---
key: create-a-project-template
title: Create a project template
audience: staff
section: settings/templates
routes: ["/settings/org/templates/projects", "/settings/org/templates/projects/new", "/settings/org/templates/projects/:templateUid"]
permissions: ["work.project_templates.read"]
features: ["work.project-templates"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Save a reusable project plan with phases and the tasks inside each phase, so a new project starts with its work already laid out instead of a blank page.
keywords: [project plan, project starter, phases, project phases, standard project, install plan, renovation plan, reusable project, project checklist]
related: [create-a-project, create-a-portfolio-template, create-a-task-template, approve-a-template-change]
---

In the sidebar, open **Settings**, then choose **Project Templates** under **Templates**. The page address is `/settings/org/templates/projects`. A new template opens at `/settings/org/templates/projects/new`.

A project template is the plan a new project starts from: phases such as rough-in, finish and commissioning, and the tasks inside each phase with a default status and assignee. When someone creates a project and picks **From template** under **Start point**, Nova creates all of it at once.

> **Note:** Templates built on this page are saved as drafts, and this page has no publish button. The quickest way to a published template is to open a project that already has the plan you want, choose **Save as template** from its menu, and pick **Publish now** in the **Save project as template** wizard. Use this page to review, duplicate or delete what you have.

## Before you start

- Your role needs permission to read project templates to see the page and permission to create them to add one. Deleting needs its own permission.
- Sketch the phases first. Tasks that do not belong to a phase go under **Ungrouped tasks**.
- Already ran a project this way? Open that project and use **Save as template** from its menu instead of building from scratch.

## Steps

1. Press **New template**. The **New project template** drawer opens.
2. Under **Basics**, type a **Name** and a **Description**.
3. Under **Phase templates**, press **Add phase**. Type the phase **Name** and a **Sort order** number.
4. A new phase starts with one blank task under **Phase tasks**. Type its **Title**, a **Sort order**, a **Description**, a **Default status** and, if the same person always does it, a **Default assignee** (otherwise leave **Unassigned**). Press **Add task** for the next one.
5. Repeat for every task and phase. Press **Remove** on a task or **Remove phase** on a phase to take it out.
6. Under **Ungrouped tasks**, press **Add task** for any task that does not sit in a phase.
7. Press **Create template**. The drawer stays open on the saved draft.

## What you see

- The list shows each template under **Template** with its **Description**, how many **Phases** and **Tasks** it holds, and when it was **Updated**. Search it with **Search project templates**.
- **Template route** under **Basics** shows the template's own address once it is saved, handy for sharing with another admin.
- **Duplicate** makes a copy to change without touching the original. **Delete** removes the template from the project creation list; projects already created from it do not change.
- Portfolio templates bundle several project templates together. See [[create-a-portfolio-template]].

## If something looks different

- **New template** is missing: your role cannot create project templates. Ask your admin.
- **Save changes** is off: your role can view templates but not update them.
- **Default assignee** does not list the person you want: they are not an active team member yet.
- The template does not show up under **From template** when creating a project: it is still a draft. The picker lists published templates unless you change its **Status** filter to **Draft**, and a draft cannot be applied even when listed. Publish one through **Save as template** on a project, as described above.

[[route:/settings/org/templates/projects/new|Start a new project template]]