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How to Export Microsoft Planner Tasks to Excel for Time-Stamping

John Wilson Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is looking for a way to track task timestamps in Microsoft Planner and needs a method to export this timestamp data to Excel.

How to View Time-Stamps in Microsoft Planner by Exporting to Excel

Product: Microsoft Planner
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing tasks and needing to record precise creation or completion timestamps for accurate project tracking.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Planner does not have a dedicated, visible time-stamping feature on the task interface, prompting the need for an export workaround.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to the Microsoft Planner web app using your Microsoft 365 Business Basic account, as exporting to Excel is performed exclusively through the web interface.

Solution 1Recommended

Export Planner Data to Excel to View Timestamps

Since Planner doesn't display explicit timestamps on the task board, exporting the plan to Excel reveals hidden metadata like 'Created Date' and 'Completed Date'.

While Microsoft Planner lacks a built-in timestamp function on the user interface, the backend records creation and completion dates. Exporting your plan to an Excel file is the most effective workaround to access this data.

Open Planner Web App

Navigate to Your Plan

Select the specific plan from the Planner Hub that contains the tasks you want to analyze.

Export to Excel

Click on the three dots (...) at the top of the plan board to open the more options menu, then select 'Export plan to Excel'.

View Timestamps

Open the downloaded Excel file. You will see columns for 'Created Date' and 'Completed Date' which serve as your timestamps.

Submit Feedback to Microsoft: You can request a native time-stamping feature by submitting feedback to Microsoft at their official Feedback Portal: https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/a1a93b69-2f1c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Open Your Exported Planner Data with WPS Spreadsheet

Need a fast, reliable tool to view and analyze your exported Microsoft Planner Excel files? WPS Office is a highly compatible, free alternative to Microsoft Office that easily handles spreadsheets, making it perfect for tracking your task timestamps.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Spreadsheet' to start the application.
3. Import Your Data: Open the .xlsx file you exported from Microsoft Planner to comfortably view and sort your task timestamps.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats exported from Planner.Lightweight and fast to open large data sets without lagging.Familiar user interface with a gentle learning curve.Free built-in data analysis tools for filtering and sorting timestamps.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the exact time a task was created directly in Microsoft Planner?

No, Microsoft Planner does not currently display precise creation or completion timestamps on the task cards. You must export the plan to an Excel file to view these details.

Does the exported Excel file show both creation and completion times?

Yes, when you export a plan to Excel, the resulting spreadsheet includes specific columns for both the 'Created Date' and the 'Completed Date', which effectively act as your timestamps.

What format does Planner use when exporting data?

Microsoft Planner exports plan data strictly as an Excel (.xlsx) file, which can be easily opened with Microsoft Excel, WPS Spreadsheet, or other highly compatible spreadsheet applications.

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