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Fix Microsoft Project Tasks Splitting After Changing Duration

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where changing the duration of a linked task causes downstream tasks to remain in place and appear split.

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Modifying the duration of linked tasks in a project schedule.
Observed behavior: Downstream tasks fail to shift dynamically and instead appear split, even when no constraints, progress, or baselines are intentionally assigned.

Before you start

Verify whether the affected downstream tasks are set to 'Auto Scheduled' rather than 'Manually Scheduled', as manual tasks will not shift automatically when dependencies change.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable the 'Split in-progress tasks' Option

Adjusting the global schedule options can prevent tasks with hidden progress or minor tracking data from splitting unexpectedly when upstream changes occur.

Microsoft Project allows tasks to split automatically if they have an actual start date or partial progress recorded. Disabling this option forces the software to handle duration changes without breaking the task bar.

Open Project Options

Click on 'File' in the top ribbon, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Schedule Settings

In the Project Options dialog box, click on the 'Schedule' tab located on the left-hand panel.

Locate Scheduling Options for the Project

Scroll down to the section labeled 'Scheduling options for this project'.

Uncheck Split Tasks

Find the checkbox for 'Split in-progress tasks'. Uncheck this box and click 'OK' to apply the changes.

Temporary Glitches: If this resolves the issue but the setting was already correct, Microsoft Project can occasionally experience temporary rendering glitches. Simply restarting the application often clears these anomalies.

Solution 2

Verify Task Progress and Actual Start Values

Tasks that have accidentally logged progress or an Actual Start date will split instead of shifting entirely when upstream tasks are modified.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my MS Project tasks split automatically?

This usually happens when the 'Split in-progress tasks' setting is enabled in your schedule options, or when a task has an 'Actual Start' date or a percentage of progress logged. Project splits the task to account for the work that has already been completed.

How do I ensure tasks move together when linked in MS Project?

First, select the tasks and link them using the chain icon on the Task tab. More importantly, ensure the downstream tasks are set to 'Auto Scheduled'. Manually scheduled tasks will remain pinned to their dates regardless of upstream changes.

What is the difference between Auto Schedule and Manually Schedule?

Auto Schedule calculates and updates task dates automatically based on dependencies, constraints, calendars, and resource assignments. Manually Scheduled tasks ignore dependencies and remain exactly where you place them on the timeline.

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