Flagged emails create duplicate tasks in Planner (3 to 6 copies)

Question

Hi, I’m having an issue with Microsoft Planner task duplication.

My goal is simple: when I flag an email in Outlook, it should automatically create one task.

However, every time I flag an email, it creates multiple duplicate tasks (usually 3 to 6 copies) in Planner instead of just one.

My setup: • Outlook flagged emails sync to Microsoft To Do • Tasks are connected to Planner (“Tasks by Planner and To Do”) • No manual copying or task creation • I am not intentionally creating multiple tasks

Expected behavior: • 1 flagged email = 1 task

Actual behavior: • 1 flagged email = multiple duplicate tasks

Questions: • Is this a known sync issue between Outlook, To Do, and Planner? • Could this be caused by multiple connectors or background flows?

Thanks!

Outlook version: New Outlook for Desktop • Microsoft Outlook Version: 1.2026.120.300 • Client Version: 20260130003.04 • WebView2 Version: 144.0.3719.93 Planner: Web To Do: Web Power Automate: [fill in if any flows exist] Tenant type: Work account

Answer 1

Hi Ansleyyyy,
Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Based on the information you provided, it appears that you are experiencing an issue where flagged emails are being duplicated in Microsoft Planner. To help us identify where the duplication is occurring, could you please confirm the following points: 

• Could you please let me know how many devices you are currently signed into with your Outlook account? This includes any desktops, laptops, mobile devices, or tablets. 
• When did you first notice this behavior occurring? Has the issue been present from the beginning, or did it start appearing recently? 
• When you access Microsoft To Do → Flagged Emails, how many tasks are created for the same flagged email? For Microsoft Planner → My Tasks → Flagged Emails, how many corresponding tasks appear there? This comparison will help us determine which step in the synchronization chain is generating duplicates. 
• Could you please try flagging an email directly from Outlook on the web and let us know whether the duplication still occurs? This will help confirm whether the issue is tied to a specific Outlook client. 
• Additionally, please try resetting the connection between To Do, Outlook, and Planner by going to Microsoft To Do → Settings → Connected apps, turning off both Planner and Flagged email, refreshing the page, and then enabling them again. 

Once you’ve completed these steps, please let me know the results. I look forward to your update and will be glad to assist you further. 

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Answer 2

It seems you are experiencing an issue with duplicate tasks being created in Microsoft Planner when flagging emails in Outlook. While the specific cause of this duplication isn't detailed in the provided context, here are some potential areas to investigate:

1. Sync Issues: There could be a synchronization issue between Outlook, Microsoft To Do, and Planner. If multiple sync processes are triggered simultaneously, it might lead to the creation of duplicate tasks.
2. Multiple Connectors or Flows: If you have multiple connectors or background flows set up that interact with your tasks, they may inadvertently create duplicates. Check your Power Automate flows to ensure that none are set to trigger multiple times for the same action.
3. Settings in Microsoft To Do: Review the settings in Microsoft To Do to ensure that it is configured correctly to sync with Planner without creating duplicates.

To resolve this issue, you may want to:

• Check for any existing Power Automate flows that could be causing the duplication.
• Review the sync settings in both Outlook and To Do.
• Consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance if the problem persists, as they may have more specific insights into known issues or bugs related to your setup.

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References:

• Track your message center tasks in Planner