Troubleshooting Asana task dependencies and timeline management requires understanding both the technical setup and common pitfalls in the system. Asana's dependency features allow teams to create sequential relationships between tasks, but issues often arise with date shifting, visualization, and cross-project dependencies. The core challenges include tasks not moving as expected when parent task dates change, dependencies not displaying properly, and limitations in managing dependencies across multiple projects. Users frequently report that complex timelines with numerous dependencies can lead to unpredictable behavior, such as tasks failing to adjust automatically or dependency lines disappearing from views.

Key findings from the sources include:

• Asana offers three dependency date-shifting options (Maintain Buffer, Consume Buffer, Ignore Buffer) that directly impact how dependent tasks behave when dates change ^[1]
• Dependencies can be set directly in Timeline view by dragging connectors between tasks, but this feature has known bugs in complex projects ^[2][3]
• Cross-project dependencies require workarounds like multi-homing tasks or third-party integrations, as Asana doesn't natively support automatic date shifting between projects ^[4]
• Four dependency types exist (Finish-to-Start, Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish, Start-to-Finish) that serve different project needs, though Asana's interface primarily uses Finish-to-Start by default ^[5][6]

Core Troubleshooting Areas for Asana Dependencies

Dependency Date Shifting and Timeline Behavior

The most common issue users encounter involves dependent tasks not moving correctly when parent task dates are adjusted. Asana provides three specific settings for handling these date shifts, each with distinct behaviors that can cause confusion if not properly configured. The "Maintain Buffer" option preserves the original time gap between tasks, "Consume Buffer" reduces the gap unless it creates conflicts, and "Ignore Buffer" completely overlooks time gaps ^[1]. These settings are accessible through Project dependency settings in the Timeline view's Options menu.

Users report persistent problems with these features in complex projects:

• Random tasks failing to move despite dependency settings being correctly configured ^[3]
• Asana support confirming bugs affecting task movement in templates with numerous dependencies ^[3]
• Dependency lines not visually updating to reflect date changes until manual refreshes ^[7]
• Tasks with overlapping dates sometimes breaking dependency chains ^[3]

The YouTube tutorial from FlowFlows Business Growth Consultants clarifies that date changes made in List view require clicking an "Update" button to propagate to dependent tasks in Timeline view ^[9]. This two-step process often causes confusion when users expect immediate synchronization. For troubleshooting these issues:

• Verify dependency settings are configured to the intended buffer option
• Check for overlapping task dates that might interfere with dependency logic
• Manually refresh the Timeline view after making date adjustments
• Simplify complex templates by reducing the number of interdependent tasks

Visualization and Cross-Project Dependency Challenges

Visualizing dependencies presents another significant challenge, particularly when working across multiple projects or managing complex timelines. The Timeline view only displays dependencies within a single project, creating limitations for teams working on interconnected initiatives ^[4]. Users frequently report that dependency lines disappear from views or fail to display properly, requiring manual reorganization of tasks to maintain visual clarity ^[7][8].

For cross-project dependencies, Asana lacks native support for automatic date shifting between different projects. The recommended workarounds include:

• Multi-homing dependent tasks by adding them to both projects, though this creates visibility and privacy concerns ^[4]
• Using third-party integrations like Flowsana for cross-project dependency management ^[4]
• Creating a master project that consolidates all dependent tasks from various initiatives

Visual organization challenges in Timeline view include:

• Tasks with dependencies not automatically aligning to create straight visual lines ^[8]
• Unrelated tasks interrupting dependency threads in the visual layout
• Dependency fields disappearing from main task views, requiring additional clicks to access ^[7]
• The need for manual sorting to maintain logical visual flow of dependent tasks

Advanced dependency types (Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish, etc.) can help reduce visualization issues by creating more logical task relationships ^[6]. The forum discussions emphasize that while Timeline view provides powerful visualization capabilities, it requires manual organization to maintain clarity, especially in projects with 50+ tasks and multiple dependency chains.