How to Make a Task a Subtask in Microsoft Project: 1-Min Guide

How to Make a Task a Subtask in Microsoft Project

Updated on:

May 13, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to convert a task into a subtask using Indent Task in Microsoft Project.

Quick summary

In Microsoft Project, you can convert any task into a subtask by selecting it in Gantt Chart view and clicking the Indent Task button, which automatically promotes the task directly above it to a summary task.

Steps

Open the Task tab and ensure you are in Gantt Chart view.
Click the task you want to convert into a subtask.
Click the Indent Task button in the toolbar.
Confirm the task is now a subtask and the task directly above it has become the summary task.

📌 Why this matters

Creating subtasks in Microsoft Project allows project managers to build hierarchical work breakdown structures that make complex projects easier to track and manage. The Indent Task feature in Gantt Chart view lets you nest tasks under summary tasks in seconds, giving your project plan clearer structure and better visibility. Organizing work into subtasks helps teams prioritize deliverables, assign resources accurately, and roll up progress automatically to parent tasks. This is a foundational skill for anyone managing multi-phase projects in Microsoft Project.

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