Milestone tasks are used in Microsoft Project to mark significant points in a schedule, such as the completion of a phase, a major deliverable, or an approval event. Unlike regular tasks, milestones have zero duration and are used to track progress without adding work.
In this article, I’ll show you the fastest way to create a milestone task in Microsoft Project — in just two clicks of the mouse.
Watch the Step-by-Step Video
Prefer to follow along visually? This video demonstrates the exact steps you’ll learn below using Microsoft Project Desktop.
Step-by-Step: Create a Milestone Task in Microsoft Project
To create a milestone task using the built-in command, follow these steps:
- Click in the task row where you want to insert the milestone.
- On the Task ribbon, click the Insert Milestone button.
Microsoft Project inserts a new milestone task with a default name. Rename the milestone to clearly describe the event it represents.
Example:
If the milestone represents the completion of the design phase, name it Design Complete.
That’s it — you’ve created a milestone task in two clicks.
When Should You Use Milestone Tasks?
Milestone tasks are best used to:
- Mark the completion of a major deliverable or phase
- Represent approval points or decision gates
- Communicate key progress points to stakeholders
- Track progress without adding duration or work
Milestones should not be used for actual work activities. Instead, they serve as checkpoints that summarize progress in the schedule.
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