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How to Fix Microsoft Project Deadlines That Will Not Save

Steve K Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where deadline dates entered in Microsoft Project are not being saved properly.

How to Fix Microsoft Project Deadlines That Will Not Save

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting or modifying task deadlines within the software's interface.
Observed behavior: Deadline dates disappear and fail to save after the user closes and reopens the Task Information dialog.

Before you start

Ensure your Microsoft Project application is fully updated to the latest build, as temporary glitches or document corruptions can often be resolved by installing the latest official software patches.

Solution 1Recommended

Edit Deadlines Directly in the Gantt Chart Column

Bypassing the Task Information dialog and applying changes directly within the Gantt Chart view is the most reliable way to enforce deadline modifications.

Sometimes the Task Information dialog fails to register changes due to minor UI bugs or improper closure. Using column inputs forces the software to immediately commit the data.

Confirm Dialog Saves

If you must use the Task Information dialog, ensure you explicitly click 'OK' after entering or deleting the deadline date, rather than pressing 'Enter' or closing the window.

Insert the Deadline Column

Right-click on any existing column header in your Gantt Chart view and select 'Insert Column'. Choose 'Deadline' from the dropdown list.

Enter Dates Directly

Click into the newly added Deadline column for your specific task and enter or modify the date there. Press 'Enter' to confirm the change.

Edit Deadlines Directly in the Gantt Chart Column

Quick Verification: After entering the date in the column, click away to another task and back again to verify that the deadline date persists.

Solution 2

Verify Deadline Bar Styles Formatting

If deadlines are saving but not appearing visually on your chart, the Gantt Chart formatting may be hiding the deadline indicators.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Microsoft Project task dates keep changing automatically?

Microsoft Project automatically schedules tasks based on dependencies, resource leveling, and project constraints. If a predecessor task shifts, linked tasks will also change. To prevent this, you can apply task constraints or switch the specific task to 'Manually Scheduled'.

How do I visually show deadlines on a Microsoft Project Gantt chart?

You can display deadlines by adding the Deadline column to your task list and inputting a date. Once set, a green downward arrow will automatically appear on the Gantt chart at the specified date. If it doesn't appear, check that the Deadline style is enabled in Gantt Chart > Format > Bar Styles.

Can file corruption cause saving issues in Microsoft Project?

Yes, localized file corruption can prevent specific fields, like deadlines, from saving correctly. A common troubleshooting step is to save the corrupted project file as an XML document, close the program, reopen the XML file, and save it back as a standard MPP file.

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