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Fix Microsoft Planner Copy Plan Not Creating a New Group

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to create a new group automatically when using the Copy Plan feature in Microsoft Planner and can only select existing groups.

Product: Microsoft Planner
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to copy an existing plan in Microsoft Planner and generate a new group for it.
Observed behavior: The Copy Plan feature restricts selection to existing groups only, and the user is unable to create or edit groups or SharePoint sites despite having unchanged access permissions.

Before you start

Verify that your Microsoft 365 account is fully active and check with your IT administrator to ensure no recent organizational policy changes have restricted group creation permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Microsoft 365 Group Creation Permissions

Group creation in Microsoft Planner relies on Microsoft 365 Groups. If your admin has restricted this globally, you won't be able to create new groups during the copy process.

Many organizations restrict group creation to prevent sprawl. Even if your permissions seem unchanged, a recent tenant-wide policy update by an administrator can disable the ability to create new groups from Planner, SharePoint, or Outlook.

Test group creation in other apps

Log in to your Microsoft 365 account on the web and navigate to Outlook or SharePoint to see if you can manually create a new group or site from there.

Contact your IT Administrator

If the option to create a group is missing or greyed out across all applications, reach out to your Microsoft 365 IT Administrator.

Request permission review

Ask your administrator to verify if the 'Let users create Microsoft 365 groups' setting has been toggled off in the Azure Active Directory or Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Admin Permissions: Only users with global admin or specific directory roles can modify group creation policies in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Solution 2

Seek Technical Assistance via Microsoft Community Hub

If permissions are verified but the issue persists, specialized troubleshooting from Microsoft support engineers is required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Copy Plan feature suddenly stop letting me create new groups?

This usually happens because a Microsoft 365 IT Administrator updated organizational policies to restrict group creation, or there is a temporary sync issue with Azure Active Directory permissions affecting your tenant.

Can I copy a plan without creating a new Microsoft 365 group?

Yes. During the Copy Plan process, you can choose to duplicate the plan into an existing Microsoft 365 group where you already have member or owner permissions.

What should I do if I cannot edit existing SharePoint sites either?

If you also cannot edit existing groups or SharePoint sites where you previously had access, your account permissions may have been modified or revoked. You must contact your organization's IT department to restore your SharePoint and Group owner/member access.

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