Free Viewing and Printing of Microsoft Project Schedules
If someone only needs to read an MPP schedule, first decide whether they need an interactive view of the tasks or a fixed copy to print. Microsoft Project does not include a standalone viewer for opening an MPP plan on a computer without Project installed.1
Share a fixed snapshot
Section titled “Share a fixed snapshot”In Project desktop, select the view or report you want to share, then choose File > Print. Review the print preview and adjust the timescale, page orientation, margins, and page breaks so the schedule is readable. You can print on paper or save a PDF through the available print workflow. A PDF preserves the page layout for reading or printing; it is not an editable Project plan.2
For a compact update, Project can also copy Timeline information or selected project information into another Office application. This can be useful for a presentation or status note, but it does not give the recipient an interactive MPP schedule.
When a recipient needs to inspect the MPP
Section titled “When a recipient needs to inspect the MPP”For an interactive read-only option, Project Plan 365 is a separate application whose Free Viewer supports MPP files from Microsoft Project 2010 through 2024, with views including Gantt Chart, Calendar, Resource Sheet, Team Planner, Network Diagram, Tracking Gantt, and Timeline. Check its Free Viewer page for current details. If a fixed copy is enough, you can also share a PDF or image; see Share a fixed snapshot. For other viewer approaches, see Microsoft Project Free Viewer Options.