Message center announcements
October 14, 2024 – October 20, 2024
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(Updated) Exchange Online to retire Basic Auth for Client Submission (SMTP AUTH)
MC786329 | October 18 – Exchange Online will retire Basic Auth for SMTP AUTH in September 2025. Users must switch to OAuth or other alternatives. The SMTP AUTH Clients Submission Report in the Exchange admin center will indicate the authentication method used. This change aims to enhance security against vulnerabilities associated with Basic Auth. View more
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Microsoft Defender for Identity: “Alert notifications” feature will retire starting in November 2024
MC912708 | October 17 – The “Alert notifications” feature in Microsoft Defender for Identity will retire in November 2024. Users should use the Incident email notifications in Microsoft Defender XDR to manage notification rules. Existing settings must be transferred to avoid disruption in receiving notifications. View more
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Microsoft Teams: New policy for voice and face enrollment will default to “On” (configure now)
MC912707 | October 17 – The new Microsoft Teams policy, csTeamsAIPolicy, will enable voice and face enrollment by default, enhancing meeting features and requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Available now via PowerShell, it will take effect in mid-January 2025. Organizations should configure settings before this date. Microsoft respects user privacy with these profiles. View more
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(Updated) Project for the Web Email Notification Update
MC908110 | October 17 – Project for the Web is updating email notifications. Groups with 50 or fewer members will receive individual emails when a project or roadmap is shared. Groups with over 50 members will not receive these emails. Rollout starts mid-November 2024, with completion by late November 2024. Organizations should update relevant documentation and processes. View more
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(Updated) URLs for deployment configurations will be retired
MC867651 | October 17 – Direct URLs for Microsoft 365 Apps deployment configurations will be discontinued. Changes start in late September 2024 and end by mid-November 2024. Affected organizations should prepare by downloading configurations for use with the Office Deployment Tool. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Office 365 Connectors feature retires starting August 15, 2024
MC808160 | October 16 – Microsoft Teams’ Office 365 Connectors feature will retire by the end of 2025, with a new URL structure for webhook-based connectors required by January 31, 2025. Guidance for updating URLs is provided, and users are encouraged to transition to the Workflows app in Teams. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft PowerPoint: QuickStarter feature retires starting October 2024
MC884762 | October 16 – The PowerPoint QuickStarter feature will be retired between November 11, 2024, and January 14, 2025, for Office versions 2410 for Windows and 2411 for Mac. Organizations using it should prepare for its discontinuation. View more
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Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for macOS – Planned update to compatibility Office add-ins and ODBC drivers
MC911615 | October 15 – The message details a planned update for Office on macOS, requiring Office add-ins and ODBC drivers to be codesigned with a valid Apple Developer ID. This change, expected in mid-November 2024, may affect workflows using unsigned dynamic libraries. Developers must ensure compliance, and admins should verify and prepare for this update. View more
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Support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 will end October 14, 2025: Upgrade recommended
MC910978 | October 14 – Office 2016 and Office 2019 support will end on October 14, 2025. It is recommended to upgrade to Microsoft 365 E3 or Office LTSC 2024 for continued updates and support. Resources like upgrade guidance, Microsoft FastTrack, and the Office End of Support Tech Community are available to assist with the transition. View more
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Microsoft Teams: New collaborative environment in Microsoft Mesh
MC913444 | October 18 – Microsoft Teams is introducing a new Project Studio environment for immersive meetings and Microsoft Mesh events, optimized for small group collaboration. Rolling out starts in early November 2024, with general availability by late December 2024. No admin action is required for the rollout. View more
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Microsoft Exchange: Improved bulk detection and updated bulk complaint level recommendations
MC913443 | October 18 – Microsoft Exchange is enhancing bulk email filtering with recalibrated bulk sender distribution across different bulk complaint levels (BCL). New BCL recommendations are 7 for default and standard, and 5 for strict policies. Rollout starts mid-October 2024, with completion by mid-November 2024. Admins should adjust BCL settings accordingly. View more
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Microsoft 365 admin center: New “Support Assistant” feature in Help
MC913440 | October 18 – The Microsoft 365 admin center will introduce a new “Support Assistant” feature, starting with a Public Preview in early November 2024, and completing by late May 2025. This AI-driven conversational experience can be toggled on in the Help & Support pane by admins. It will be available to a select group of English locale customers. No admin action is required before the rollout. View more
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Microsoft Viva Engage: Page header enhancements
MC913436 | October 18 – Microsoft Viva Engage is updating its page header to be more streamlined, with relevant content and highlighted key actions. Icon/avatar sizes are reduced to minimize overlap. Rollout begins early November 2024, with new image dimensions provided for community administrators. No admin action required before rollout. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft OneDrive web: View PDFs with sensitivity labels
MC888873 | October 18 – Microsoft OneDrive web will support viewing PDFs with sensitivity labels in read-only mode starting early November 2024. The rollout, updated from October to November, allows only authorized users to view protected PDFs. No admin action is needed before the rollout. Users will see a banner indicating protection and can check view permissions. View more
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Microsoft Teams: Quality of Experience Report v5.0 for Microsoft Power BI
MC912706 | October 17 – The Quality of Experience Report v5.0 for Microsoft Teams Call Quality Dashboard in Power BI is now generally available, featuring new intelligent media quality classifiers and an updated design. IT admins should review the latest documentation and ensure proper setup to utilize the new features. View more
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(Updated) New Microsoft Outlook for web and Windows: Organize and reorder folders
MC901831 | October 17 – The new Microsoft Outlook update allows reordering of folders, automatically importing folder order from classic Outlook. Rollout timelines have been updated: Targeted Release in late November to December 2024, General Availability in January to February 2025, and for GCC, GCC High, DoD in February to March 2025. Users can customize folder order or keep alphabetical default. The update is on by default, with no admin action required before rollout. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft SharePoint eSignature: Coming soon to Canada, UK, and selected European countries
MC800502 | October 17 – Microsoft SharePoint eSignature service is expanding to the UK, Canada, and all EU countries, with rollouts beginning in August 2024 for the UK and Canada, and November 2024 for EU countries. Users in these regions will be able to request and add eSignatures on documents directly via SharePoint online. View more
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Upcoming changes to email service notification recipients
MC912548 | October 17 – Message Center is the primary channel to receive updates about your Microsoft services. Occasionally, we will send email service notifications regarding upcoming changes that require customer action, planned maintenance, or other important announcements. To expand access and help you manage recipients in your organization, we will be implementing a new policy for receiving these transactional, email service notifications. How does this affect me? Previously, email… View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Integrate Chat notification with Meeting RSVP status
MC704035 | October 17 – Microsoft Teams will update to allow users to control chat notifications based on their RSVP status. Declining a meeting will stop notifications and hide chats, while accepting will enable them. Rollout timelines have been updated, starting December 2024 for Targeted Release and completing by February 2025 for DoD. Users should be informed about this new feature. Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 161739 details this update. View more
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Microsoft SharePoint: Add approvals to any document library
MC912181 | October 16 – Microsoft SharePoint will soon enable approvals for document libraries, extending the previous update for list approvals. Rollout begins in November 2024 for Targeted Release and in December 2024 for General Availability. Users can configure approvals in the Automate menu, with in-progress approvals visible in Teams. No admin action is required before the rollout. View more
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Microsoft Viva: Microsoft 365 Copilot in Microsoft Viva Amplify
MC912180 | October 16 – Microsoft 365 Copilot is now available in Viva Amplify to improve authoring with AI. It’s accessible without a Copilot license if you have a Viva Amplify license. Copilot offers rewriting, length adjustment, and tone setting features but is not available on SharePoint or mobile apps. No admin action is needed for the rollout. View more
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Microsoft Teams: Download Transcription and View RTMP-In 708 Captions for Town hall and Webinar
MC912178 | October 16 – Post-rollout, Microsoft Teams town hall and webinar organizers can download transcripts and view RTMP-In 708 captions. The rollout begins early November 2024, with full availability by late November. No admin action is required, but organizations should review configurations and inform users. View more
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Microsoft Copilot in Edge will support page summarization and user prompt suggestions
MC912175 | October 16 – Starting early November 2024, Microsoft Copilot in Edge will reintroduce page summarization and contextual prompt suggestions, available for users signed in with a Microsoft Entra account or using Microsoft 365 Copilot in web mode. Rollout will be automatic, and admins can configure the feature. View more
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Microsoft Outlook: Themes by Copilot will be available starting November 2024
MC912174 | October 16 – Themes by Copilot will be available in Microsoft Outlook from November 2024, allowing users to create themes inspired by global locations or their current surroundings. This feature requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and will be available across various Outlook platforms. Rollout will be automatic with no admin action needed. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Exchange Online: Optional Help file parameter in Microsoft PowerShell will change
MC910986 | October 16 – The message details changes in Microsoft Exchange Online PowerShell V3.7, where the Help file will not load by default, and a new parameter ‘-LoadCmdletHelp’ will be needed to use ‘Get-Help’. This update will be globally available in early November 2024. Users must update documentation accordingly. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Outlook: Review and update work hours and location in the My Day pane
MC877318 | October 16 – Outlook is updating the My Day pane to allow users to view and edit work hours and location, with a revised rollout timeline from mid-November 2024 to early January 2025. This feature is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 412618 and will be on by default. No admin action is required before the rollout. View more
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(Updated) Co-organizer experience updates in Teams Webinars and Townhalls
MC688109 | October 16 – Teams Webinars and Townhalls have updated the co-organizer experience to allow full control over event details, including editing, publishing, and canceling events. The rollout begins in January 2025, with full details on Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 168524. No preparation is needed for this update. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Enhanced Chat contextual info and Search
MC803293 | October 16 – Microsoft Teams is updating to include enhanced chat contextual information and search capabilities. Rollout begins late July 2024 for Targeted Release and will be globally available by mid-January 2025. This feature, which is on by default, allows users to access chat info such as People, Pinned messages, Shared files, and links, and search within chats. No admin action is required for the update. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Participant roster grouping in Teams BYOD meeting rooms
MC892055 | October 16 – The update for Microsoft Teams will group BYOD meeting room participants in the roster, enabling individual identification and meeting intelligence. Rollout begins mid-October 2024, excluding GCC High and DoD organizations, with completion by late November 2024. This feature will be on by default with no admin action needed. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams admin center: Deploy frontline teams with flexible membership
MC883199 | October 16 – The Microsoft Teams admin center will soon allow admins to deploy location-based frontline teams with flexible membership, where team owners can manage frontline workers. Rollout updates have been made, with Targeted Release and General Availability dates shifted to mid and late October 2024, respectively. This feature will be on by default. Admins should review the provided documentation to prepare. Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 410774 is associated with this update. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Refreshed view of all your teams and channels page
MC887377 | October 16 – Microsoft Teams is introducing a refreshed ‘Your teams’ and ‘Manage Team > Channels’ page for better navigation and management of teams and channels. Rollout begins early October 2024 for Targeted Release and mid-October for General Availability, with completion expected by late October 2024. No admin action required. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: New Cross-location shifts in the Shifts app
MC800503 | October 16 – Microsoft Teams is introducing Cross-location Shifts in the Shifts app, enabling frontline managers to offer open shifts across multiple locations. The rollout timeline has been updated, with Targeted Release starting mid-October and General Availability late October 2024. This feature requires an operational hierarchy and matching schedule group codes. No admin action is needed before the rollout. Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 394351. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Disable attendee emails for town halls and webinars
MC783217 | October 16 – Microsoft Teams will soon release a feature to disable attendee email notifications for town halls and webinars, with updated rollout timelines provided. This feature is linked to Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 392826 and requires no admin action prior to rollout. Organizations can prepare by informing users and updating documentation. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: New skin tone settings and reactions
MC809602 | October 16 – Microsoft Teams is introducing new skin tone settings and reactions, allowing users to personalize emojis and reactions. Rollout begins mid-October 2024, with completion expected by late November 2024. Users can adjust settings in Teams app or emoji menu, with no admin action required. Roadmap ID: 323766. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Purview | Information Protection: Message Recall for encrypted emails in Microsoft Outlook
MC882266 | October 16 – Microsoft Purview’s Information Protection will soon integrate Advanced Message Encryption with Message Recall in Outlook, allowing licensed users to recall encrypted emails. Rollout begins early October 2024, completing by mid-November. No admin action needed; feature enabled by default for eligible licenses. Roadmap ID 413431. View more
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Microsoft Purview – Information about schema updates for Microsoft Power Apps activities
MC912045 | October 16 – The Microsoft Purview compliance portal is being updated to introduce a new schema to track Power Apps and Power Platform Connector activities. Beginning in October 2024, both activities will start being logged under the PowerPlatformAdministratorActivity activity type. How does this affect me? Power Apps and Power Platform Connector activities will continue to be logged under both the new and current activity types until December 2024. Beginning in January 2025, these… View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Lists app: New drag and drop feature
MC823294 | October 16 – The Microsoft Lists app is introducing a drag and drop feature to reorder list items, with a rollout starting in August 2024 and completing by late October 2024. This feature will be available by default to all users. No admin action is required for the update. View more
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Power Automate – Use your own encryption key for protecting data at-rest for existing environments with flows
MC911638 | October 16 – We are announcing the ability to use your own encryption key for encrypting data at-rest for existing environments with flows in Power Automate. This will enable you to meet your data and privacy policy guidelines. This feature will reach general availability on November 15, 2024.How does this affect me?You will be able to use your own encryption key from your Azure Key Vault to encrypt an environment that already has running Power Automate flows. Previously, only… View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva: Pulse admins can manage Pulse notifications
MC892053 | October 15 – Microsoft Viva: Pulse admins will soon manage notification settings, choosing delivery methods for users’ Pulse surveys. Rollout begins late October and completes by late November 2024. This feature is on by default and is associated with Roadmap ID 408163. Admins should prepare by installing the Viva Pulse Teams app. View more
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Microsoft Purview | Data Loss Prevention: Network share coverage and exclusion support on Mac endpoints
MC911624 | October 15 – Microsoft 365 is introducing a Data Loss Prevention feature for Mac endpoints, protecting sensitive data on network shares and mapped drives. Public Preview starts early February 2025, with General Availability in early March 2025. Organizations can configure DLP policies and exclusions via Microsoft Purview. View more
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New Outlook for Windows: Multi-account support for add-Ins and apps
MC911623 | October 15 – New Outlook for Windows will soon support apps and add-ins for all accounts, with a dynamic interface reflecting the active account. Rollouts start late October 2024 for Targeted Release and late November 2024 for General Availability. No admin action is required before the rollout. View more
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Microsoft SharePoint: Export content (including Microsoft Loop) stored in SharePoint Embedded (SPE) containers
MC911622 | October 15 – Microsoft SharePoint Online will soon allow admins to export content from SharePoint Embedded containers, including Microsoft Loop, using third-party tools with guest app permissions. Rollout begins mid-October 2024, with full availability expected by late October 2024. This update requires no admin action before rollout. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Streamlined process for installing Teams apps
MC877316 | October 15 – The message details an upcoming Microsoft Teams update introducing a more intuitive app installation process, reducing steps and improving user engagement. Rollout begins mid-October 2024 for Targeted Release and late October for General Availability, with completion expected by early to mid-November. The update is automatic and requires no action from admins. View more
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General Availability of Agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot
MC911617 | October 15 – Microsoft 365 Copilot agents are now available, with full deployment expected by the end of November. Users can create agents in BizChat or Teams, and admins manage them via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Assign a Copilot license to users to prepare. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for web: Enhanced File menu and easier file renaming
MC803014 | October 15 – Microsoft 365 Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for web will have an enhanced File menu and more efficient file renaming. Rollout started in mid-May 2024, with full availability expected by late November 2024. The update addresses user feedback for ease of use and clarity in autosaving. No admin action is needed for the rollout. View more
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(Updated) New Microsoft Outlook for Windows: Receive reminders when offline
MC834186 | October 15 – The new Microsoft Outlook for Windows update, rolling out from early November to early December 2024, will allow users to receive, snooze, and dismiss reminders while offline. Users need to enable Reminders in Settings to use this feature, which is on by default. No admin action is required before the rollout. View more
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(Updated) Universal Print: Pull Print queues
MC896708 | October 15 – The updated Universal Print feature introduces Pull Print queues, allowing users to print to any registered printer via virtual queues. It’s paired with Secure release with QR code, with more options to come. Rollout begins late November 2024, with full availability by late February 2025. No impact is expected on current Universal Print usage. Admins should prepare by setting up test printers and installing the Microsoft 365 app. Associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 395937. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 apps: Improved resharing experience
MC805212 | October 15 – Microsoft 365 apps are introducing an improved resharing experience. Users can now copy view-only links directly from the Share dialog, and request file sharing from the owner if needed. Rollout begins mid-September 2024, with general availability by late October 2024. No admin action is required for this update. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Outlook: Add shared folders to Favorites
MC799635 | October 15 – Microsoft Outlook will soon allow users to add shared folders to Favorites. Rollout for the new feature begins in November 2024 for Targeted Release and December 2024 for General Availability, with completion expected by January 2025. This update does not affect Outlook for Mac or mobile devices. No admin action is required for the rollout. View more
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(Updated) CAPTCHA Verification for Anonymous Meeting Participants
MC875061 | October 15 – Microsoft Teams is introducing CAPTCHA verification for anonymous meeting participants, with rollout starting late October 2024 and completion by mid-November 2024. Tenant Admins must enable this feature in the Teams Admin Center. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365: Automatic summary of documents on file-open in Word
MC866452 | October 15 – Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 will now automatically generate a document summary when opening a file in Word. Rollout begins late August 2024 and completes by late November 2024. A new UI will show the summary, which users can hide. No admin action is required for this update. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: New features to improve user app adoption
MC898393 | October 15 – Microsoft Teams is introducing two new features to enhance app discovery and adoption, with a rollout timeline updated to late October through late November 2024. These features include a dedicated section for organization-added apps and personalized app recommendations based on user collaboration. Rollout requires no admin action but reviewing preinstalled apps is advised. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Word: Copilot will generate an automatic summary when a file opens
MC871010 | October 15 – Microsoft Word will soon feature Copilot summarizing documents upon opening. This requires a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license and applies to Word for Windows and Mac. Rollout begins late August 2024, with completion by late November 2024. No admin action is needed for the update. View more
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva: Viva Amplify – Copy a publication within a campaign
MC868912 | October 15 – Microsoft Viva introduces a ‘Save copy’ button for Amplify users to easily copy publications within a campaign, streamlining content reuse. Rollout begins late October 2024, completing by late November. Note: Old editor publications will reset content when copied; mobile applications are not included in this update. Roadmap ID 409234. View more
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Preview new Graph connectors for Microsoft 365 Copilot
MC906499 | October 15 – Microsoft 365 Copilot introduces an early preview of new Graph connectors, including GitHub, Google Drive, and others, with limited availability starting from October 2024. Sign-ups for the preview are open via a form or email. These connectors allow indexing of third-party content, enhancing search capabilities across Microsoft Search clients. View more
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Microsoft Purview AI Hub: Enhancements to Overview, Recommendations, Reports, and Policies pages
MC910998 | October 14 – The Microsoft Purview AI Hub will soon be updated with new sections for Overview, Recommendations, Reports, and Policies, as well as an improved Activity Explorer. These changes will start rolling out in mid-October 2024 and are associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 415451. The update will be on by default with no admin action required. View more
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What’s new in Microsoft Entra – September 2024
MC910988 | October 14 – The September 2024 Microsoft Entra update includes general availability releases, retirement of Azure AD Graph, security enhancements for Apple devices, MFA enforcement, and more. Details are communicated via blog, email, and release notes, organized by product for easy reference. View more
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Microsoft Project for web: Roadmap admin toggle | Microsoft Planner: New Portfolios feature
MC910987 | October 14 – Microsoft is introducing a new Portfolios feature in Planner for Premium license holders, which includes a list of plans and a Roadmap. Admins can enable/disable this feature and the existing Roadmap in Project for the web via the Microsoft 365 admin center. Rollouts begin late October 2024, with full availability in mid-November 2024. The features are enabled by default. View more
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Manage web searches in Copilot separately from optional connected experiences with new policy
MC910984 | October 14 – In November 2024, Microsoft will introduce the “Allow web search in Copilot” policy, enabling separate management of web searches in Microsoft 365 Copilot from other optional connected experiences. This policy allows for improved Copilot responses using Bing search service and can be configured at the user/group level. View more
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Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Edge links on MacOS will seamlessly open
MC910981 | October 14 – Microsoft Teams on MacOS will soon open Microsoft Edge links directly, matching the authenticated profile for a seamless browsing experience. This feature, part of Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 414521, will start rolling out in late October 2024 and complete by late November 2024. Admins can set Edge as the default browser in Teams via policy. No action is required before the rollout. View more
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Microsoft SharePoint eSignature: Adobe Acrobat Sign and Docusign integration will roll out globally
MC910979 | October 14 – The message details the global rollout of Microsoft SharePoint eSignature integration with Adobe Acrobat Sign and Docusign, eliminating the need for native SharePoint eSignature activation. It will begin in early November 2024 and complete by mid-November. Admins must enable this feature in the Microsoft admin center. The rollout is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 421194. View more
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Microsoft Teams: Brand impersonation protection for Teams Chat
MC910976 | October 14 – Microsoft Teams is introducing a new security feature to alert users of potential brand impersonation in Teams Chat, particularly during initial contact from external domains. This feature will be automatically enabled, with rollout phases starting late October 2024 for Targeted Release and mid-November 2024 for General Availability. No admin configuration is needed, and users will be prompted with high-risk warnings when impersonation is detected. View more
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(Updated) Classic Microsoft Teams: Uninstallation resuming for Windows only
MC806095 | October 14 – Automatic uninstallation of classic Microsoft Teams for Windows will resume on October 21, 2024, affecting non-VDI and certain VDI environments. No action is required from users; this is for information only. For manual uninstallation, refer to the provided link. Non-persistent VDI environments are not affected. View more
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Power Platform – Move data across regions feature will be made available in more regions
MC910858 | October 14 – Due to recent infrastructure updates, some Copilot features in environments based in Australia, India, and the United Kingdom may now process data outside of those regions. Please refer to this documentation for more information about which regions this data is processed in: Regions involved with copilots and generative AI features.As a result, we are re-introducing the Move Data Across Regions setting in the Power Platform admin… View more
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