How to automate extract the Planner comments?

Wang, Huilin 0 Reputation points
2026-05-12T16:45:25.7333333+00:00

Hi guys,

Is there possible solution of extracting the Planner comments without manual doing it ?

If API is not accessible, what other solution can be made?

Thanks a lot!

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  1. AI answer

    2026-05-12T16:45:38.4266667+00:00

    Planner task comments are stored as Outlook group conversations and are available to compliance tools and via Microsoft Graph, but there is no dedicated, simple “export comments” button in the Planner UI.

    For automation, the supported options from the provided information are:

    1. Use Microsoft Graph Planner APIs
      Planner itself is powered by Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 groups. Planner comments are based on Outlook group conversations, and tasks/plans are accessible via the Planner APIs in Microsoft Graph. An automated solution would typically:
      • Use Microsoft Graph to enumerate plans and tasks.
      • For each task, correlate and read the associated group conversation messages that represent comments.
      • Store or export those messages (for example to a database or file).
    2. Use Microsoft Purview eDiscovery for compliance export
      If the goal is to export comments for compliance or legal purposes rather than for an app integration, Microsoft Purview supports Planner content for plans that are shared with groups:
      • Supported Planner content includes tasks, comments, and attachments for plans shared with Microsoft 365 groups.
      • Personal (roster) plans, plans in Loop components, and premium plans (formerly projects) are not supported.
      • Using eDiscovery content search and legal hold, it is possible to search and export Planner content, including comments, in a governed way.
    3. Check plan-level settings that affect comment creation
      When exporting or automating around comments, be aware that plan metadata includes settings such as Plan.CreateTaskCommentWhen, which defines which events create comments for tasks. This can affect what comments exist and therefore what can be exported.

    If direct Graph API access to comments is constrained in the environment, the practical alternatives from the available information are:

    • Using Microsoft Purview eDiscovery to export Planner tasks/comments/attachments for group-based plans.
    • Building a solution around Microsoft Graph that reads the underlying Outlook group conversations where Planner comments are stored.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Kai-L 18,970 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-12T17:58:25.56+00:00

    Dear @Wang, Huilin,

    Good day, and thank you for reaching out to Q&A Forum.

    From my research, Planner comments are stored in the Microsoft 365 Group mailbox (Exchange), while tasks and attachments are stored in SharePoint. If using the API is not feasible in your scenario, Microsoft Purview eDiscovery can be a viable alternative for extracting Planner comments.

    To proceed, you can use Content search in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal:

    • Go to the Microsoft Purview compliance portal.
    • Go to Settings > eDiscovery > Content search (or create a new eDiscovery case).
    • Create a new search.
    • In Locations, select: The Exchange mailbox of the Microsoft 365 Group associated with the Planner plan. The SharePoint site associated with the plan.
    • In the keyword query, you can search for specific keywords, task titles, or leave it broad to get everything.
    • Run the search > Review the results.
    • Add results to a Review Set (Premium) or export them.

    Notes:

    • It’s mainly designed for compliance / legal use, so the export format is more geared toward review (PST, individual items, etc.) rather than a clean Excel table.
    • You usually need Compliance Admin or eDiscovery Admin permissions.
    • Exporting a large number of comments can take some time and may require additional processing
    • For basic plans, Planner is gradually replacing traditional task comments with task chat, which may affect how newer comments are stored and retrieved

    For additional details, please refer to the link provided earlier by the Q&A Assist.

    I hope this helps clarify the situation and provides you with a workable approach. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am always happy to help. Wishing you all the best, and have a wonderful day!

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

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