Last updated: April 2024
Join us in this blog as we explore the dynamic world of Microsoft 365. 🌟 We’ll shed light on the features and products that are undergoing transformations or bidding farewell. Whether you’re a system administrator 🧑💻 managing the Microsoft 365 environment or an avid user 🙋♂️ staying ahead of the curve, this blog will provide invaluable insights and actionable recommendations.
🚀Discover the key changes, deprecations, and end-of-support scenarios that require your attention. From deprecated features to configuration modifications and essential upgrade plans, we’ve got you covered! Make informed decisions and ensure a smooth transition.⚡️
Note: Interested in exploring past month’s features and deprecations? Look no further! You can find a comprehensive history of all the changes in our GitHub repository.
Microsoft 365 Upcoming Changes and Deprecations List:
Here is a list of changes categorized by month and year.
- Apr 2024 (Important Updates: 3, New Features: 3, Retirements: 6, Enhancements: 2, Existing Functionality Changes: 3, Action Required: 2 )
- May 2024 (Attention needed: 9)
- June 2024 (Attention needed: 5)
- Q3-2024 (Attention needed: 6)
- Q4-2024 (Attention needed: 6)
- 2025 (Attention Needed: 5)
- 2026 (Attention Needed: 7)
We’ve crafted a visually appealing Microsoft 365 end-of-support timeline infographic to help you effortlessly stay informed about the end-of-support schedule! And it’s also available in a printer-friendly format to keep handy on your desk.
April 2024
Important Updates: 3 | New Features: 3 | Retirements: 7 | Enhancements: 2 | Functionality Changes: 3 | Action Required: 2
Important Updates:
Azure AD and MSOnline PowerShell Modules to Continue Working
Microsoft has officially deprecated the Azure AD and MSOnline PowerShell modules. However, they will remain functional until March 30, 2025, with support limited to critical security fixes.
Note: Only MSOnline versions 1.1.166.0 (2017) and later are guaranteed to function as expected.
End of Availability for Classic Teams Client
Users of Classic Teams facing migration challenges or lacking the necessary prerequisites for the upgrade will retain access to the classic Teams client until at least July 1, 2024. This extension provides administrators with additional time to resolve any encountered issues.
Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-classic-client-end-of-availability
Azure AD Graph API Retirement
The initial phase of Azure AD Graph API retirement begins on June 30, 2024. Entra ID apps created after this date and trying to use the Azure AD Graph API will face errors. Applications that are created before June 30, 2024 will not be impacted at this stage.
New Features:
Apr 2024- Exchange: High Volume Email
Microsoft 365 is introducing High Volume Email (HVE) for large-scale internal communications, allowing up to 100,000 recipients per day at no cost during Public Preview.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC765811
Apr 2024- Microsoft Copilot in Intune
Microsoft Copilot in Intune is now available for public preview, providing AI insights for policy and setting management, as well as device details and troubleshooting.
Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/copilot/copilot-intune-overview
Mid-Apr 2024- Microsoft Edge: Extension Request
End users will have the ability to request access to blocked extensions, and admins can view these requests through the Microsoft Edge management service. Additionally, admins can receive email notifications for these requests, ensuring prompt awareness of any new requests.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC767479
Retirements:
Early-Apr 2024- Retirement of “User Consent to Apps” Setting in the Microsoft 365 Portal
Microsoft will retire the “User consent to Apps” toggle in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center in April 2024.
Solution: Admins needing to view or edit tenant-wide consent settings can utilize the Entra portal.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC727449
Apr 02, 2024- SharePoint 2013 Workflow Retirement
Starting April 2nd, 2024, SharePoint 2013 workflows will be turned off for newly created tenants. Starting April 2nd, 2026, SharePoint 2013 workflows will no longer be supported for existing tenants.
Solution: You can move to Power Automate or other supported solutions.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC542767
Apr 11, 2024- Retirement for the Azure Information Protection Unified Labeling Add-in for Office
The AIP Unified Labeling add-in for Office will reach end of availability and support of the service.
Solution: You can use sensitivity labeling directly into Office apps.
Apr 15, 2024- Stream (Classic) is Fully Retired & Automatically Disabled.
Users & admins are no longer able to access or use Stream (Classic). Any remaining content in Stream (Classic) that wasn’t migrated will be deleted.
Solution: You can use Stream on SharePoint.
Mid-April 2024- Exchange PowerShell: Retirement of Get, Set, and Remove UserPhotos Cmdlets
Microsoft is phasing out the Exchange PowerShell cmdlets used by tenant administrators to manage user profile photos, including commands like: Get-UserPhoto, Set-UserPhoto, and Remove-UserPhoto.
Solution: As an alternative admins can utilize MS Graph PowerShell or Microsoft 365 admin center to manage user photos.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC678855
Apr 30,2024- Retirement of AdminAuditLog and MailboxAuditLog Cmdlets
Microsoft retiring the following Exchange Online PowerShell cmdlets from Apr 30, 2024.
- Search-AdminAuditLog
- Search-MailboxAuditLog
- New-AdminAuditLogSearch
- New-MailboxAuditLogSearch
Solution: You can utilize the Search-UnifiedAuditLog cmdlet or the Microsoft Purview portal to access your audit logs.
Apr 30, 2024- Privileged Access Management (PAM) for Microsoft Graph Data Connect (MGDC) Retirement
Microsoft will retire Privileged Access Management (PAM) for Microsoft Graph Data Connect (MGDC) on April 30, 2024.
Solution: To adapt, all tenants must utilize the new MGDC onboarding experience post this date.
Migration to the new interface can be accomplished through a one-click process in MGDC settings or automatic migration during pipeline runs until April 30, 2024. MGDC will seamlessly convert approved PAM requests into app registrations. Failure to migrate by April 30, 2024, will necessitate manual onboarding for pipelines.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC715688
Enhancements:
Apr 2024- Search-UnifiedAuditLog Cmdlet: Introducing HighCompleteness Parameter
Microsoft is introducing a new query parameter HighCompleteness. When enabled, the query will return more complete search results but may take significantly longer to run.
Late-April 2024- Microsoft Loop: Guest Sharing
Microsoft Loop will soon enable business-to-business (B2B) guest sharing for workspaces, pages, and components, subject to administrator policy.
- For tenants without sensitivity labels configured, the rollout will commence in late-April 2024.
- For tenants with sensitivity labels configured, the rollout will commence in the first half of 2024.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC736437
Existing Functionality Changes:
Apr 2024- Microsoft SharePoint: New Embedded Admin Role Impact
Microsoft is introducing the SharePoint Embedded Administrator role to manage SharePoint Embedded Applications and containers. With this role, the SharePoint admin role will lose the ability to execute SharePoint Embedded application and container-specific cmdlets.
Note: This update will not affect the global admin functionality.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC718551
Apr 2024- Update to the Get-CsOnlineUser Cmdlet in Teams PowerShell Module & TAC’s Manage Users Page
In the Teams Admin Center (TAC) Manage users page, you’ll find all unlicensed users listed. Similarly, when using the Get-CsOnlineUser cmdlet in the Microsoft Teams PowerShell Module, unlicensed users will also be included.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC761236
Apr 2024- Removing a Recommendation from Secure Score
Microsoft plans to remove the Secure Score recommendation “Remove the attribute ‘password never expires’ from accounts in your domain” from Microsoft Defender for Identity
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC722587
Action Required:
New Products available for Self-Service Purchase
Microsoft has introduced the self-service purchase capability for several additional products, such as Dynamics 365 Marketing and Microsoft 365 F3.
Solution: Consider disabling the self-service purchase capability for these new additions, if necessary.
Apr 17, 2024- MSCommerce PowerShell Module Requires to Update
Microsoft recently released MSCommerce PowerShell module 2.2 version with critical security updates. Starting April 17, 2024, all previous versions of the module will not work.
Solution: Users must install the new version to manage self-service purchases and trials.
Note: Existing policies will remain valid, but new changes require the updated module.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC767477
May 2024
New Features:
May 2024 – Contact De-duplication Feature in OWA
Maintaining a clean, updated contact list is crucial for enhanced collaboration and productivity. Microsoft introducing a new feature to cleaning up duplicate contacts with the de-duplication feature in Outlook Web App (OWA)
Ref: https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=In%20development&searchterms=98124
May 2024- Microsoft Purview: Audit Search with Microsoft Graph API
Admins can programmatically query and retrieve the activity log through the new Audit Log Query Graph API.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC720778
Retirements:
May 1, 2024- Legacy PowerBI Apps Retirement
Starting May 1, 2024, legacy Power BI apps (pre-audiences) will no longer receive support. While these apps may continue to function, they will no longer receive technical assistance beyond May 2024.
Solution: Upgrade legacy Power BI apps directly from the workspace your app is in or from the Update app option in the authoring view.
May 1, 2024 – Retirement for Risk-Based Policies in Entra ID Protection
Beginning May 1, 2024, the creation of new legacy user risk policies or sign-in risk policies in Entra ID Protection will no longer be supported.
Solution: To create and enable new risk-based policies, please utilize Conditional Access.
May 1, 2024: Azure Information Protection Add-in for Office Retirement
From May 1st, 2024, AIP Unified Labeling add-in permanently disabled in Office.
Solution: If you are using AIP Add-in for Office, you can use playbook to plan and execute the transition to built-in labeling in Office apps.
May 2024- Retirement of the ApplicationImpersonation Role Based Access Control (RBAC) Role in Exchange Online.
Starting May 2024, Microsoft will block the assignment of the ApplicationImpersonation role in Exchange Online to accounts.
Solution: To comply with these upcoming changes, apps must undergo an App Registration, utilize Application permissions (not Delegated), and implement secure credentials for access.
May 2024 – Custom Script Settings Removal from OneDrive and SharePoint Web
The Custom Script setting in OneDrive and SharePoint web will be removed in early-May 2024. After that, users cannot change the look, feel, and behavior of sites and pages to meet their organizational objectives or individual needs.
Proactive step: A new PowerShell command property DelayDenyAddAndCustomizePagesEnforcement, has been introduced to delay the change to custom script set on the Tenant until mod-November 2024.
Set-SPOTenant DelayDenyAddAndCustomizePagesEnforcement $True
Note: This property is available in the SharePoint Online Management Shell version 16.0.24524.12000, or above.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC714186
Mid-May 2024- Retirement of Entity-based Contextual Outlook Add-ins
After retirement, contextual add-ins won’t detect entities in mail items to perform tasks. Support for Microsoft add-ins reliant on this, like Bing Maps, Action Items, and Suggested Meetings, will be discontinued.
Solution: You can configure add-in with regular expression rules as an alternative solution.
May 31, 2024 – Test Base for Microsoft 365 Retirement
Microsoft is retiring Test Base, the platform crucial for data-driven application testing worldwide. As of May 31, 2024, all customer environments and associated data will undergo permanent deletion.
June 2024
June 2024- Microsoft Teams: Workspace Management
Workspace management offers a unified perspective of Teams devices and peripherals, categorized by location, accompanied by insightful details. IT admins can now efficiently oversee connected devices, monitor workspace health, assess utilization, and ensure adherence to standards across all locations.
Ref: https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=In%20development&searchterms=88326
June 2024- Microsoft Teams: Loop components in Teams Chat for GCC
In Teams chat, loop components empower users to send messages containing tables, action items, or lists that everyone in the conversation can collaborate on and edit together
Ref: https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=In%20development&searchterms=93163
June 2024- Voicemail: Retirement of Automatic Activation of OOF Greetings Based on OOF Calendar Events
The voicemail feature, which automatically activates an out-of-office greeting based on an out-of-office event in the Outlook calendar, will be retired in early June 2024.
Solution: To manage their out-of-office greetings, users can utilize two available options within the Teams client by navigating to Settings -> Calls -> Configure Voicemail:
1.All the time
2.When I have an Outlook auto reply
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC727450
June 30, 2024- Azure AD Graph API Retirement
The initial phase of Azure AD Graph API retirement begins on June 30, 2024. Entra ID apps created after this date and trying to use the Azure AD Graph API will face errors. Applications that are created before June 30, 2024 will not be impacted at this stage.
June 30, 2024- Retirement of Classic Teams for VDI
Classic Teams for VDI (Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure) will no longer be available after June 30th, 2024. Users will be prompted to transition to the new Teams interface post this date.
Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/new-teams-vdi-requirements-deploy
July 2024
July 01, 2024 – SharePoint Add-in Retirement
As part of SharePoint add-in retirement, starting July 01, 2024, you can’t install them from public marketplace. SharePoint Add-Ins will stop working for new tenants as of November 1, 2024, and they will be fully retired as of April 2nd, 2026.
Solution: Admins can run the Microsoft 365 Assessment tool to scan their tenants for SharePoint Add-In usage.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC693865
July 1, 2024 – Retirement for Risk-Based Policies in Entra ID Protection
Starting July 1, 2024, existing legacy user risk policies or sign-in risk policies in Entra ID Protection will become uneditable.
Solution: To modify them, please migrate them to Conditional Access.
Mid-July 2024: View Websites in New Teams Client
From July 2024, Microsoft Teams will no longer support loading websites within the new Teams client when using the Website tab. Instead, the Website tab will open in a new browser tab.
Note: This update won’t affect EDU customers.
Ref: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/microsoft365dev/upcoming-updates-to-loading-websites-in-teams-tabs/
August 2024
Aug 30, 2024 – Intune Ending Support for Android Device Administrator on GMS Access Devices
After Intune ends support for Android device administrator, devices with access to GMS will be impacted in the following ways:
- Users will not be able to enroll devices with Android device administrator.
- Intune technical support will no longer support these devices.
September 2024
Sep 30, 2024- Azure Multi-Factor Authentication Server
Azure MFA Server deployments will no longer service MFA requests, which could cause authentications to fail for your organization.
Solution: Organizations should migrate their users’ authentication data to the cloud-based Azure MFA service
Sep 30, 2024 – Business Connectivity Services Retirement in Microsoft 365
Microsoft will retire Business Connectivity Services features in Microsoft 365.
Solution: Microsoft recommends using Power Apps to replace their Business Connectivity Services solutions in SharePoint in Microsoft 365.
November 2024
Nov 01, 2024- Azure ACS Retirement in Microsoft 365
Microsoft is retiring the use of Azure ACS as auth platform for SharePoint Online. Starting November 1st, 2024, new tenants will not be able use Azure ACS. For existing tenants that currently rely on Azure ACS to provide custom-developed or third-party applications access to SharePoint Online, this functionality will cease to work after April 2, 2026.
Solution: Admins can utilize the Microsoft 365 Assessment tool to scan the tenants for any usage of Azure Access Control Service (ACS) and migrating from Azure ACS to Microsoft Entra ID.
Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/sp-add-ins/retirement-announcement-for-azure-acs
Nov 01, 2024- SharePoint Add-in Retirement
SharePoint Add-Ins will stop working for new tenants as of November 1, 2024, and they will be fully retired as of April 2nd, 2026.
Solution: Admins can run the Microsoft 365 Assessment tool to scan their tenants for SharePoint Add-In usage.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC693865
December 2024
Dec 16, 2024 – Delve Web Retirement
Microsoft retiring Delve on December 16th, 2024. Many Delve features are now available and improved in other Microsoft 365 experiences.
Solution: Key alternatives include:
- Discover documents: Use Office.com, Office apps, and Profile Cards.
- View profile data: Utilize Profile Cards, people search on Office.com, and SharePoint search.
- Edit profile: A new edit profile experience will be released in H2 2024 and can also be edited in SharePoint.
- Organizational view: Available in the Profile Card and Org Explorer.
- Favorites: Use favorites on Office.com and OneDrive for similar functionality.
- Boards: Will not be replaced.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC698136
Dec 31, 2024- Microsoft Teams Live Event Retirement
As part of MS Teams live event retirement (planned on Sep 30, 2024), existing recordings will be accessible till Dec 31, 2024. If you want to keep the recording, download and upload them to a different location before December 31.
Solution: You can start to use town halls.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/adminportal/home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC678003
End of 2024- Retirement of Mail and Calendar Apps in Windows
At the end of 2024, Microsoft replacing the Mail and Calendar apps in Windows with the new Outlook for Windows.
Solution: Start trying and testing the new Outlook for Windows.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC590123
2025 (Attention Needed: 3)
Feb 2025- Removal of the ApplicationImpersonation Role Based Access Control (RBAC) in Exchange Online.
Microsoft is going to remove ApplicationImpersonation Role Based Access Control (RBAC) role and its feature set from Exchange Online.
Feb 01, 2025- Azure Key Vault: Soft-delete Will be Enabled on All Key Vaults
Soft Delete preserves deleted key vaults and secrets for up to 90 days, enabling customers to restore them through a self-serve process.
Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/soft-delete-change
Feb 22, 2025- Viva Topics Retirement
Viva Topics will be discontinued on February 22, 2025, and Microsoft will no longer pursue new feature enhancements for the platform.
Existing Topic pages will transition to standard SharePoint pages. Users can edit and publish updates as other SharePoint pages. AI-generated Topic pages will no longer be accessible.
Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/topics/changes-coming-to-topics
Sep 30, 2025- Retirement of Managing Authentication Methods in Legacy MFA & SSPR Policy
Starting Oct 2025, Microsoft no longer allow authentication methods to be managed in the legacy MFA and SSPR policies.
Solution: Organizations should use the converged authentication methods policy where methods can be managed centrally for all authentication scenarios including passwordless, MFA and SSPR.
Oct 14, 2025- End of Extended Support for Office 2016 & Office 2019
Office 2016 and Office 2019 extended support ends in 2025.
Solution: You can start to use the latest supported versions.
Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/microsoft-office-2016
2026 (Attention Needed: 6)
Jan 13, 2026- End of Extended Support for Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics 1.x
Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics (ATA) extended support will be ended on January 13, 2026.
Solution: Updates for Microsoft ATA are available from Microsoft Update or by manual download.
Mar 31, 2026- Deprecation of ‘Require Approved Client App’ Conditional Access Grant
The Require approved client app control in Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Conditional Access will be retired and no longer enforced.
Solution: You can make use of the “Require app protection policy” control, which has all the same capabilities
Apr 02, 2026- SharePoint 2013 Workflow Retirement
SharePoint 2013 workflows will no longer be supported.
Solution: You can move to Power Automate or other supported solutions.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC542767
July 14, 2026- InfoPath 2013 Client and InfoPath Forms Services in SharePoint Online will be Retired
InfoPath Client 2013 will reach the end of its extended support period on July 14, 2026, and to keep an aligned experience across Microsoft products, InfoPath Forms Service will be retired from SharePoint Online.
Solution: To understand the usage of InfoPath within your organization, you can utilize the Microsoft 365 Assessment tool to scan your tenant and analyze InfoPath usage. If you are currently using InfoPath, you can initiate the migration process to modern alternatives such as Power Apps, Power Automate, or Forms.
Oct 01, 2026- Retirement of Exchange Web Services in Exchange Online
October 1, 2026, Microsoft will start blocking EWS requests from non-Microsoft apps to Exchange Online. The changes in Exchange Online do not affect Outlook for Windows or Mac, Teams, or any other Microsoft product.
Solution: Migrate your applications to Microsoft Graph to access Exchange Online data and gain access to the latest features and functionality.
Oct 01, 2026- Sign-in Risk Policy and User Risk Policy Retirement from Entra ID Protection
User risk policy or Sign-in risk policy UX in Entra ID Protection (formerly Identity Protection) will be retired on October 1, 2026.
Solution: Migrate Sign-in risk and User risk policies to Conditional Access.
Oct 13, 2026- Retirement of Microsoft Publisher
In October 2026, Microsoft will discontinue Publisher in Microsoft 365, with on-premises suite support ending. While support lasts, they’re exploring modern alternatives across Word, PowerPoint, and Designer for common Publisher tasks, with updates forthcoming.
Ref: https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC716267
In conclusion, navigating the ever-evolving landscape of Microsoft 365 requires staying informed about the changes🔍. By proactively adapting to these changes, you can optimize your Microsoft 365 experience, maximize productivity, and effectively plan for the future. 💪
Don’t miss out on the latest buzz in Microsoft 365! 🐝We’re committed to keeping this blog fresh with the most current information. Stay tuned for the latest updates!
End of Support Resources for Microsoft 365:
