How to Change Project Title in MS Project: Quick Rename Guide

Changing a project title in MS Project takes under 30 seconds once you know where to look. I’ve watched colleagues waste minutes hunting through menus for this simple edit.

The process differs slightly between versions—2019 hides it under File > Info, while 2021 puts it front and center in the Project Information panel. Either way, no special permissions or admin rights are needed.

You’ll avoid the common pitfall of accidentally renaming the file instead of the project. The title updates everywhere instantly, from reports to Gantt charts, without breaking any links.

Works for desktop and Microsoft 365 versions. Here’s the exact path to get it done right the first time.

What Youll Need

Instructions

Here’s the process I use to update project names without breaking dependencies or custom fields.

Launch Microsoft Project and open the file containing the title you need to change. I always start by selecting File from the top menu, then Info on the left-hand panel. This is where all project metadata lives, including the title.

Look for the Properties section on the right side of the Info screen. Here’s the thing—this is the only place where changing the title won’t affect your task structure or custom fields. Don’t try to rename it from the project view itself.

In the Properties panel, find the Title field. It’s usually near the top, right under the project file name. Click inside the field and delete the existing text. Type your new project title carefully—this field has a 255-character limit.

Press Enter or click outside the field to save the change. Watch for the auto-save indicator in the top-left corner—it should appear briefly to confirm the update. If you don’t see this, manually save with Ctrl+S.

Switch to different views to confirm the title update propagated correctly. Check the Project Summary Task (the very first line in Gantt Chart view) and the Header/Footer if you’ve customized these. The new title should appear consistently everywhere.

Open the Project Information dialog (Project > Project Information) to double-check. The title here must match what you just entered. If it doesn’t, you’ve likely edited a custom field instead of the actual project title.

If you’ve created custom reports or dashboards that pull the project title, regenerate them now. Right-click any existing report in the Report tab and select Edit to verify the title field references are correct.

For exports to PDF or other formats, run a test export. I’ve found that some custom templates cache the old title. If this happens, reopen the template and replace the title field reference with the updated one.

Go to Project > Custom Fields and scan for any fields that might be using the old title as a lookup value. This is rare but can cause issues with formulas or filters.

If you find any, update the lookup table or formula to reference the new title. Real talk: this is the step most people skip, and it’s often the source of mysterious errors later. Take the extra 2-3 minutes to verify.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Small oversights can turn a simple rename into a troubleshooting nightmare. Here’s how to avoid them.

The Properties Panel Priority: In Step 1, I can’t stress this enough—only the Properties section in File > Info will safely update the title without breaking dependencies. I learned this after accidentally corrupting a project by trying to rename it from the Gantt view. The metadata lives here, and nowhere else.

Character Count Caution: That 255-character limit in Step 2 isn’t arbitrary. I’ve seen titles get truncated mid-word when they exceed this, which looks unprofessional in reports. Count carefully, and consider abbreviations for longer project names if needed.

Verification is Non-Negotiable: Step 3’s verification across views isn’t optional. I once skipped this and discovered too late that my custom header still showed the old title in a client presentation. Take the extra minute to check the Project Summary Task and Project Information dialog—they must match.

The 2-3 Minute Investment: Step 5 mentions spending 2-3 minutes checking for custom field conflicts. Here’s what nobody tells you—this is where most hidden errors live. I’ve spent hours debugging formula issues that traced back to a single custom field still referencing an old project name. Don’t skip it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Changing your project title in MS Project is a simple yet powerful way to keep your workflow organized and clear. With just a few clicks, you can ensure your project name reflects its current scope or purpose. Now that you’ve mastered this, take the next step and explore customizing project properties for even better project management! 🚀