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Why Microsoft Project Board Cards Do Not Show Checklists: Causes and Fixes

Huda Qurayshi Sep 27, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know why task checklists are visible on board cards in basic Microsoft Planner but fail to display on board cards in Microsoft Project Plan 3.

Why Microsoft Project Board Cards Do Not Show Checklists

Product: Microsoft Project Plan 3 / Microsoft Planner
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to view task checklists directly from the main project board view for quicker task management.
Observed behavior: Checklists successfully display on task cards in the basic Planner interface but remain hidden on board cards in the premium Microsoft Project Plan 3 interface.

Before you start

Verify which version of the task management tool you are using by checking if your current board is built on basic Microsoft Planner (Plan 1) or Microsoft Project Plan 3, as their interface capabilities differ.

Solution 1Recommended

View Checklists Inside Tasks in Project Plan 3

Since Project Plan 3 does not currently support displaying checklists on the external board cards, you must manually open the tasks to manage checklist items.

The inability to display checklists on board cards is a known product limitation specific to the premium Microsoft Project Plan 3 interface. Unlike the basic Planner interface, the premium layout prioritizes different data sets on the outer card.

Access the project board

Open your Microsoft Project Plan 3 dashboard and navigate to the specific board where your tasks are located.

Open the task details

Click directly on the task card that contains the checklist. This will open the detailed task pane.

Manage the checklist

Scroll down to the checklist section within the task details to view, check off, or add new checklist items.

View Checklists Inside Tasks in Project Plan 3

Product Limitation: This is a current interface design limitation in Project Plan 3. Checklists simply cannot be pinned to the front of the board cards like they can in standard Planner.

Solution 2

Enable 'Show on Card' in Basic Planner

If you have the option to use or revert to the basic Microsoft Planner interface, you can easily toggle checklists to appear on the front of the cards.

Solution 3

Submit Feedback via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Since the missing checklist feature is a product limitation, administrators can submit a feature request directly to Microsoft Support.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Complex Projects Without Limitations Using WPS Office

If interface limitations in Microsoft Project restrict your workflow, consider building fully customizable project trackers using WPS Spreadsheet. WPS Office provides a free, highly compatible, and lightweight productivity suite that gives you complete control over how your task data and checklists are displayed.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open a new blank spreadsheet to serve as your highly customizable project tracker.
2. Set up task columns: Create customized columns for Task Name, Assignee, Checklists, and Status. You can adjust the row heights to display full checklists directly on your main view.
3. Utilize checkboxes and formatting: Insert form control checkboxes next to your tasks and use Conditional Formatting to automatically cross out completed tasks, offering maximum visibility without interface restrictions.

100% compatible with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint formatsCreate fully customizable project management boards and task checklistsFree, lightweight, and features a familiar, easy-to-use interfaceSeamlessly migrate your existing Microsoft Office data without losing formatting

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I force Project Plan 3 board cards to show checklists?

Currently, you cannot. The premium interface in Microsoft Project Plan 3 prioritizes different data and lacks the 'Show on card' feature for checklists. You must click into the task to view your checklist items.

Why do checklists show up on older Teams boards but not new ones?

Older standard Teams boards are typically built on the basic Planner (Plan 1) architecture, which natively supports displaying checklists on cards. New boards created specifically with Project Plan 3 use a premium interface that does not support this feature.

How do I show attachments instead of checklists on a basic Planner card?

In basic Microsoft Planner, open the task card that contains the attachment. Next to the attachment file, check the 'Show on card' option. Note that you can only display one element (either a checklist or an attachment) on the card face at a time.

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