How to Delete SharePoint Attachments When a Planner Task is Deleted
Question details
Users need a way to automatically or manually delete associated SharePoint files when a Microsoft Planner task is deleted.
- Product
- Microsoft Planner and SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing task attachments and avoiding unnecessary storage bloat in SharePoint after Planner tasks are removed.
- Observed behavior
- When a task is deleted in Microsoft Planner, the files uploaded as attachments remain permanently stored in the connected SharePoint folder and are not automatically removed.
Verify the exact location of your Microsoft Planner task attachments by opening the connected SharePoint site's document library before attempting to delete any files.
Manually Delete Attachments from the SharePoint Library
Since Planner does not automatically delete files to prevent accidental data loss, manually removing them from the SharePoint site is the most reliable method.
Open the SharePoint site that is linked to your Microsoft Planner plan's Microsoft 365 Group.
Click on 'Documents' in the left-hand navigation pane to view the library where Planner stores all task attachments.
Find the specific files that were attached to the deleted task, select the checkmarks next to them, and click the 'Delete' button at the top of the page.
Create a Custom Power Automate Workflow
Design a custom Power Automate workflow to identify task attachments and delete the corresponding SharePoint files, though this requires advanced logic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Microsoft Planner attachments actually stored?
Attachments uploaded to a Microsoft Planner task are automatically stored in the default Document Library of the SharePoint site connected to the Planner's Microsoft 365 Group.
Why doesn't Planner delete SharePoint files when a task is deleted?
Microsoft designed Planner this way to prevent accidental data loss. Files are kept in SharePoint so they remain accessible to the group even if the specific task referencing them is removed or completed.
Is there a default Power Automate template to delete Planner attachments?
No, there is currently no standard, built-in Power Automate action or template that reliably deletes SharePoint attachments automatically when a Planner task is deleted. Advanced custom workflows are required.
