Microsoft Purview | eDiscovery Content Search case changes

MC1216266 | January 9 – Starting February 16, 2026, Microsoft Purview eDiscovery Content Search cases will no longer support review sets or case-level data sources. Users needing advanced review features should use dedicated eDiscovery cases. Existing searches and exports remain unaffected; no action is needed if only searching and exporting.
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Microsoft Teams: Browser selection for links in Teams Mobile

MC1216263 | January 9 – Starting February 2026, Teams Mobile on Android and iOS will prompt users to choose a browser for non-Office and PDF links, encouraging Microsoft Edge use with SSO and enhanced security. The feature is enabled by default, configurable via PowerShell, and allows users to set their preferred browser in app settings.
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(Updated) Microsoft Lens app will retire

MC1131064 | January 9 – The Microsoft Lens app for iOS and Android will be removed from stores on February 9, 2026, and scanning will stop on March 9, 2026. Users should switch to OneDrive’s scan feature. No admin action is needed; notify users accordingly.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Private chat for organizers and presenters in structured meetings, webinars, and town halls

MC1188222 | January 8 – Microsoft Teams will introduce a private chat for organizers, co-organizers, and presenters in structured meetings, webinars, and town halls, unifying backroom chat behavior across town halls. Rollout begins March 2026, affecting meeting policies and requiring admin review and communication.
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Microsoft 365 admin center multifactor authentication enforcement

MC1215070 | January 8 – Starting February 9, 2026, Microsoft will enforce mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users signing into the Microsoft 365 admin center to enhance security. Admins should set up MFA now to avoid access issues; users must verify or add their MFA methods.
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Microsoft Purview DLM: Retirement of SharePoint online information management and in-place records management features

MC1211579 | January 7 – Starting April 2026, SharePoint Online will retire Information Management Policies, In-Place Records Management, and deletion-only document policies. Organizations should migrate to Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management and Purview Records Management, planning and auditing current policies before the retirement. No automatic migration will occur.
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Microsoft SharePoint: Retirement of IDCRL authentication protocol and enforcement of OpenID Connect and OAuth protocols

MC1184649 | January 6 – Microsoft is retiring the legacy IDCRL authentication protocol in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business by January 31, 2026, enforcing modern OpenID Connect and OAuth protocols. Legacy authentication will be blocked by default, with temporary re-enablement via PowerShell until April 30, 2026, and permanent retirement from May 1, 2026. Organizations should migrate to modern authentication promptly.
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Retirement of the Sway Windows Desktop App on June 1, 2026

MC1213784 | January 6 – The Sway Windows desktop app will be retired on June 1, 2026. Users should transition to the web version at sway.cloud.microsoft, which retains all features and content. Admins should update documentation and inform helpdesk staff; no admin changes or compliance issues are expected.
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(Updated) SharePoint Framework domain isolated web parts retirement

MC792601 | January 5 – SharePoint Framework domain isolated web parts will be disabled for new tenants starting April 2, 2025, and fully retired for all tenants by April 2, 2026. Organizations must update these web parts to regular ones before then, as they will stop functioning and show errors after retirement.
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(Updated) SharePoint Add-In retirement in Microsoft 365

MC693865 | January 5 – SharePoint Add-Ins will retire on April 2, 2026, stopping their functionality. From July 1, 2024, they cannot be installed from the public marketplace, and new tenants lose all usage by November 1, 2024. Organizations should migrate to SharePoint Framework (SPFx) and prepare users and admins accordingly.
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(Updated) Azure ACS retirement in Microsoft 365

MC693863 | January 5 – Azure ACS for SharePoint Online will retire on April 2, 2026. New tenants cannot use it after November 1, 2024. Organizations must migrate custom apps to Microsoft Entra ID for secure authentication and use the Microsoft 365 Assessment tool to identify Azure ACS usage.
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(Updated) SharePoint 2013 workflow retirement

MC542767 | January 5 – SharePoint 2013 workflows will be disabled for new tenants starting April 2, 2024, and fully retired for all tenants on April 2, 2026. Organizations must migrate to Power Automate or other solutions, notify users, and prepare support teams accordingly. No extensions will be offered beyond this date.
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(Updated) Microsoft Copilot in Teams: Visual Insight for intelligent recap

MC1115314 | January 5 – Microsoft Copilot in Teams will soon include intelligent meeting recaps that integrate shared-screen content for richer summaries. The feature, requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, rolls out February 2026 across all Teams platforms automatically, with no admin action needed.
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Introducing New Paid Extended Service Term (EST)

MC1216259 | January 9 – Microsoft introduces a paid Extended Service Term (EST) replacing the automatic grace period, allowing monthly paid service extensions after subscription end. Options at term end include timely renewal, paid EST with prorated charges and no changes allowed, or cancellation with 90-day data retention. Applies to subscriptions under the Microsoft Customer Agreement starting Feb 9, 2026 (direct) and April 1, 2026 (CSP).
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot for Android: Preview and chat with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files in the Copilot app

MC1184413 | January 9 – Microsoft 365 Copilot for Android now allows previewing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with Copilot Chat, but editing requires switching to standalone apps. Offline access and advanced file management move to standalone apps. Tenant admins should prepare by deploying these apps and updating user communications.
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Hardening changes coming to Common Log File System (CLFS) authentication

MC1216196 | January 9 – A new hardening authentication mitigation has been introduced for the Common Log File System (CLFS) driver. Windows updates that include this new version of CLFS will initiate a 90 day “learning mode” period during which authentication codes will be added to log files automatically. Device behavior will change after this period. For more information, see Common Log File System (CLFS)…
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(Updated) Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Enhancing the quarantine experience for administrators

MC1171845 | January 9 – Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is enhancing quarantine for admins by listing messages by individual recipients, improving backend durability, and requiring message release per user. Rollout begins January 2026, completing by March. No changes affect end users. Admins should update practices and documentation accordingly.
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Updates available for Microsoft 365 Apps for Current Channel

MC1215899 | January 8 – We’ve released updates to the following update channel for Microsoft 365 Apps: Current Channel
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: RSVP to meetings directly in Copilot chat

MC1192258 | January 8 – Microsoft 365 Copilot chat will enable users to RSVP to meetings directly with options like Accept, Decline, Tentative, Follow, or Remove canceled meetings. This feature, ON by default, will roll out worldwide from mid-January to mid-February 2026, requiring no admin action.
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Dynamics 365 Contact Center- Set least active assignment as default in messaging queues

MC1215836 | January 8 – We are announcing the ability to set the least active assignment as the default in messaging queues in Dynamics 365 Contact Center. This feature will reach general availability on February 6, 2026. How does this affect me? This feature assigns conversations by default to the least active customer service representatives across messaging and voice channels. What action do I need to take? This message is for awareness, and no action is required.
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Windows Office Hours: January 15, 2026

MC1215830 | January 8 – 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) Legacy SharePoint Online Content Delivery Network (CDN) domain to be retired—review configurations

MC1184996 | January 8 – The legacy SharePoint Online CDN domain publiccdn.sharepointonline.com will be retired by late April 2026. Update all hardcoded references to the new domain public-cdn.sharepointonline.com to avoid 404 errors. Validate changes before March 31, 2026, to ensure uninterrupted access to SharePoint resources.
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(Updated) Microsoft Purview | Compliance Manager – AI Powered Regulatory Templates

MC1192260 | January 8 – Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager will introduce AI Powered Regulatory Templates to convert regulatory PDFs into actionable controls, simplifying compliance assessments. Public preview starts mid-November 2025; general availability begins early August 2026. The feature is additive, requires no action to enable, and supports multi-cloud compliance automation.
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(Updated) New request and approval experience for Microsoft agents in the Microsoft 365 admin center

MC1134738 | January 8 – Microsoft 365 admin center will introduce a new request and approval experience for Microsoft-built agents, enabling centralized management of access requests via the Copilot > Agents & connectors page. Rollout starts February 2026, requires no setup, and enhances admin control over user access.
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(Updated) Build SharePoint automations with Workflows—now aligned with the Teams experience

MC1138798 | January 8 – SharePoint automations are updated with a new Workflows experience aligned with Teams, powered by Power Automate. It features a streamlined interface, consolidated menus, natural language flow creation, and improved templates. Rollout begins February 2026, requiring no admin action, with existing workflows unaffected.
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(Updated) App-only certificate-based authentication now available in SharePoint Online Management Shell

MC1188595 | January 8 – SharePoint Online Management Shell now supports app-only certificate-based authentication for secure, unattended automation, even with MFA enforced. Available from version 16.0.26712.12000, it uses app identities registered in Microsoft Entra ID. Administrators must register apps, assign permissions, generate certificates, and update scripts accordingly.
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Power Apps – Deprecation of Preview Copilot Controls in Canvas Apps

MC1215683 | January 8 – Starting on February 2, 2026, the following preview Copilot features in Power Apps Canvas Apps will be removed: Copilot Control: Add a Copilot control to a canvas app (preview) Copilot Answer Control: Overview of Copilot answer control for canvas apps Custom Copilot: Enable a custom Copilot to a canvas app…
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Microsoft Dataverse – Ending Support for configuring Table‑Level Deleted-Records Keeping

MC1215681 | January 8 – Beginning February 2026, Microsoft Dataverse will no longer support configuring deleted-records keeping at the individual table level. Deleted records will now be managed consistently at the environment level for all tables.How does this affect me?You will no longer be able to configure deleted‑records keeping per table. All supported tables will follow the single environment‑level setting accessible from Feature Management, helping improve governance, consistency, and…
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SharePoint Embedded apps can now archive containers to reduce storage costs and improve Copilot results

MC1215074 | January 8 – SharePoint Embedded apps will support container archival starting February 2026, reducing storage costs by up to 75% and improving Copilot search by prioritizing active content. Admins must opt in via PowerShell, use new Graph APIs, and update apps to manage archived containers. No compliance issues noted.
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Power BI Report metadata defaults to Power BI Enhanced Report format (PBIR)

MC1215073 | January 8 – Starting January 25, 2026, Power BI reports will default to the Enhanced Report format (PBIR), improving source control and collaboration. Existing reports convert to PBIR upon editing. Power BI Desktop adopts PBIR in March 2026. Admins can opt out during Preview via tenant settings; no immediate action required.
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Microsoft Teams admin center: New Teams External Collaboration Administrator role

MC1215071 | January 8 – Microsoft Teams will introduce a new Teams External Collaboration Administrator RBAC role by mid-February 2026, allowing admins to manage external collaboration settings via PowerShell without full Teams admin rights. Global admins can assign this role through Microsoft Entra or Microsoft 365 admin centers. No prior action is needed.
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(Updated) Microsoft Outlook: Automatically display automapped calendars

MC906502 | January 7 – Starting early 2026, Outlook for Windows will automatically display automapped calendars when switching from classic to new Outlook. The rollout requires no admin action and will complete by late March. Users previously had to access these calendars manually; the feature is enabled by default.
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(Updated) Microsoft Entra: Cross-tenant security group synchronization

MC1198077 | January 7 – Microsoft Entra introduces cross-tenant security group synchronization, enabling centralized group management and resource sharing across tenants. Public Preview starts late January 2026; general availability begins late April 2026. Admins must opt in, update attribute mappings, and configure cross-tenant access policies to enable this feature.
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Dynamics 365 Contact Center – Update default Messaging Queues assignment strategy – Least Active

MC1181931 | January 7 – We are announcing that the default assignment strategy for new messaging queues will be set to “least active.” This change will reach general availability on February 6, 2026.How does this affect me?When a new messaging queue is configured, instead of “Highest Capacity,” the default assignment strategy will be “least active.” Admins can modify the choice of strategy for the queue in the same experience.What action do I need to take?This message is for…
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Get started with December 2025 improvements in Windows 11

MC1214913 | January 7 – Start using the newest Windows 11 capabilities with helpful tips and actionable steps summarized in one place. Discover resources to prepare for Secure Boot certificate update,trackand remediate CVEs in Windows Autopatch, opt in to nativeNVMesupport in Windows Server 2025, and much moreto help keep your organization protected and productive.When will this happen:Improvements summarized in this View more

(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: “Hey Copilot” to start voice in Copilot on Windows devices

MC1189003 | January 7 – Starting late November 2025, Microsoft 365 Copilot on Windows will support hands-free voice activation by saying “Hey Copilot,” off by default and enabled in settings. It operates locally without recording audio, supports English activation, and will roll out globally by February 2026.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Generate text for a PowerPoint slide using slide context

MC1178510 | January 7 – Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint will enable users to generate titles, summaries, or captions using natural language based on slide context. Rolling out worldwide from late February to March 2026, the feature is on by default for desktop and web users and requires a Copilot license.
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Purview Communication Compliance: Temporary delays in processing due to planned infrastructure migration

MC1214183 | January 6 – Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance will undergo infrastructure migration from January 5 to February 28, 2026, causing temporary delays, intermittent errors, and slower updates in policy insights and reports. No data loss will occur. No action is required, but admins should inform teams of possible short-term slowdowns.
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(Updated) Exchange Online to introduce External Recipient Rate Limit

MC787382 | January 6 – Exchange Online was going to enforce a 2,000 external recipient rate limit within the existing 10,000 recipient limit starting April 2026 for new and trial tenants, and October 2026 for existing tenants. DoD, GCC, and GCC High were excluded. High-volume senders were to use Azure Communication Services for Email. The rollout of this limit has been cancelled.
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Dynamics 365 Contact Center – Handle duplicate callback requests gracefully when queues are overflowing

MC1214118 | January 6 – We are announcing the ability to define how duplicate requests for callback are handled in Dynamics 365 Contact Center. This feature will reach general availability on January 30, 2026. How does this affect me? This feature enables admins to set what happens when duplicate callback requests are placed. Key functionality of this feature includes: Allows you to set behavior based on queue volume. Prevent duplicate callback requests from the…
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Dynamics 365 Contact Center – Monitor real-time conversations with Quality Evaluation Agent

MC1214103 | January 6 – We are announcing the ability to monitor real-time conversations with Quality Evaluation Agent in Dynamics 365 Contact Center. This feature will reach general availability on January 16, 2026. How does this affect me? When a quality score falls below defined thresholds, the Quality Evaluation Agent sends a notification to supervisors. Key functionality of this feature includes:Evaluation criteria: Supervisors can create a form with questions, answer…
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(Updated) New features coming to Copilot Notebooks for Frontier users

MC1187387 | January 6 – New features for Copilot Notebooks in M365 Copilot apps will roll out from November 2025 to March 2026, enhancing navigation, personalization, and AI capabilities. Updates include a streamlined interface, personalized suggestions, an overview page, and expanded reference types. No admin action is needed; features enable by default.
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(Updated) Microsoft Outlook Mobile: Filter out declined meetings for a cleaner calendar view

MC1187790 | January 6 – Outlook Mobile will add a setting to hide declined meetings, aligning with New Outlook and Outlook for the Web. This feature, rolling out mid-January to mid-February 2026, offers a cleaner calendar view without admin changes. No compliance issues identified; no admin action needed.
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(Updated) Automatic Windows event auditing configuration availability for unified sensors (V3.x)

MC1193410 | January 6 – Microsoft Defender for Identity unified sensors (v3.x) will offer an opt-in feature from mid-January 2026 to automatically configure Windows event-auditing settings, simplifying deployment and ensuring consistent policy enforcement. Admins must enable it via UI or Graph API; rollout completes by end of January 2026.
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva: Transition to VFAM-based exclusion management

MC1188597 | January 6 – Starting January 6, 2026, Viva Insights and Copilot Analytics user exclusions will transition to VFAM-based policy management, replacing the current list method. Existing exclusions migrate automatically, with no admin action needed. Admins will manage exclusions via VFAM policies at user, group, or tenant levels.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: New user setting to view incoming calls in a small window

MC1045221 | January 6 – Microsoft Teams will introduce a new default setting allowing users to view incoming calls in a small, resizable window to reduce disruption. Rollout begins May 2025 (Targeted Release) and completes by May 2026. No admin action is needed, but user notification is recommended.
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Plan for Change: New Managed Home Screen RBAC permissions added to School Admin and Help Desk Operator built-in roles

MC1213781 | January 6 – Intune’s February release adds two new Managed Home Screen RBAC permissions—TemporarilySuspendManagedHomeScreen and RestoreManagedHomeScreen—to the School Administrator and Help Desk Operator roles, enhancing Android device management. No admin action is needed, but reviewing role assignments and updating documentation is recommended.
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Introducing new tool to migrate content from Slack to Microsoft Teams

MC1213779 | January 6 – A new Slack to Microsoft Teams migration tool will roll out from December 2025 to March 2026, allowing admins to migrate Slack channel content into Teams channels via the Microsoft admin center. It requires no opt-in, supports channel content initially, and needs no pre-rollout action.
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Microsoft Purview | Data lifecycle Management cmdlet connectivity change

MC1213770 | January 6 – Starting January 31, 2026, admins must use Exchange Online PowerShell v3.9.0+ and include the -EnableSearchOnlySession parameter with Connect-IPPSession to run Data Lifecycle Management cmdlets. This change enhances security and affects specific retention compliance cmdlets, with no impact on Purview portal users.
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Copilot Notebooks deletion issues and upcoming fix

MC1213768 | January 6 – Starting January 9, 2026, deletion of Copilot Notebooks in SharePoint Embedded may fail until a fix fully rolls out by January 31. Tenant-owned Loop workspace containers may also face issues unless excluded from retention policies. Admins should adjust retention settings via Microsoft Purview to mitigate problems.
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva – Viva Glint: Export Executive Summary report in Viva Glint to editable PowerPoint slides

MC1194612 | January 5 – Managers can soon export Viva Glint Executive Summary reports as editable PowerPoint slides, enabling easier customization and faster sharing. The rollout starts mid-January 2026. The previous screenshot export remains available. No admin action is needed; users should be informed and documentation updated accordingly.
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Dynamics 365 Apps – Audit data for entity routing configurations and entities

MC1213470 | January 5 – We are announcing the ability to audit data for entities and entity routing configurations within both Dynamics 365 Contact Center and Dynamics 365 Customer Service. This feature will reach general availability on January 31, 2026.How does this affect me?With this feature, administrators can generate an audit log of changes made to routing configurations. The routing entities and configurations that can be enabled for auditing include assignment rules, prioritization rules,…
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(Updated) Retirement of Assignments and Courses adaptive card extensions (ACE) in Viva Connections and SharePoint

MC1184647 | January 5 – Assignments and Courses adaptive card extensions (ACEs) and equivalent SharePoint dashboard webparts in Viva Connections for Education tenants will be retired and unsupported after June 30, 2026. Users will lose access, no admin action is needed, but users should be informed and documentation updated.
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(Updated) New “Prepare” button added to the “Up Next” card for Microsoft 365 Copilot users

MC1187395 | January 5 – Microsoft 365 Copilot users will see a new “Prepare” button replacing “Join” on the Up Next card up to 5 minutes before meetings, providing quick access to meeting prep tools. Rollout begins February 2026, enabled by default for Copilot Premium users, with no admin action required.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: New Researcher agent output controls

MC1143277 | January 5 – Microsoft 365 Copilot’s Researcher Agent now lets users customize report length and export formats, including Word. Rolling out worldwide from late September 2025 to January 2026, these features are enabled by default, require no admin action, and offer controls via Entra ID group membership.
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