Message center announcements
February 9, 2026 – February 15, 2026
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(Updated) Microsoft Defender Antivirus: Change to exclusion storage when using MDE security settings management
MC1227621 | February 13 – Starting March 2026, Microsoft Defender Antivirus with MDE security settings will stop storing readable exclusions in the local registry. Organizations must use PowerShell cmdlets like Get-MpPreference to retrieve settings. Registry-based monitoring will no longer work; update scripts and notify teams accordingly.
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(Updated) Retirement of several Microsoft Planner features in early 2026 as part of a Planner update
MC1193421 | February 13 – In early 2026, Microsoft Planner will roll out major updates introducing task chats with rich text and @mentions, goals for basic plans, and a project manager agent. Several features, including the old comments experience, whiteboard tab for premium plans, Loop Planner component, Viva Goals integration, and iCalendar feed, will be retired. Some features will be temporarily unavailable, with no admin action required.
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Update PowerPoint to maintain Captions
MC1231437 | February 12 – Microsoft will upgrade the backend service for Captions & Subtitles in PowerPoint by September 2026. Users with versions older than 16.0.19426.20218 (Windows) or 16.103.1207.4 (macOS) will lose access. Organizations should update PowerPoint to maintain this feature without changing settings.
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SharePoint Designer 2013 reaches end of support on July 14, 2026
MC1230891 | February 11 – SharePoint Designer 2013 will reach end of support on July 14, 2026, with no extensions offered. Organizations must migrate workflows to supported tools like Power Automate using the SharePoint Migration Tool before this date, as Microsoft will stop providing updates or fixes after retirement.
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Outlook for Windows report retirement in the Exchange admin center
MC1230889 | February 11 – The Outlook for Windows Usage Report in the Exchange admin center will be retired between mid-April and mid-May 2026. Admins must use the Microsoft 365 admin center for Outlook usage insights. No impact on Outlook functionality; no admin action needed, but update related documentation.
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Teams on the web – Browser Update Required by May 15, 2026
MC1230888 | February 11 – Starting May 15, 2026, Microsoft Teams on the web will require browsers compliant with ECMAScript 2022. Unsupported browsers will show reminders until then, after which access will be blocked. Desktop and mobile clients are unaffected. Organizations should update browsers and inform users to ensure compliance.
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(Updated) Remove toggle for Calendar in Teams
MC1129730 | February 11 – The new Microsoft Teams calendar experience will replace the legacy calendar, removing the toggle to switch between them. Deployment is set worldwide from mid-January to late February 2026, excluding GCC, GCCH, DoD, USSec, and USNat for now. No admin action is needed; inform users accordingly.
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Context IQ retirement in the new Outlook and Outlook on the web
MC1230455 | February 10 – Context IQ will be retired in the new Outlook and Outlook on the web starting March 16, 2026, removing “/” suggestions for inserting files. Users can still attach files via paste, drag-and-drop, or Insert > Attach file. No admin action is needed; update training accordingly.
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Retirement of “Include attachments” and “Include external networks” options for data export in Viva Engage Admin Center
MC1230453 | February 10 – The “Include attachments” and “Include external networks” options in Viva Engage admin center data exports will be retired on March 13, 2026. Exports will include SharePoint file links instead of attachments, and admins must export data separately from each external network by signing in individually.
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SharePoint Pages: Retirement of Web Search (Bing) image pivot
MC1230452 | February 10 – The Web Search (Bing) image pivot in SharePoint page image picker will be retired between March and April 2026 due to the Bing Search API retirement. Authors will lose web image search but retain Stock images, uploads, and site assets. No admin action is needed; inform users accordingly.
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Windows 11, version 26H1 coming to select new devices in early 2026
MC1230371 | February 10 – Windows 11, version 26H1 is a hardware‑optimized release designed to enable next‑generation silicon developed in partnership with device manufacturers and silicon partners. Thisreleasewill be available exclusively as a preinstalled experience onselectnew devices beginning in early 2026. It is not intended as afeature updatefor existing Windows 11 devices and will not be offered through Windows Update.When will this…
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Secure Boot certificate updates: actions required ahead of June 2026 expiration
MC1230373 | February 10 – Secure Boot is a foundational Windows security feature that runs at startup, before Windows load, and helps ensure that only trusted, digitally signed software can execute. After more than 15 years of continuous service, the original Secure Boot certificates are reaching the end of their planned lifecycle and begin expiring in late June 2026.To learn more about Microsoft’s effort to update these certificates, see the blog post View more
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The February 2026 Windows security update is now available
MC1230372 | February 10 – The February 2026 security update is now available for all supported versions of Windows. We recommend that you install these updates promptly. For more information about the contents of this update, see the release notes, which are easily accessible from theWindows 11update history page. To learn more about the different types of monthly quality updates, see View more
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(Updated) Realtime voice is now available in M365 Copilot Chat and M365 Copilot
MC1085684 | February 9 – Realtime voice chat is now available in Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling hands-free, natural interaction. Rolling out worldwide from September 2025 to March 2026, the voice chat icon appears by default without admin setup. Users can brainstorm, search, and redirect conversations via voice across platforms.
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What’s new in the Microsoft Intune Service Update for January 2026
MC1232098 | February 14 – The Microsoft Intune service has been updated to the January 2026 build. The release number will appear in the Tenant Status blade. Users should review the latest features on the What’s New page and related blogs to prepare for changes and new capabilities.
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Microsoft Intune In Development for February 2026 is now available
MC1232097 | February 14 – Microsoft Intune In Development for February 2026 is available with an updated features list to aid organizational readiness. IT staff should review upcoming changes, inform helpdesk, and update user guidance as needed before these features roll out in the next month or later releases.
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Microsoft Teams: Admin setting for simpler meeting passcodes (numeric‑only)
MC1232096 | February 14 – Microsoft Teams will offer an admin setting to enable simpler 8-digit numeric-only meeting passcodes, off by default and requiring admin opt-in. This reduces passcode complexity but lowers cryptographic strength. The rollout begins March 2026, affecting only new meetings, with existing security controls unchanged.
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(Updated) Microsoft Purview | Information Protection: Sensitivity label grouping modernization
MC1111778 | February 13 – Microsoft Purview is modernizing sensitivity labels by simplifying them into labels and label groupings for easier management. Manual migration with a wizard is available for some tenants; others will be auto-migrated by mid-March 2026. Users won’t notice changes, and admins can adjust labels post-migration. No action is required before rollout.
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(Updated) Microsoft OneDrive for Business: Agents in OneDrive
MC1181765 | February 13 – Agents in OneDrive let users group files for AI-powered project assistance, enabling questions, summaries, and collaboration. Saved as .agent files, they integrate with Microsoft 365 Copilot and are available to licensed users worldwide. No admin action is needed; users can create, edit, and share agents to improve efficiency.
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(Updated) App names hidden in app bar for a cleaner, more focused experience
MC1226220 | February 13 – Microsoft Teams will hide app names in the app bar by default starting mid-March 2026 for a cleaner look, showing only icons. Users can re-enable app names via Settings. This affects all commercial tenants, requires no admin changes, and maintains existing policies and app availability.
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(Updated) Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Enable users to report suspicious Teams messages in Plan 1
MC1219788 | February 13 – Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 will enable users to report suspicious Teams messages as security risks or false positives starting late February 2026. Reports appear in the Defender portal, the feature is opt-in, and admins can configure settings to enhance phishing and malware detection in Teams.
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(Updated) Schedule meetings directly in Copilot Chat
MC1189914 | February 13 – Microsoft 365 Copilot now allows scheduling meetings directly within Copilot chat, including finding times, booking rooms, drafting agendas, and sending invites. The feature is available worldwide, English-only, enabled by default, requires no admin action, and supports existing calendar policies. Localization is planned for Q2 2026.
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(Updated) Microsoft Office for the web: Apply sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions
MC1208688 | February 13 – Microsoft 365 Office for the web will support applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint starting mid-March 2026. This aligns with desktop app permissions dialogs, requires no admin changes, and enhances document access control without compliance impacts.
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Dynamics 365 Project Operations – Public preview of the corrections for intercompany project transactions feature
MC1231506 | February 13 – We are announcing the ability to adjust or reverse project timesheets in Dynamics 365 Project Operations. This feature will be made available for public preview on March 13, 2026.How does this affect me?This feature gives users insights into potential pricing concerns and the ability to enable a streamlined experience to correct intercompany timesheets. These corrections result in a full reversal and the ability to repost timesheets with the required change or updated…
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(Updated) Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint agents: A new Copilot experience for content creation
MC1187799 | February 12 – Microsoft 365 Copilot introduces Word, Excel, and PowerPoint agents to assist with content creation via multi-turn chat, rolling out from February 9 to end of February 2026. Available to licensed users with Anthropic enabled, these agents help refine documents, analyze data, and generate presentations interactively.
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Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales – Engage prospects faster with Sales Agent-enriched leads
MC1231406 | February 12 – We are announcing the ability to engage prospects faster with Sales Agent-enriched leads in Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales. This feature will reach general availability on February 27, 2026.How does this affect me?This feature enables you to utilize Sales Agents to research your leads and generate personalized outreach emails using the gathered insights.Sales Agent key features include:Performing research for all prospects in your CRM (either Salesforce or…
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Navigation refresh in the M365 Copilot app
MC1187677 | February 12 – The Microsoft 365 Copilot app will have a simplified, flattened navigation menu with logically grouped features. Rollout starts mid-November 2025 for targeted release and December 2025 for general availability, completing by February 2026. No admin action is needed.
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(Updated) Migration update for Office 365 connectors retirement in Teams – webhook URL support
MC1181996 | February 12 – The Office 365 Connectors retirement migration deadline in Teams is extended to March 31, 2026. By December 2025, Workflows webhooks will support messageCard payloads and posting to shared/private channels. Organizations should plan their transition accordingly. No compliance issues identified.
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Windows Office Hours: February 19, 2026
MC1231206 | February 12 – If you are an IT admin with questions about managing and updating Windows, we want to help. Every third Thursday of the month, we host a live chat-based event on the Tech Community called Windows Office Hours. Members of the Windows, MicrosoftIntune, Windows Autopilot, Windows Autopatch, and Windows 365 engineering teams will be standing by to answer your questions. We also have experts from FastTrack, the Customer Acceleration Team, and Microsoft public sector…
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Researcher agent output formats
MC1224569 | February 12 – Microsoft 365 Copilot’s Researcher Agent now supports exporting reports as infographics and improved Word and Pages formats. Rolling out worldwide from late February to early April 2026, this default-enabled feature enhances report sharing and requires no admin action.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Distinguish invites among Attendee, Presenter, and Co-organizer emails
MC1009930 | February 12 – Microsoft Teams will separate event invite emails by participant roles—attendee, presenter, and co-organizer—starting mid-April 2026. Organizers and presenters receive distinct invites, aiding town hall management. Rollout is automatic; admins should inform users and update documentation accordingly.
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Dynamics 365 Project Operations – Support for line discounts and fees in resource-based deployments
MC1231151 | February 12 – We are announcing support for line discounts and fees in resource-based deployments in Dynamics 365 Project Operations. This feature will reach general availability on March 12, 2026. How does this affect me? This feature enables users to perform discount and fee calculations for project quotations, contracts, and invoices. What action do I need to take? This message is for awareness, and no action is required. If you would like more…
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Dynamics 365 Contact Center – Set a custom voice for voice agents
MC1231135 | February 12 – We are announcing the ability to set a custom voice for voice agents in Dynamics 365 Contact Center. This feature will reach general availability on February 27, 2026. How does this affect me? With this feature, you can set a custom voice for your voice agents. After gaining approval through Microsoft’s Responsible AI practices and building a custom voice model, you can then integrate with Dynamics 365 Contact…
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(Updated) Open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Files in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
MC1225199 | February 11 – Starting late February 2026, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files cited in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat (web) will open directly within the chat instead of a new tab. This change requires a Copilot license, is enabled by default, needs no admin action, and does not affect other Copilot apps.
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Dynamics 365 Project Operations – Enable expense delegates to create cash advance requests
MC1230897 | February 11 – We are announcing the ability to enable expense delegates to create cash advance requests in Dynamics 365 Project Operations. This feature will reach general availability on March 13, 2026.How does this affect me?This feature enables expense delegates to create and submit cash advance requests for other users. This feature can be turned on or off to meet the needs of your environment.What action do I need to take? This message is for awareness, and no…
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Dynamics 365 Project Operations – Modern architecture for existing legal entities with additional transactions support
MC1230895 | February 11 – We are announcing the ability to use the modern architecture for Project Operations Integrated with ERP scenarios on the Microsoft Dataverse platform in Dynamics 365 Project Operations. This feature will reach general availability on March 13, 2026.How does this affect me?The following changes will be made when this feature is enabled:Admins can use modern architecture for existing legal entities with additional transaction support, including project procurement…
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Microsoft 365 Copilot: Updated handling of entity inserts in the Copilot Chat input box
MC1230892 | February 11 – Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat will update entity inserts from Add Work Content so entity names no longer appear as text in the input box, enabling cleaner prompts. This change rolls out worldwide from mid to late February 2026, is enabled by default, and requires no admin action.
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Dynamics 365 Project Operations – Calculate revenue recognition for stand-alone selling price contract lines
MC1230796 | February 11 – We are announcing the ability to calculate revenue recognition for stand-alone selling price contract lines in Dynamics 365 Project Operations. This feature will reach general availability on March 13, 2026. How does this affect me? This feature enables users to set the contract line value on the project’s contract lines. The system calculates revenue recognition based on the contract line value amount.In revenue recognition, fixed-price billing arrangements are…
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Select multiple messages to forward
MC1199767 | February 11 – Microsoft Teams will introduce Multi-Select Forward, allowing users to select and forward up to five messages together in one bundled message. Rolling out from January to February 2026 across desktop, Mac, and web, this feature is on by default, requires no admin action, and improves message sharing and collaboration.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Digital signage in Teams Rooms on Android
MC1227077 | February 11 – Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android will gain digital signage capabilities by mid-April 2026, allowing dynamic content display when rooms are idle. Admins can configure tenant-wide or room-specific signage via the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal, supporting select third-party partners and custom HTTPS URLs without authentication.
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Updates available for Microsoft 365 Apps for all channels
MC1230587 | February 11 – We’ve released updates to the following update channels for Microsoft 365 Apps: Current Channel Monthly Enterprise Channel Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel
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Microsoft Teams: Voice tethering
MC1230459 | February 10 – Voice tethering in Microsoft Teams attributes captions, transcripts, and meeting intelligence to Deaf or hard-of-hearing participants instead of their sign language interpreters, improving accuracy and accountability. It rolls out worldwide from mid-March to mid-April 2026, is on by default, and requires no admin action.
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Microsoft 365 apps for Mac suite installer now includes the Microsoft 365 Copilot app
MC1230456 | February 10 – Starting mid-February 2026, the Microsoft 365 apps for Mac suite installer will include a shim for the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, enabling users to download the full Copilot app easily. Existing installations remain unaffected; organizations must ensure deployment includes the shim and meets macOS 14.0 requirements.
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Plan for Change: Improving Intune reporting accuracy
MC1230448 | February 10 – Starting late February 2026, Intune will exclude devices inactive for 12+ months from reports to improve accuracy. This may reduce reported device counts but reflects active devices only. No action is needed; ensure devices check in to remain in reports.
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(Update) Updated SharePoint document library user experience
MC1179157 | February 10 – Microsoft is refreshing SharePoint document libraries to improve usability with a simplified command bar, enhanced breadcrumb navigation, more visible custom views, and filter pills. Updates include combined actions, clearer folder context, and better command bar formatting, rolling out from November 2025 to February 2026 without impacting existing customizations.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Copilot chats in search results
MC1189002 | February 10 – Microsoft 365 Copilot will integrate historical Copilot chats into Microsoft Search, allowing users to retrieve past interactions from notebooks, agents, and the main chat via a new “Copilot Chats” data source. This feature requires a Copilot license and rolls out from November 2025 to February 2026.
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Dynamics 365 Project Operations – Performance improvements to adjustments for project accountants
MC1230065 | February 10 – As part of our 10.0.46 and 10.0.47 releases, we have applied performance improvements to the adjustment process in Dynamics 365 Project Operations. These changes help project accountants start their next task with fewer delays after making adjustments. These performance improvements will be available to all customers by March 13, 2026.How does this affect me?Project accountants will experience faster transitions between tasks after adjustments, with fewer delays in starting…
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Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Enhancing verbatim responses for Copilot ask a question
MC1230041 | February 10 – We are announcing the ability to use enhanced verbatim responses for Microsoft Copilot ask a question in Dynamics 365 – Customer Service. This feature will reach general availability on February 28, 2026. How does this affect me?Enhanced verbatim responses allow you to tag knowledge articles to indicate to your agent that the content should be presented in its entirety when sent to customer service representatives, providing a direct content viewing experience in ask a…
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva: Copilot Dashboard – Broader access to M365 Copilot Chat insights
MC1191915 | February 9 – Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Adoption Metrics will roll out mid-February 2026 to tenants with at least one Copilot license, enabling default insights on usage trends, adoption by group, retention, and app-level breakdowns. Admins can manage access and exclusions via Viva Feature Access Management. No action required to enable.
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Updated Filter Pane in SharePoint Document Libraries and Lists
MC1229956 | February 9 – The SharePoint Document Libraries and Lists filter pane will update by February-March 2026, offering faster performance, expandable/collapsible sections, and displaying all filterable fields without pin/remove options. No admin action is needed; update documentation and inform support staff accordingly.
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Introducing Surveys Agent and Copilot Chat in Microsoft Forms
MC1229954 | February 9 – Microsoft Forms will integrate Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Surveys Agent by March 2026, providing AI-driven form creation, editing, and analysis tools for licensed users. Features include AI suggestions, invitation drafting, and data insights, enabled by default with existing Copilot policies and no required admin action.
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(Updated) Introducing New Paid Extended Service Term (EST)
MC1216259 | February 9 – Microsoft introduces a paid Extended Service Term (EST) starting February 9, 2026, replacing the automatic grace period. At subscription end, customers can renew on time, pay for a monthly EST with prorated charges and 3% higher rates, or cancel with data retained for 90 days. Applies to Microsoft Customer Agreement subscriptions.
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(Updated) Microsoft SharePoint: Update to News web part “See all” experience
MC1182713 | February 9 – The SharePoint News web part “See All” experience is refreshed with a modern mosaic layout and AI-powered features requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Rollout begins November 2025, completing by mid-March 2026 worldwide. No admin action is needed; core functionality remains unchanged.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: New ways to include files and emails in prompts
MC1139489 | February 9 – Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now allows users to include files and emails in prompts by typing ‘/’ in Outlook, enhancing prompt relevance and usability. Email access rollout is from October 2025 to March 2026. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: New ways to include files and emails as part of prompts in chat web scope
MC1139488 | February 9 – Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing ‘/’ in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook Copilot Chat. Rollout starts October 2025, completing by March 2026, with no admin action required.
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Dynamics 365 Customer Service – Custom instructions for Copilot ask a question
MC1229769 | February 9 – We are announcing the ability to use custom instructions for Microsoft Copilot ask a question in Dynamics 365 – Customer Service. This feature will reach general availability on February 28, 2026.How does this affect me?This feature allows you to define persistent preferences that guide how your Copilot agents respond across conversations. Instead of adapting on every prompt, you can specify upfront how you want your agent to behave with ask a question. This includes…
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