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Planner Sync Issues on Desktop

Rachel O'Neal 20 Reputation points
2026-05-07T15:57:53.0366667+00:00

Hi There,

I am using a basic version of planner. When a comment in the task chat is added, and I receive an email via outlook something has been added, I'm not able to go in and see the updated comment. I can see it on the web version, but the desktop is not automatically syncing. My team is running into the same issue. Is this something you can help with?

Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams for business | Tasks | Manage tasks
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AI answer

2026-05-07T15:58:06.66+00:00

Planner task comments are stored and surfaced through Microsoft 365 Groups and Exchange Online. For Basic plans, comments behave as follows:

  1. Comments are written in Planner but actually stored as a conversation in the plan’s Microsoft 365 Group mailbox (Exchange Online).
  2. The desktop Outlook notification email is just a copy of that conversation; it does not control or guarantee Planner UI refresh.
  3. Comments are reliably visible and up to date in the web Planner experience; if the desktop client is not showing the latest state, use the web view as the source of truth.

There are also known limitations that can affect visibility of comments:

  • If comments are pasted from email including “From:” and “Sent:” fields, anything from those fields onward may not appear when the task is reopened. Remove those fields before posting, or attach the email instead.
  • If the organization is not using Exchange Online for the account, commenting may not work correctly.
  • Comments cannot be added to tasks in plans created by Connected Yammer Groups.
  • If a comment thread is “forked” (for example, someone replies directly to the group email instead of using the Planner task, or there are more than 100 comments), not all comments will load in Planner.

Given that comments are visible and correct on the web but not updating as expected in the desktop experience, the supported guidance is:

  • Use the Planner web app as the authoritative view for task comments.
  • Ensure comments are added directly in Planner (or via the group conversation) without including “From:”/“Sent:” blocks from emails.
  • Confirm that the plan is a standard Basic plan backed by a Microsoft 365 Group using Exchange Online, not a Connected Yammer Group.
  • If threads are very long (approaching or over 100 comments) or heavily email‑replied, expect possible partial loading and consider starting a new task for continued discussion.

If all of the above conditions are met and the issue persists for the whole team only in the desktop experience, escalation through the organization’s Microsoft 365 support channel is recommended, as the behavior is not configurable from the Planner side.

References:

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  1. Kai-L 13,880 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-07T17:05:37.4+00:00

    Dear @Rachel O'Neal,

    Good day, and thank you for clearly describing your issue.

    I understand how this behavior can impact your workflow, especially if you're relying on Planner comments to stay updated on tasks. Before we proceed, I would like to kindly clarify that as a forum moderator, my role is limited to providing guidance based on the current product functionality. I’m not able to access your environment directly or investigate backend behavior, but I will do my best to guide you. 

    From my research, this appears to be a common issue in Microsoft Planner, particularly in the desktop experience (including within Teams or the standalone Planner app). In some cases, comments may not sync as quickly or consistently compared to the web version. There have also been reports where older and newer comments behave differently across desktop and web, which can suggest temporary synchronization inconsistencies.

    In the meantime, you may find a more consistent experience by using the web version of Planner:

    • Access it via planner.cloud.microsoft
    • Or open Planner through the Teams web version

    Many users find that updates, including comments, appear more reliably there.

    Also ensure that your Microsoft Teams app is updated to the latest version, as updates often include fixes and improvements for syncing behavior.

    If this behavior continues to affect your workflow, I strongly recommend reporting it directly to the Planner product team:

    • In Planner, click the question mark (?) icon in the top-right corner
    • Select Feedback > Report a problem

    Submitting feedback this way allows the product team to review real-world scenarios and prioritize improvements.

    I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, and it's disappointing when the solutions aren't straightforward. Please know that as a forum moderator, directing you to the correct, specialized support is the most effective help I can provide from my position. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out, I’m always happy to help. Wishing you all the best and a smooth workflow ahead!

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

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