Welcome to our final roundup of 2025. We review what was announced, released, and delayed across Microsoft 365 and Copilot in December.
Check out the November blog for lots of content still rolling out this month. If you are an Update Insiders member, take a sneak peek at the latest blog, which is updated throughout the month.
Here’s a reminder of what the icons mean and the order in which the updates are grouped:
✅ = Available now
🔜 = Coming soon – new updates from the Admin Centre
🕔 = Delayed
🔭 = Coming later – new updates from the M365 Roadmap
🚫 = A feature we are losing
🗞️ = In the news
🎓 = Knowledge
Here are this month’s topics:
Would you like to attend a live webinar covering this month’s updates? Monthly, free, just 55 minutes and more fun than it sounds! Sign up for the sessions I deliver with The Inform Team: 14th January, 11th February, 11th March, 15th April. All sessions start at noon UK time.
Copilot
✅ ICYMI: Auto, Instant, and Thinking mode selector in Copilot chat
Microsoft has added a mode selector to Copilot chat, allowing you to choose how much reasoning to apply to your prompt. Available now. Read more.
🔜 Video Overviews in Copilot Notebook
Microsoft will enable you to use Video Overviews in Copilot Notebooks to automatically generate short, narrated video summaries of your Notebook content, giving you an engaging visual overview that brings together your key insights, visuals, and voiceover in one place.
Reverences: MC1208690 and 365 Roadmap ID 511793. Due mid-November 2025 to late February 2026. View more posts about Copilot Notebooks.
🔜 OpenAI’s GPT-Image-1.5 model available in Microsoft 365 Copilot
M365 Copilot, Copilot Chat and Create will now use GPT‑Image‑1.5 for images. Due mid-December 2025 to late January 2026. Read more.
🔜 Chat history landing page: Filtering UI refresh
Microsoft is refreshing the Chat History landing page filtering experience. This update consolidates filtering options under a single “filter pill,” which is a compact UI element that displays all applied filters in one place.
Reference: MC1200572. Due mid to late January 2026.
🔜 Manage your meeting RSVPs in Copilot chat
Microsoft is adding a Copilot chat feature that will let you send quick meeting RSVPs directly in chat. Now due early to late January 2026. Read more.
🔜 Calendar results in M365 Copilot search
Calendar Search in Microsoft 365 Copilot makes it easy to find any meeting using natural language – if you can remember anything about the meeting, you should be able to find it. Due early October 2025 to late December 2025. Read more.
🔜 Add web links as references in Copilot Notebooks
Microsoft is adding the ability to add public web links as references in Copilot Notebooks, allowing you to ground Copilot responses on specific public web pages.
References: MC1193414 and 365 Roadmap ID 516040. Due mid-November 2025 to mid-January 2026.
🔜 Data source-specific filters are coming to M365 Copilot search
The new dynamic filtering experience in Copilot search displays a set of source-specific filters. Due early December 2025 to early January 2026. Read more.
🔜 Anthropic models will be available by default in Copilot experiences
In a nutshell, Anthropic has been onboarded as a Microsoft subprocessor. This transition extends Microsoft’s contractual commitments and data protection standards to the use of Anthropic models in Copilot experiences, but are excluded from EU Data Boundary commitments and, when applicable, in-country processing commitments. This change will be opt-in for EU/EFTA and UK, but will be default ‘on’ for most other customers. Read more: Anthropic as a subprocessor for Microsoft Online Services | Microsoft Learn.
Reference: MC1193290. Due 7th January 2025.
🕔 ‘Update available’ button for the M365 Copilot app on Windows
Microsoft 365 Copilot for Windows will introduce a new “Update available” button that will appear in the bottom left of the app interface, allowing you to continue interacting with the app when it appears. Microsoft is hoping to encourage you to keep the app up to date without interrupting your workflow. This is for the app installed on Windows, not the browser app. Due early to late October 2025.
Reference: MC1154790. Now due early to late January 2026.
🕔 Copilot Chat can now reason over your Copilot Pages
Copilot Chat can answer questions based on the contents of the currently open Copilot Page. Now due early October 2025 to early February 2026. Read more.
🕔 Copilot chat to summarise emails for unlicensed users
Microsoft is introducing a new way to summarise email threads in Outlook using Copilot Chat, available to people with and without a Copilot licence. Now due mid-September 2025 to January 2026. Read more.
🕔 Microsoft Copilot Chat adds a new ‘Tools’ feature for task-specific AI access
Microsoft is adding a new ‘Tools’ button to Copilot Chat to access task-specific AI capabilities. Now due October 2025 to January 2026. Read more.
🕔 Microsoft 365 Copilot: Session persistence enhancement for Copilot chat
Microsoft: “We’re improving the reliability of Copilot chat by ensuring that conversations are preserved even when users navigate away from a chat. With this update, a session entry is created in the navigation pane as soon as a prompt is submitted. This allows users to return to the conversation later without losing context or progress”.
References: MC1174856 and 365 Roadmap ID 500638. Now due from mid-December 2025 to mid-January 2026.
🕔 Content Sources in Copilot Chat
Microsoft: “We’re introducing a new capability that allows users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license to scope and control Copilot Chat responses by selecting specific content sources. This enhancement is designed to improve the relevance and accuracy of Copilot responses by limiting them to user-selected sources, aligning with customer feedback for more transparent and customizable AI interactions”.
References: MC1127230 and 365 Roadmap ID 496596. Now due early to late January 2026.
🕔 Copilot chats will appear in search results
Microsoft search will soon include results from previous Copilot chats. Now due mid to late December 2025. Read more.
🕔 Real-time voice interactions come to Copilot podcasts
The Microsoft 365 Copilot podcast feature is gaining real-time voice interactions. Now due early to late January 2026. Read more
🕔 Microsoft Read Aloud gets Copilot real-time voice interactions
Microsoft Read Aloud will become an interactive experience with Copilot Q&A, letting you ask questions and refine understanding in real time. This will improve accessibility, comprehension, and focus. You will get a new voice-driven Read Aloud, while others will keep the classic version. A Copilot licence is required for the new experience.
References: MC1183010 and 365 Roadmap ID 523205. Due early to late January 2026.
🔭 Capture voice notes in the Microsoft 365 Copilot mobile app
Microsoft: “With a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, transform offline discussions into structured, actionable, and searchable content with voice notes in Copilot”.
Roadmap ID: 498640. Platform(s): Android, iOS. Due January 2026.
🔭 Deep citations in Copilot
Microsoft: “Deep citations let users quickly verify Copilot’s results by linking directly to the relevant part of the reference, boosting trust. We’re starting with Word and PPT files, then adding Meetings, Web, and PDF references”.
Roadmap ID: 523223. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due February 2026.
🔭 Recommended Notebooks in Copilot Notebooks
Microsoft: “Users can quickly create new Copilot Notebooks via Recommended Notebooks based on recent user work activity”.
Roadmap ID: 529842. Platform(s): Web. Due February 2026.
🔭 Suggested References in Copilot Notebooks
Microsoft: “Users can now quickly enrich their Copilot Notebook with relevant Suggested References based on recent user work activity”.
Roadmap ID: 529843. Platform(s): Web. Due January 2026.
🔭 Edit Scheduled prompts
Microsoft: “Enable customers to edit the scheduled prompt schedule”.
Roadmap ID: 531912. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due December 2025.
🔭 Masking in Copilot chat
Microsoft: “When an image needs precise editing, masking enables users to more accurately select an object or area in their image for AI to edit”.
Roadmap ID: 537287. Platform(s): Android, iOS, Mac, Web. Due January 2026.
🔭 Natural language support for Scheduling prompts
Microsoft: “This feature allows users to simply express their intention conversationally, and Copilot infers their intention and creates a scheduled prompt automatically”.
Roadmap ID: 531913. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due December 2025
🔭 Project Manager Agent in M365 Copilot
Microsoft: “The new Project Manager agent in Microsoft 365 will help you plan, organize, and manage work more efficiently. We’re starting with core task and plan management features to simplify project tracking and will introduce additional advanced project management capabilities over time”.
Roadmap ID: 516576. Platform(s): Desktop. Due March 2025.
🔭 Relight images in Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft: “Edit or enhance the lighting in uploaded or generated images directly in Copilot Chat and the Create experience”.
Roadmap ID: 537286. Platform(s): Android, Desktop, iOS, Mac, Web. Due January 2026.
🔭Scatter image effect in Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft: “Use scatter image effect directly in Copilot Chat and the create experience to further customize your visual artifacts generated with Copilot”.
Roadmap ID: 537288. Platform(s): Android, Desktop, iOS, Mac, Web. Due January 2026.
🔭 Scheduled prompts for Agents
Microsoft: “Enables users to schedule recurring prompts to declarative agents like Analyst, Idea Coach and more”.
Roadmap ID: 531759. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due December 2025.
🔍 View all Copilot update.
OneDrive
🔜 Review PDFs in OneDrive using the Copilot context menu
This feature uses M365 Copilot to explain selected text from a PDF and allows you to customise prompts for tailored results. Due early to late January 2026. Read more.
🔜 OneDrive and SharePoint – recognise text in PDFs
In the OneDrive mobile app, you will soon be able to use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to recognise text in scanned PDF files. Long-press the page and select Recognise Text.
Reference: MC1192663. Due early January 2026.
🕔 Simplified file transfer for departing employees
Microsoft: “OneDrive enhancements simplify file management for departing employees by improving notifications, filtering, and enabling bulk file transfers that preserve sharing. Access transfers automatically to managers with email alerts”.
References: MC1164381 and 365 Roadmap ID 493946. Now due mid-October 2025 to late January 2026. Read more: OneDrive retention and deletion – SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn.
🔍 View all OneDrive updates.
Outlook
🔜 Microsoft 365 Copilot: Email triage with pin, flag, archive, and mark as read
Microsoft: “Managing email just got easier. Microsoft 365 Copilot now supports natural language commands to help users pin or unpin important messages, flag or unflag items, mark tasks complete, archive clutter, and mark emails as read or unread. This enhancement is designed to streamline inbox management and help users stay focused on what matters most”.
References: MC1193695. Due mid-December 2025 to late January 2026.
🕔 New way to include email in Copilot chat prompts
You will soon be able to include email in your Copilot prompts without manually uploading them. Now due early October 2025 to late January 2026. Read more.
🕔 Replace quick compose pop-up with inline appointment creation in new Outlook for Windows and web
Microsoft: “In new Outlook for Windows and web, when single-clicking on an empty time slot on the calendar surface, the quick compose pop-up will no longer appear. Instead, you will be able to create an appointment by typing directly in the time slot on the calendar grid, just as you can in classic Outlook for Windows. There will be no change to double-click behavior; the full compose form will still open as it does today”.
References: MC846387 and 365 Roadmap ID 406948. Now due early November 2025 to late March 2026.
🕔 New Dedicated Copilot Chat Button in Outlook for Android
Microsoft: “We are updating the user interface (UI) for Copilot Chat in Outlook for Android so that the button is separate from the mail compose, event compose, and add a contact button. This feature will be available for users with a M365 Copilot license.
Reference: MC1185099. Now due early December to late January 2026.
🔭 Prepare for meetings with Copilot in classic Outlook for Windows
Microsoft: “With so many of us in back-to-back meetings, it can be a real struggle to stay on top of pre-reads, action items, and even what each meeting is about. Copilot quickly prepares you for meetings within minutes by bringing real-time insights and summarizing relevant context, tasks, documents, and other resources. You can also chat directly with Copilot to prepare more deeply, to ensure you’re ready to go. This feature is already available in the new Outlook for Windows, Web, Mac, and Mobile and is now being adding to classic Outlook for Windows. It is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license”.
Roadmap ID: 542186. Platform(s): Desktop. Due March 2026.
🔭 Calendar Conditional Formatting in New Outlook
Microsoft: “Users can now apply basic conditional formatting rules to the calendar in new Outlook, allowing events and appointments to be color-coded based on sender, location, attendees, and more”.
Roadmap ID: 529849. Platform(s): Web. Due January 2026.
🔭 Draft emails using saved email snippets with Quick Parts for Outlook for Windows and web
Microsoft: “Drafting emails is faster and easier with Quick Parts, now available for Outlook for Windows and web. Quick Parts are saved email snippets that can be reused when composing new messages, making it easy to assemble messages with reusable parts”.
Roadmap ID: 532733. Platform(s): Desktop, Web. Due January 2026.
🔭 New and Improved People Hub on Web
Microsoft: “In Outlook Web, the new and updated People Hub delivers a modern, multi-column contacts experience, with fast search and a streamlined interface. It provides a unified view of each person, automatically links duplicate entries, and enriches contacts with organizational profile information where available”.
Roadmap ID: 537282. Platform(s): 537282. Due February 2026.
🔭 Run rule over a specific folder
Microsoft: “Run Rule on Specific Folder enables users to manually apply an existing rule to a chosen folder instead of running it only on incoming mail in Inbox”.
Roadmap ID: 523215. Platform(s): Desktop, Web. Due January 2026.
🔭 User-initiated Copilot insights in classic Outlook
Microsoft: “Users can manually select text and ask Copilot to help provide relevant information”.
Roadmap ID: 508524. Platform(s): Desktop. Due May 2026.
🔍 View all Outlook updates.
PowerPoint, Word and Excel
🔜 Agent Mode in Excel for Windows and Mac
Agent Mode is coming to Microsoft 365 Copilot for Excel. Due mid-January to early March 2026. Read more.
🔜 Microsoft Excel: Enabling M365 subscribers to use Copilot Chat in locally stored modern workbooks
Microsoft: “We’re enabling Microsoft 365 subscribers to use Copilot Chat when working in Microsoft Excel modern workbooks (.xlsx, .xlsb, .xlsm, .ods, .xltx, .xltm, and .xlam files) stored locally. This brings parity with workbooks stored in SharePoint or OneDrive, allowing users to query Copilot Chat regardless of storage location”.
Reference: MC1194615. Due mid-December 2025 to January 2026.
🕔 Use Microsoft Copilot in Word to create, edit, and transform content directly from chat
Microsoft: “We’re introducing new capabilities in Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word that enhance how users interact with Copilot to create and refine content. These updates are designed to streamline document creation and editing through a more conversational and iterative experience” and “Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will be able to use Copilot in Word to draft new documents or sections, reorganize content into formats like FAQs, update existing content, or rewrite sections. Users will maintain control on the content as they will be able to review and approve any changes”.
References: MC1129126 and 365 roadmap ID 499428. Now due mid-November to early January 2026. Read more: Agent Mode in Word – Microsoft Support and Vibe working: Introducing Agent Mode and Office Agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 Blog and watch here: Agent Mode in Word: Edit and Format a Word Document with Copilot.
🕔 Microsoft 365 Copilot on Mac: Generate text for a PowerPoint slide using slide context
Microsoft: “Copilot in PowerPoint is getting smarter. Soon, users will be able to generate a compelling title, concise summary, or captions for visuals simply by describing what they want in natural language. Copilot will use the context of the slide to generate relevant text, helping users turn ideas into content quickly and efficiently”. You will see a new Copilot dropdown (pen icon) appear in blank text boxes.
References: MC1178510 and 365 Roadmap ID: 513427. Now due mid-January to mid-February 2026.
🔭 Microsoft Copilot: [Copilot Chat] Agent Mode in Excel
Microsoft: “Available for Microsoft 365 subscribers without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Agent Mode is releasing to Copilot in Excel for the web, Windows and Mac, enabling users to build and edit workbooks with Copilot using multi-step workflows. When you’re updating budgets, creating financial models, or analyzing data, Agent Mode uses Excel’s most powerful tools like tables, charts, PivotTables, and formulas to help you get the job done”.
Roadmap ID: 543242. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due February 2026.
🔭 Microsoft Copilot: Excel Agent
Microsoft: “Excel Agent helps you turn data into clear charts, summaries, and insights using built‑in formulas and logic. It streamlines data preparation, formulas, and visualization so you can stay focused on the story behind the numbers. Use multi‑turn chat to refine your output or open it in Excel for full editing and collaboration. Ideal for financial forecasts, project plans, and decision‑making tools. Available to Microsoft 365 users with or without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license”.
Roadmap ID: 543422. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due February 2026.
🔭 Microsoft Copilot: [Copilot Chat] Agent mode in Word enables conversational support to create, edit and refine document content from chat
Microsoft: “Available for M365 users without a M365 Copilot license. From Chat, you can use natural language to generate and direct edits to new and existing documents, when in an Edit mode. In this mode, Copilot will ask clarifying questions if needed, and after making changes will recap actions take and recommended next steps. Changes to the document are supported with controls in the document canvas to review changes made”.
Roadmap ID: 543241. Platform(s): Web. Due February 2026.
🔭 Microsoft Copilot: PowerPoint Agent
Microsoft: “PowerPoint Agent helps you build polished presentations with strong storytelling and visual structure. It streamlines research, formatting, and layout so you can stay focused on your message. Use multi‑turn chat to refine content or open the deck in PowerPoint for full editing and collaboration. Ideal for executive presentations, strategic updates, and market overviews. Available to Microsoft 365 users with or without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license”.
Roadmap ID: 543421. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due February 2026.
🔭 Microsoft Copilot: Word Agent
Microsoft: “Word Agent helps you handle research, structure, and formatting so you can stay focused on your ideas. Use multi‑turn chat to refine your draft or open it in Word for full editing and collaboration. It’s designed for long‑form, information‑dense work—like strategic plans, policy documents, and technical papers—making it easier to turn complex material into clear, well‑written content. Available to Microsoft 365 users with or without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license”.
Roadmap ID: 543420. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due February 2026.
🚫 Microsoft Excel: Insert Data from Image retires starting July 2026
Microsoft: “The Insert Data from Image feature in Excel for Windows Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel will retire in July 2026 with Version 2602. It remains until September 2026 in Version 2508. An enhanced version with Copilot chat is being developed for other channels”.
Reference: MC1191944. Retirement due from July 2026.
🚫 Retirement of Visio Data Visualizer Add-in for Microsoft Excel
Microsoft: “The previously announced date of December 8, 2025 for removing the Visio Data Visualizer add-in from the Excel add-in store, templates, and ribbon has been extended until at least January 2026”. Read more: Retirement of the Visio Data Visualizer add-in for Excel and next steps | Microsoft Community Hub.
🔍 View all PowerPoint, Word or Excel updates.
SharePoint
🔜 SharePoint list creation with the new Copilot list agent
Microsoft is introducing an agent to create SharePoint lists “via natural language”. Due late January to late February 2026. Read more.
🔜 Site attestation policy is now generally available
The new site attestation policy will ensure that site owners regularly verify key details, including ownership, membership, and sharing settings. It will automate periodic reviews to help you reduce compliance risks and prevent oversharing. SharePoint admins will enable the policy in the SharePoint Admin Centre, and Microsoft will prompt you to confirm your site details. If attestations are not completed, enforcement actions, such as restricted access or archiving, can be applied. The feature will be off by default and will require admin setup.
Reference: MC1198075. Became available mid-December 2025. Read more about recurring site attestations for SharePoint sites on Microsoft Learn.
🕔 Two new dark themes for SharePoint sites
Microsoft will let admins apply two new multi-colour dark themes (Dark Teal and Dark Blue) to SharePoint sites via “Change the look” in site settings. These out-of-the-box themes will update headers, footers, sections, text web parts, and Design Ideas, offering modern palettes for low-light environments while meeting accessibility standards, with no impact on existing themes or functionality.
References: MC1187401 and roadmap ID 526788. Now due early to late February 2026.
🕔 New Copilot button in file previewer for OneDrive and SharePoint
Microsoft will add a new Copilot button in the bottom‑right corner of the file previewer in OneDrive and SharePoint, giving you a clear entry point to Copilot chat and contextual prompts for supported file types. Microsoft will remove the previous Copilot command from the command bar. Requires a paid Copilot licence.
References: MC1182707 and Roadmap ID 513432. Due mid-November 2025 to late February 2026.
🕔 SharePoint introduces a new Workflows experience
SharePoint introduces a new Workflows experience aligned with the new experience in Teams. Now due early to late February 2026. Read more.
🔭 Get relevant information from Lists in Knowledge Agent
Microsoft: “Users will be able to find relevant information, matching items and get answers from Microsoft Lists using Knowledge Agent”.
Roadmap ID: 527837. Platform(s): Web. Due February 2026.
🚫 On hold: SharePoint News web part is getting a new ‘See All’ experience
The SharePoint News web part is getting a new ‘See All’ experience. On hold as of 11th December 2025. Read more.
🚫 Retirement of featured links on SharePoint Start Page
Microsoft: “We’re retiring the Featured Links capability on the SharePoint Start Page due to low adoption. This change helps streamline SharePoint experiences and reduce complexity for admins and end users. Alternative options, such as global navigation links or Resources in Viva Connections, provide more consistent ways to highlight important content”.
Reference: MC1197131. Retirement due early March to late June 2026.
🔍 View all SharePoint updates.
Teams
🔜 Select up to five Teams messages to forward
Teams will soon allow you to forward up to five messages in a single bundle. Due mid to late January 2026. Read more.
🔜 Express voice enrolment in Microsoft Teams
Express voice enrolment in Teams will register your voice profile. A voice profile enables features such as voice isolation, speaker recognition, identification in meeting rooms, improved transcripts, and enhanced meeting recaps and insights powered by M365 Copilot. If you haven’t enrolled yet, you’ll receive a prompt to opt in and enrol by speaking during a meeting. This feature will be ON by default, but can be disabled by your organisation.
References: MC1197146 and Roadmap ID 537269. Due mid to late February 2026.
Note, from personal experience, the voice isolation is very impressive. You can proactively enrol now in Teams > Settings and more > Settings > Recognition:
🔜 App support is coming to Private Channels
Microsoft Teams will soon support apps in Private channels – including bots, tabs, and message extensions. Due February to late March 2026. Read more.
🔜 Restart Event feature for Town Hall with unrecoverable failures
Microsoft: “We’re introducing the Restart Event feature in Microsoft Teams Events to improve resiliency for live events. This feature lets organizers restart a live event that encounters an unrecoverable failure, minimizing disruption and ensuring continuity for Town Halls and other large meetings”.
References: MC1194079 and 365 Roadmap ID 523214. Due early to late January 2026.
🔜 Find SharePoint agents in Teams chats and Teams Store
Microsoft will let you discover and add SharePoint agents within Microsoft Teams chats on Desktop and Mac. You will add them via the Add agents and bots option in the chat dropdown, which opens the in‑context store for discovery and selection. SharePoint agents will also appear in the Teams Store under the Agents category, making them easier for you to find.
References: MC1193415 and 365 Roadmap ID 515465. Due January 2026. Related: Share an agent from SharePoint in Teams – Microsoft Support.
🔜 Autocorrect in Microsoft Teams compose
Teams will automatically correct commonly misspelt words as you compose messages. The feature will be enabled by default; you will be able to disable it by going to Settings > General > Editor spellcheck and switching off the Correct words while typing toggle.
Reference: MC1192251 and roadmap ID 534487. Due mid to late January 2026.
🔜 Teams message preview for channels, mentions, and reactions notifications
Microsoft Teams is updating notifications by adding message previews to more notification types, including channels, mentions, and reactions. The aim is to help you assess the importance of a notification without leaving what you are currently doing. Due mid-January 2026. Read more.
🔜 Teams gets flexible meeting layouts with a resizable divider
Microsoft will introduce a flexible layout option in future Teams meetings that will let you resize and swap shared content. Due early February to late March 2026. Read more.
🔜 Private chat for organisers and presenters in structured meetings, webinars, and town halls
Microsoft will add a private chat for organisers, co-organisers, and presenters in structured meetings and webinars, letting you communicate privately before, during, and after events. Backroom chat behaviour in town halls will also be standardised to remove inconsistencies caused by streaming chat settings and Teams Premium licences.
References: MC1188222 and Roadmap ID 392328. Due mid to late February 2026.
🕔 The files tab in Microsoft Teams channels gets renamed and gains new capabilities
The ‘Files’ tab in Microsoft Teams channels will be renamed ‘Shared’ and will show shared post content and document library files under two tabs. Now due mid-November 2025 to mid-January 2026. Read more.
🕔 Microsoft Teams private channels: bigger limits & new features
Microsoft is enhancing private channels, offering up to 1000 channels per team, 5000 members per channel, enabled meetings, and simplified compliance. Now due early October 2025 to late February 2026. Read more.
🕔 Microsoft Teams town halls: Full HD (1080p) video resolution coming to Teams Premium
Microsoft: “Microsoft Teams Premium will support 1080p video resolution for town halls…” and “…Network support and Ultra-Low Latency streaming are required. The feature enhances video quality for sharper broadcasts and is available across all Teams platforms”.
References: MC1178507 and Roadmap ID 513270. Now due mid to late January 2026.
🕔 Open Microsoft Teams channels in a new window
You will soon be able to open Microsoft Teams channels in a new window. Now due late October 2025 to late January 2026. Read more.
🕔 Trust Indicators will identify external participants in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is introducing Trust Indicators to help you quickly identify external participants. Now due mid-February to early March 2026. Read more.
🕔 Teams group chats get a new Notes tab
Microsoft Teams group chats will soon have a new Teams Collaborative Notes tab. Now due early November 2025 to late January 2026. Read more.
🔭 Automatic removal of EXIF data from shared images
Microsoft: “Teams will automatically remove hidden metadata (EXIF) from images shared in conversations. This privacy protection helps prevent sensitive information such as photo location and device details from being shared without your knowledge”.
Roadmap ID: 542795. Platform(s): Desktop. Due February 2026.
🔭 Branded meeting reactions
Microsoft: “With new branded reactions, organizations can now extend their visual identity directly into meetings. IT admins simply upload custom reaction icons reflecting brand elements or event themes, and these instantly become available for meeting participants. A simple way to create more cohesive, on-brand meeting experiences”.
Roadmap ID: 541830. Platform(s): Desktop. Due February 2026.
🔭 Meeting Notes now available for instant meetings
Microsoft: “Teams meeting Notes, powered by Loop, are now available for instant calls and meetings, like those started from ‘Meet now’ and calls started from chat. Notes are Loop components in Teams meetings and chats that allow end users to co-create and collaborate on their meeting agenda, notes, and action items that can be co-authored and edited by everyone. Since Notes are Loop components, they stay in sync across all the places they have been shared. Once added, meeting notes can also be shared and edited in the Loop app in your web browser”.
Roadmap ID: 541831. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac. Due February 2026.
🔭 Choose Your Enter Key Behavior in Teams Chat
Microsoft: “Microsoft Teams now gives you control over how the Enter key works when composing messages. You can choose whether pressing Enter sends your message or starts a new line—making it easier to write longer messages without accidental sends”.
Roadmap ID: 537279. Platform(s): Desktop, Linux, Mac. Due February 2026.
🚫 Deprecation of Designer bot and Designer banners in Teams
Microsoft: “We’re retiring the Designer bot and Designer banners in Microsoft Teams to streamline image generation capabilities. Moving forward, Copilot in Teams will provide enhanced image generation features, where we will continue to invest and improve functionality”.
Reference: MC1197104. Due mid-January to late February 2026.
🔍 View all Teams updates.
Around Microsoft 365
🔜 Microsoft Planner: Support for Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) content sensitivity labels
Microsoft will add support for Microsoft Information Protection sensitivity labels in Planner at the content level, enabling encryption, restricting unauthorised actions like copying or exporting, and applying visual markings such as watermarks for clear sensitivity awareness. This update will help you prevent data leaks, maintain compliance, and collaborate securely while aligning Planner with Microsoft Purview standards for consistent enforcement of security and data protection policies.
References: MC1191342 and 365 Roadmap ID 523819. Due early to mid-December 2025.
🕔 Microsoft Edge: Microsoft 365 Copilot will support summarisation and contextual grounding
Microsoft Edge for Business will soon support summarisation and contextual grounding with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, allowing you to ask Copilot questions about multiple open browser tabs, Microsoft 365 documents such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and YouTube videos directly from the Edge side pane. This feature will be off by default.
References: MC1187682 and 365 Roadmap ID 496364, 499423, and 499424 (it is worth reading each of these for extra context). Now due late January 2026.
🕔 M365 Copilot rewrite is coming to editable text in Edge
M365 Copilot users will soon be able to use Rewrite to draft and rephrase editable text within the Edge browser. Now due late January 2026. Read more.
🔭 Microsoft Edge: Adding contextual nudges to the Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat icon
Microsoft: “Edge for Business will soon help users quickly take contextual action on their open pages using contextual nudges attached to the Copilot icon in the toolbar”.
Roadmap ID: 537284. Platform(s): Web. Due February 2026.
🔭 Project Manager agent in basic plans
Microsoft: “Project Manager agent will now be available for M365 Copilot licensed users in all Planner plans, including basic plans”.
Roadmap ID: 511820. Platform(s): Desktop, Mac, Web. Due April 2026.
🔍 View all M365 updates.
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