Microsoft releases hundreds of updates to Microsoft 365 every year. Most announcements are written for IT admins, buried in the Message Centre, or wrapped in marketing speak. This page is the plain English answer to “what’s new in Microsoft 365?” – the updates that actually matter to the people using these tools every day, refreshed every month.
I’m Mark Thompson, a Microsoft 365 adoption consultant. I read the roadmap, the Message Centre and the blogs so you don’t have to, and I’ve been doing it for years – nearly 1,000 updates covered and counting.
Last updated: June 2026. Once each month’s full roundup is published, this page is refreshed with the previous month’s highlights – so what you see below is always the most recent complete month.
The biggest Microsoft 365 updates from the past month
These are the headline updates from May 2026, hand-picked from the full May roundup – which covers everything announced, released and delayed, app by app.
Microsoft Copilot
A simpler, chat-centred Microsoft 365 Copilot app. The web and desktop app is getting cleaner chat layouts, streamlined navigation with a pinned section and Tasks tab, and a single Work IQ grounding toggle. Opt-in from June, on by default from July. Full update →
New output formats for the Researcher agent. Researcher in Microsoft 365 Copilot is gaining PowerPoint, PDF, infographic and audio overview outputs. Full update →
Microsoft Teams
Simpler meeting controls and a smarter share panel. A coordinated refresh of the in-meeting experience that makes core actions easier to find and sharing less accident-prone. Full update →
New Muted and Meeting chat sections. Two new system sections that group those conversations so your chat list stays manageable. Full update →
SharePoint
Custom skills for Copilot in SharePoint. Teach the AI to carry out common business tasks – like reviewing compliance documents – in a consistent, repeatable way, no code needed. Full update →
‘AI in SharePoint’ becomes ‘Copilot in SharePoint’. The rename lands ahead of a wider rollout of the assistant across sites, pages, libraries and lists. Full update →
A new Filmstrip layout for the News web part. A large, visually prominent format to make news posts easier to spot. Full update →
Outlook
User-initiated Copilot insights in classic Outlook for Windows. Highlight text in an email and prompt Copilot for contextual insights, on your terms. Full update →
PowerPoint, Word and Excel
Copilot’s ‘Review this presentation’ skill. Available now: detailed recommendations to improve a deck’s structure, clarity and storytelling. Full update →
The Flux.2 Flex image model comes to PowerPoint Copilot. An extra choice in the image model picker, optimised for high-quality visuals with better text and layout rendering. Full update →
Want the lot – including everything delayed, renamed or retired? Read the full May 2026 roundup →
Prefer to watch? The May roundup video covers all of this in under 30 minutes.
Want every update as it lands? Get the monthly roundup in your inbox – free.
What’s new in Microsoft 365, month by month
Each month’s full roundup lives in its own post, covering everything announced, released and delayed:
- What’s new in Microsoft 365 and Copilot? April 2026 – including Copilot Updates to memory and personalisation.
- What’s new in Microsoft 365 and Copilot? March 2026 – including a new experience when minimising the Teams meeting window.
- What’s new in Microsoft 365 and Copilot? February 2026 – including grounding your Copilot prompts in MS Lists.
Browse the full archive of Microsoft 365 roundups →
See these updates live, every month
I run a free, live, 60-minute webinar every month with The Inform Team, walking through what’s new in Microsoft 365 – and it’s more fun than it sounds. Save your seat →
Frequently asked questions
How often does Microsoft update Microsoft 365?
Constantly – hundreds of features ship every year across Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook and the rest of the suite. Microsoft announces them through the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the Message Centre and various official blogs. This page distils each month’s announcements into the ones that matter for everyday users.
Where does Microsoft announce new Microsoft 365 features?
Mainly the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the admin Message Centre, and Microsoft’s product blogs. The catch: the Message Centre is only visible to IT admins, and much of it is written for them too. That’s the gap this site exists to fill.
What’s the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365?
Microsoft 365 is the current name for the subscription that includes the Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) plus Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive and more. Office 365 was the previous branding, and you’ll still hear both used interchangeably.
How do I know which updates my organisation will get, and when?
Rollout dates vary by licence, release ring and region – a feature can reach one organisation months before another. Each update covered on this site includes the rollout details Microsoft has published, and your IT team can confirm timing for your tenant.
