Getting Started with Microsoft Teams Planner

Microsoft Teams Planner is a user-friendly way to create a digital Kanban board, enabling teams to visualise tasks, track progress, and collaborate, all within MS Teams. Great for those familiar with sticky notes on a board, Planner transforms that into a powerful digital tool.

What Is Planner?

  • Planner organises work into Plans, with tasks shown as cards, grouped into vertical buckets (like To Do, In Progress, Done)—perfect for visual workflow management

  • Each task-card can include a due date, assignee, attachments, checklists, and notes, the full digital ecosystem for tracking small projects.

  • Planner is integrated into Microsoft Teams, add it as a tab in any channel to collaborate without leaving your team workspace.

Why Use Planner for a Digital Kanban?

  • Highly visual: Drag and drop tasks between buckets to reflect progress.

  • Simple to learn, yet powerful for small-team coordination.

  • Integrated: Works seamlessly with Microsoft 365 tools like Teams and Outlook.

Quick Start Steps

  1. In Teams, go to your Team and Channel → click “+” tab → choose Planner → create a new plan or select an existing one.

  2. Once added, you'll see your board. Start by creating buckets (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done).

  3. Add tasks as cards—give each a title, due date, and assignee. Customize with checklists, details, or attachments.

  4. Move cards across buckets as they progress.

  5. Use the Charts view to monitor workload and completion at a glance.

Short How-To Videos (All Under 10 Minutes)