'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix Project Online Session Expired Error When Creating Projects
Question details
A user is unable to create a blank project in Project Online due to session expiration errors, which persist even after clearing browser cookies and switching computers.
- Product
- Project Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a new blank project in Project Online.
- Observed behavior
- The system displays the error messages 'We ran into an issue while creating this project' and 'Your session expired.' Standard browser troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue.
Ensure you have a way to contact your organization's Microsoft 365 Global Administrator, as resolving this issue requires administrative access to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center to manage user licenses.
Verify and Reassign Your Project License
This error frequently occurs when the user has an insufficient license tier (like Project for Office) or when there is a backend synchronization glitch with the assigned license.
To create and manage projects in Project Online, a basic Office license is not enough. You must have a premium tier license, such as Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5. If the correct license is already assigned, forcing a refresh by removing and re-adding the license often fixes the session error.
Reach out to your organization's Microsoft 365 Global Administrator and explain the session expiration issue.
Ask the administrator to confirm that you are assigned a Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5 license, as the 'Project for Office' license alone does not permit project creation.
Have the administrator navigate to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, locate your user profile under Active Users, uncheck your Project license, and save the changes.
Wait for about 5 to 10 minutes to allow the server to sync. Then, have the administrator reassign the Project license to your profile and save.
Log back into Project Online in a fresh browser session and attempt to create a blank project again.
Open a Support Request with Microsoft
If removing and reassigning the license does not resolve the session error, there may be a deeper tenant-level synchronization issue that requires Microsoft Support intervention.
Try WPS Office for Your Document and Project Planning Needs
If you are struggling with expensive licenses or cloud synchronization errors in Microsoft 365, consider WPS Office. While it doesn't directly replace Project Online's server capabilities, it is a fantastic, free, and lightweight alternative for creating detailed project plans, tracking timelines via spreadsheets, and producing professional reports.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite to your computer.
- 2. Access Free Templates: Open WPS Spreadsheet, navigate to the homepage, and click on 'Templates'.
- 3. Search for Project Trackers: Type 'Project Plan' or 'Gantt Chart' into the search bar to find and use professional project tracking templates instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'Project for Office' not sufficient to create projects?
The 'Project for Office' license generally provides limited or view-only access to Project data depending on your specific Microsoft 365 environment. To actively create, edit, and manage projects in Project Online, you need a premium license such as Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5.
Can a browser cache issue cause the 'Session Expired' error in Project Online?
Yes, corrupted cookies or a stale cache can occasionally cause session timeout errors. However, if you have already tried clearing your browser data and testing on different browsers or computers without success, the issue is almost certainly related to your account's license synchronization.
How long should I wait after my administrator reassigns my Project license?
It is highly recommended to wait at least 5 to 15 minutes after the license is removed, and another few minutes after it is reassigned. This delay ensures that Microsoft's cloud servers fully process and sync your updated permissions before you log back in.
