
If your team already tracks the work in another plan, connect that plan instead of starting again.
- In your main plan, select the task to open its details.
- Select More options, select Connect to a plan, and then select Existing plan.
- Under Select a plan to connect, find and select the plan you want to use.
- Select Connect plan.
The task now links to the plan you selected. Your team can continue managing its work in that plan.
Open a connected plan
- From the task name: Select the Planner icon to the left of the task name.
- From the task details pane: Select More details to open the task details pane, and then select the connected plan link below the task name.
- From Grid view: Find the task, select More options, and then select Open the connected plan.
Planner opens the connected plan, where you can work with its tasks, assignments, and dates.
Return to the main plan
Use the navigation path in the plan header to return to the task in your main plan.
- At the top of the connected plan, select the connected plans indicator. It displays the number of connected plans.
- Select the main plan you want to return to.
- Select the connected task.
Planner opens that task in the main plan.
You can also find and open either plan from My plans without navigating through the connection.
Disconnect a plan from a task
When the connection is no longer needed, you can remove it without deleting the connected plan or its tasks.
- In your main plan, open the details of the task with the connection.
- Select More options, and then select Disconnect plan.
- Review the confirmation message, and then select Disconnect.
The task stays in your main plan. The connected plan and its tasks aren't deleted or changed, and you can continue working in that plan.
Things to know about connected plans
Manage progress in each plan. Your main plan and connected plan track progress independently, so you can manage the overall project and detailed work separately. To keep your main plan up to date for project reviews, review progress in the connected plan and update the task’s status as needed.
Keep detailed work in the connected plan. Connecting plans creates a link; it doesn't merge the plans. The task stays in your main plan. Use the connected plan to organize the detailed work, starting with an empty plan, a template, or tasks your team already tracks.
Make sure your team has access. Connected plans retain their existing Planner permissions. If someone doesn’t have access-for example, because they aren’t a member of the plan’s group-Planner notifies them when they try to open the connected plan. They can ask the plan owner to review their access.
Update connections as work changes. To connect a task to a different plan, disconnect its current plan first, then connect the plan you want to use. Disconnecting removes the link without deleting the work.