In December, Neowin reported that Microsoft is overhauling Planner in 2026 in a major shakeup. Microsoft has framed it as a modernization, but for many, it feels like a gutting of some of Planner’s most useful features. Microsoft’s changes are also an attempt to force users into the Team’s ecosystem by breaking external workflows, removing deep integrations, and complicating communication.
While Microsoft has already confirmed these changes, we are now in the midst of when features will get added and, unfortunately, removed. The Redmond Giant said that it will be rolling out the changes between mid-January and mid-February so they should be affecting some users right now.
One of the biggest negative changes is the retirement of iCalendar feeds which means your Planner tasks will no longer sync with Outlook, Google Calendar, or Apple Calendar. Once this change hits, users will be forced to toggle between apps to see their availability against their task deadlines. Worse, Microsoft has stated that there will be no direct replacement, leaving power users out in the cold.
The update also introduces a new Task Chat feature that replaces the old comments system. However, existing comments will no longer be visible directly on the task card. To see old project history, you must now click a link that opens a separate Outlook page for the group mailbox. Additionally, unlike the old system where the whole team stayed informed, the new chat only notified those users who are @mentioned which could create information silos where team members miss critical updates because nobody tagged them.
Microsoft has also taken the decision to remove the ability to embed live Planner boards in Loop pages. Now users get a static link instead of a functional workspace. The Whiteboard tab in Premium plans is also disappearing so you can no longer turn brainstormed sticky notes into tasks within the same interface. Finally, while the web and Teams get the new chat feature, mobile users will be left out at launch, creating a split experience where mobile users are stuck on the legacy chat and unable to see new conversations.
For many teams that rely on external tools or integrated commenting, this major update will feel more like somewhat of a setback. This is all happening against the backdrop of a botched January Patch Tuesday update that gives customers the impression Microsoft is too focused on AI instead of its core products.
Let us know in the comments if this update has landed for your team and whether it has affected your workflow.