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How to Change a Resource from Work to Material in Microsoft Project

Steve K Oct 16, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to change an existing resource type from Work to Material because the option is locked in Microsoft Project.

How to Change a Resource from Work to Material in Microsoft Project

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Modifying project resource classifications in the Resource Sheet.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Project keeps the resource type locked as Work and does not allow the user to modify it to Material.

Before you start

Review your project schedule to identify all tasks currently assigned to the resource you want to modify, as you will need to temporarily remove these assignments to unlock the field.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove Existing Task Assignments and Modify Resource Type

Unlock the resource type field by temporarily removing the resource from all active tasks in your project schedule.

Microsoft Project locks the resource type field once a resource is actively assigned to tasks. This prevents accidental recalculations of work and material costs on in-progress tasks. To change the classification from Work to Material, you must clear its schedule first.

Locate Current Assignments

Navigate to the 'Resource Usage' view in Microsoft Project to see exactly which tasks are currently using the resource.

Remove the Resource from Tasks

Open the task assignments and remove the resource from each associated task. Ensure the resource has zero active assignments.

Update the Resource Type

Switch to the 'Resource Sheet' view. Click on the 'Type' dropdown for your specific resource and select 'Material'. Since the assignments are cleared, the field will now be unlocked.

Reassign to Tasks

Go back to your Gantt Chart or Task Usage view and reassign the newly categorized Material resource to the appropriate tasks.

Remove Existing Task Assignments and Modify Resource Type

Impact on Project Scheduling: Changing a resource type will affect task duration, work capacity, cost generation, and scheduling calculations. Verify your budget and timeline after making this change.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the resource type grayed out in Microsoft Project?

The resource type field becomes locked (grayed out) when the resource has already been assigned to one or more tasks. You must remove these assignments completely to unlock the field.

What is the difference between Work and Material resources?

Work resources refer to people or equipment that consume time to complete tasks (typically tracked by hourly rates). Material resources are consumable items, like supplies or raw materials, used up as the project progresses (tracked by unit costs).

Will changing a resource type affect my project budget?

Yes. Because Work resources and Material resources calculate costs differently (hourly rate vs. per-unit cost), switching types will recalculate the associated task costs and affect your overall project budget.

Can I change a resource type back to Work later?

Yes, you can revert the resource type back to Work at any time, provided you once again remove all of its active task assignments before making the change in the Resource Sheet.

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