Microsoft to officially discontinue Project Online Essentials starting October 2026

Microsoft has confirmed that it will kill Project Online Essentials this fall. In other words, organizations that are still using the license now have less than a month to sort out their replacements.

Project Online Essentials will officially reach its end of life (EOL) on October 1, 2026

Project Online Essentials has not been available for new purchases since October 1, 2025. Now Microsoft says the license itself will reach end of life on October 1, 2026. That means users assigned the license will lose access through it after the retirement date. The change covers licensing rights connected with Project Online and Project Server.

Microsoft says organizations should review affected accounts before the deadline. The main replacement options are Project and Planner Plan 1 and Project and Planner Plan 3. These plans also bring expandable capabilities, including access to Planner Premium experiences. That makes the switch more than a simple license rename.

What businesses need to check

Organizations using Project Server need to look closely at what each user actually requires. Some users may need Planner Premium capabilities, Project Server access rights, or both. Microsoft recommends moving those users to Project and Planner Plan 1 or Plan 3 before October 1. Users needing only Project Server Subscription Edition access should instead get the appropriate Project Server CALs.

There is also a warning for project managers and resource managers. Microsoft recommends informing affected users before the licensing change lands.

As the deadline is now set for October 1, 2026, Microsoft says organizations should complete their licensing transitions before then to avoid access disruption. If you are eager ro read the full advisory, you can check Microsoft Admin Center Message ID MC1466302.

Via: Neowin