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How to Add or Reorder Timeline Bars in Microsoft Project

John Wilson Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to insert new timeline bars between existing ones or freely drag and drop them into a custom order, particularly for organizing subprojects.

How to Add or Reorder Timeline Bars in Microsoft Project

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing project schedules and attempting to visually arrange multiple timeline bars and subprojects for a cleaner presentation.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Project does not provide a built-in drag-and-drop functionality to reorder timeline bars, leaving users unable to vertically sort subproject timelines natively.

Before you start

Because Microsoft Project no longer actively develops the Timeline feature, there is no direct drag-and-drop method to reorder bars. Prepare to adjust your underlying task list in the Gantt Chart view to influence the timeline's structure.

Solution 1Recommended

Restructure Tasks in the Gantt Chart View

Since the Timeline view relies on the underlying task structure, you can reorganize your tasks and subprojects in the main view to influence their presentation.

Microsoft stopped developing the Timeline feature several years ago, meaning the ability to manually drag and drop timeline bars is severely limited. To adjust the order in which items are processed, you must change their sequence within the main task list.

Switch to the Gantt Chart View

Navigate to the 'View' tab on the ribbon menu and click on 'Gantt Chart' to display your comprehensive list of project tasks.

Reorder the Task Entries

Select the entire row of the task or subproject you wish to move. Right-click to 'Cut' the row, then right-click on the desired destination row and select 'Insert' or 'Paste' to move the task up or down in the schedule.

Update the Timeline View

Once the underlying task structure is reordered, go back to your Timeline view. If the changes do not reflect automatically, remove the old timeline bars and use the 'Add to Timeline' option on your newly sorted tasks to regenerate the visual representation.

Restructure Tasks in the Gantt Chart View

Subproject Limitations: Moving an entire subproject in the Gantt Chart will carry over its associated tasks, but the vertical stacking order on the visual timeline may still be auto-formatted by Microsoft Project's internal logic.

Solution 2

Export Data to a Custom Presentation Tool

If specific visual placement and reordering are strictly required for a presentation, exporting the data to a more flexible tool is the best workaround.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Create Flexible and Customizable Timelines with WPS Office

Don't let rigid formatting limitations in Microsoft Office applications slow your project down. WPS Spreadsheet provides an intuitive, highly customizable alternative for managing project schedules. With an extensive library of free templates, you can easily drag, drop, and reorder timeline elements to perfectly fit your presentation needs without dealing with strict system constraints.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office Free from the official website and install the lightweight suite on your PC or Mac.
2. Access Free Templates: Open WPS Spreadsheet, navigate to the template library, and search for 'Timeline' or 'Gantt Chart' to find a flexible layout.
3. Customize Your Layout: Input your project tasks and freely modify, drag, and reorder the graphical elements exactly as needed.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats to seamlessly import and export your existing project data.Access hundreds of free, fully customizable Gantt chart and timeline templates for instant visual planning.Enjoy a familiar user interface that guarantees a seamless transition from Microsoft Office.Free and lightweight suite including Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation that runs smoothly on any device.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I drag and drop timeline bars in Microsoft Project?

Microsoft stopped actively developing the Timeline feature several years ago. As a result, the tool lacks advanced customization options like drag-and-drop reordering, and the system automatically determines the vertical placement of bars to prevent overlaps based on task dates.

Can I reorder subprojects in Microsoft Project's Timeline view?

You cannot reorder the timeline bars representing subprojects directly on the Timeline visualizer. To change their logical order, you must return to the Gantt Chart view and physically cut and paste the inserted subprojects into a new sequence.

How do I add or remove a task from the timeline?

To add a task, select it in the Gantt Chart, right-click, and choose 'Add to Timeline'. To remove one, right-click the specific bar directly within the Timeline view and select 'Remove from Timeline'.

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