Forum Discussion
Data access after Project Online (PWA) retirement
Hi everyone! I asked this same question on Microsoft Learn and received an official reply from AlexDN (Microsoft Team). I’m sharing it here for everyone’s benefit. If you have follow-up questions, please feel free to reply below, I’ll do my best to help or follow up with Microsoft.
Source (Microsoft Learn): https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/answers/questions/5602263/armazenamento-de-dados-ap-s-descontinua-o-do-proje
"Dear Leandro Lima,
Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.
Microsoft has announced that Project Online will be retired on September 30, 2026. This change is part of our long-term strategy to modernize project-management experiences in Microsoft 365.
This retirement affects only Project Online. It does not affect Project Desktop, Project Server Subscription Edition, Microsoft Planner, or To Do. I would like to clarify the following details:
1/ What happens to your data after retirement?After September 30, 2026, you will no longer be able to access any data stored in Project Online. This includes project schedules, resource data, and associated SharePoint content.
There will be no grace period or read-only access after the retirement date. All data must be exported or migrated before that date.
2/ What about linked SharePoint sites?SharePoint sites linked to Project Online (such as project workspaces) will also become unavailable after retirement.
You will not be able to access or modify these sites once Project Online is retired.
3/ Can data be exported or migrated?Yes, but only before the retirement date. Microsoft provides tools and guidance to help with this process:
• Use the official Project Online User Data Export script to extract project data in bulk.
• Projects can also be saved manually as .mpp files using Microsoft Project Desktop.
• SharePoint content (documents, lists) must be copied separately using SharePoint export tools.
4/ Migration optionsMicrosoft recommends transitioning to one of the following platforms:
• Planner: a modern cloud-based solution integrated with Microsoft 365.
• Project Server Subscription Edition: an on-premises option that preserves the classic PWA experience.
• Dynamics 365 Project Operations: for advanced project-management and finance needs.These articles may be helpful:
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2026
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/projectonline/export-user-data-from-project-online
• Microsoft Project Online is retiring: What you need to know — available in English only.
Please understand that our initial response may not immediately resolve the issue. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution. Your detailed reply will help us diagnose and investigate the problem more efficiently.If I did not understand what you are looking for, feel free to let me know or share a screenshot. I will be happy to help!
Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to your response."
Leandro. . .
Take a look at the following thread in this forum. Hopefully it will answer at least some of your questions.
What MS Project Online Retiring Means | Microsoft Community Hub
John
Thanks, John,
I watched the thread you pointed to (great overview).
We also published a video covering the retirement topic (for context: https://youtu.be/R4gtv-RgR9g - the video is in Portuguese, but it can be auto-captioned in English).
My question here is narrower and more practical: what exactly happens to the data after the Project Online (PWA) retirement date?- Will the data currently in Project Online remain accessible (even read-only) after retirement, and for how long?
- Will tenants still be able to view/export/migrate their data after the date? If yes, what’s the time window and supported mechanisms (e.g., OData/reporting DB, CSOM/REST, etc.)?
- Regarding the SharePoint project sites linked to PWA, will they remain available (and editable) as standard SharePoint sites? For how long and under what constraints?
- Is there an official Microsoft guidance or policy page that states data accessibility/retention timelines to help customers plan migration and compliance?
If you (or someone from Microsoft) can share the official documentation or a definitive statement on post-retirement data access and retention, that would be extremely helpful for customers planning migrations and audits. Thanks in advance!
I probably should have been clearer but in the conversations, I've had with Microsoft they stated the MSPO data will not be accessible after MSPO is retired. Here is the official announcement, which you've probably seen Microsoft Project Online is retiring: What you need to know | Microsoft Community Hub
Leandro. . .
You're welcome and thanks for the kudos. I don't use Project Online or Project Server myself so RodFromm actually has a better perspective but I did watch the video by Kenny Arnold and thought it might help.
John
- Will the data currently in Project Online remain accessible (even read-only) after retirement, and for how long?
