How to Stop Microsoft Planner Email Notifications for Tasks
Question details
The user wants to stop receiving automated emails about new and late tasks from Microsoft Planner to prevent their inbox from filling up.
- Product
- Microsoft Planner
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing task alerts and reducing inbox clutter generated by Microsoft 365 task assignments.
- Observed behavior
- Planner continues to send notification emails for late and new tasks even after the user explicitly disabled them under Planner Settings.
Keep in mind that Microsoft 365 utilizes both individual Planner settings and broader Group settings, which can independently trigger task notifications. Additionally, changes to these preferences may take a short time to synchronize across servers.
Disable Associated Microsoft 365 Group Email Notifications
Because Planner tasks are deeply integrated with Microsoft 365 Groups, task emails are often routed through the Group settings rather than your individual Planner app settings.
Every plan in Microsoft Planner is connected to a Microsoft 365 Group. If the group is configured to send conversations and events to members' inboxes, you will still receive task updates regardless of your personal Planner settings.
Open one of the notification emails you received. If the sender is listed as the group's name rather than Planner directly, it is a Group notification.
Log in to Outlook on the web or open the desktop app, and navigate to the 'Groups' section on the left sidebar.
Find and click on the Microsoft 365 group associated with the Planner board that is sending the notifications.
Click on the group settings (often a gear icon or three dots) and look for 'Follow in inbox' or 'Group email settings'. Uncheck or disable the option to receive group conversations and events in your personal inbox.
Re-verify Personal Planner Notification Options
Double-check your global Planner notification preferences to ensure they were saved correctly and wait for the system to process the update.
Switch to WPS Office for a Distraction-Free Workspace
If you are overwhelmed by complex Microsoft 365 configurations and intertwined group notifications, consider streamlining your workflow with WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, straightforward, and free alternative for managing your daily document tasks without filling your inbox with automated alerts.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install the suite: Run the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the lightweight application.
- 3. Open and edit seamlessly: Launch WPS Office to immediately begin creating and editing documents with familiar tools.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I getting Microsoft Planner emails if my notifications are turned off?
You are likely receiving notifications triggered by Microsoft 365 Group settings rather than individual Planner settings. When a Planner board is created, an associated Group is made, which can be configured to send task updates directly to members' inboxes independently.
Can I turn off Planner notifications for a specific plan only?
The personal notifications in your global Planner Settings apply to all your plans. However, if you are a plan owner, you can control whether group emails are sent for task assignments within a specific plan by opening the Plan settings (via the three dots next to the plan name) and disabling group emails.
How long does it take for Office 365 notification settings to apply?
While usually instantaneous, changes to your notification preferences in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem can sometimes take a few hours to fully sync across all servers. If you just disabled them, monitor your inbox over the next 24 hours to confirm the change.




