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Fix Missing Planned and Actual Hours in Project Online PWA
Question details
Specific users, particularly project managers, are unable to view planned and actual hours prior to a specific date in Project Online PWA.
- Product
- Project Online PWA
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing historical timesheets and project plans in Project Web App.
- Observed behavior
- Historical planned and actual hours are missing from the project plans for certain project managers, while the data for other resources remains completely visible.
Ensure you have administrative access to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and Project Web App (PWA) settings to review global permissions and security groups.
Verify Project Manager Permissions and Security Groups
Use this solution to ensure that recent changes to security groups or user permissions have not inadvertently restricted access to historical data.
Project Online relies heavily on SharePoint permissions and PWA security groups. If a user's role or group assignment changes, it can immediately impact their ability to view specific data ranges, including past planned and actual hours.
Log in to Project Web App as an administrator, click the gear icon in the top right corner, and select 'PWA Settings'.
Under the 'Security' section, click on 'Manage Users' and locate the specific project managers who are missing the historical data.
Click on the affected user's name to view their profile. Check the 'Security Groups' and 'Categories' sections to ensure they have the necessary viewing rights for project actuals and baselines.
Open the profile of a resource or manager who can still see the historical data. Compare their assigned groups and categories with the affected user to identify and correct any discrepancies.
Check Project Plan Views and Filters
Sometimes data is not missing from the backend but is simply hidden from the current view due to active date or resource filters.
Submit a Microsoft 365 Support Request
If permissions and filters are correct but data remains missing, the issue may require backend log investigation by Microsoft.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why would permission changes cause historical project hours to disappear?
If a project manager's security group or PWA category permissions are modified, it can restrict their access rights to view baseline, planned, or actual data from past reporting periods, hiding it from their dashboard while keeping it visible for administrators.
Can active view filters permanently delete historical project data?
No, active view filters or date-range constraints in PWA only temporarily hide tasks or hours that fall outside the specified timeframe. They do not delete the underlying data from the Project Online database.
How long does it take for Microsoft to resolve backend PWA data issues?
Resolution times vary depending on the complexity of the data loss and log investigation. However, standard backend support requests submitted via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center typically receive an initial response and diagnostic check within 24 hours.
