Message center announcements
January 19, 2026 – January 25, 2026
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Take Action: Out-of-band update to address cloud‑backed storage application issues
MC1222123 | January 24 – Microsoft released today a resolution for an issue observed after installing the January 2026 Windows security update. This issue may cause applications that open or save files stored in cloud‑backed locations to become unresponsive or display errors. Some installations of Outlook may also become unresponsive and fail to open when PST files are…
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Microsoft Defender for Android ending support for enrolled personal profiles
MC1221927 | January 23 – Microsoft Defender for Android will end support for protecting personal profiles on enrolled devices by March 2026, focusing solely on securing corporate work profiles. This change enhances enterprise security and user privacy, requires no admin action, and does not affect work profiles or unenrolled devices.
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(Updated) Retirement of featured links on SharePoint Start Page
MC1197131 | January 23 – The Featured Links feature on the SharePoint Start Page will be retired from March to June 2026 due to low use. Admins will lose access, and existing links will be removed. Alternatives include global navigation links and Viva Connections Resources. Organizations should plan and communicate this change.
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Microsoft Entra ID: Auto-enabling passkey profiles
MC1221452 | January 23 – Starting March 2026, Microsoft Entra ID will auto-enable passkey profiles with a new passkeyType property for device-bound and synced passkeys. Tenants not opting in will be migrated automatically, with existing settings preserved. Microsoft-managed registration campaigns will update targeting to passkeys. Preparation and configuration before rollout are recommended.
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva: Viva Glint – New permissions
MC1217642 | January 22 – Microsoft Viva Glint will introduce granular permissions for Advanced Configuration, Nudges, General Settings, and Integrations. The top role is renamed “Viva Glint Service Admin,” assignable only via Microsoft Admin Center by M365 Global or Viva Glint Tenant Admins. Rollout begins March 9, 2026, enhancing security without changing existing policies.
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Retirement notice: MDE and XDR APIs retiring; migrate to Microsoft Graph Security API
MC1220762 | January 22 –
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(Updated) Express voice enrollment in Microsoft Teams
MC1197146 | January 21 – Express voice enrollment in Microsoft Teams enables quick voice profile registration for enhanced features like voice isolation and meeting insights. Rollout starts March 2026 for all enterprise customers except EDU tenants, with the feature ON by default. Admins can manage it via PowerShell; no compliance issues identified.
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(Updated) Agent Mode in Microsoft Copilot for PowerPoint for the web
MC1219792 | January 21 – Agent Mode in Microsoft 365 Copilot for PowerPoint for the web enables conversational editing while preserving formatting, structure, and branding. Available mid-February to mid-March 2026 for licensed users, it integrates with Copilot Chat and requires no admin action. Users should be informed and encouraged to use it.
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Ask Microsoft Anything: Secure Boot – February 5
MC1219801 | January 21 – Mark your calendars for February 5, 2026. Windows engineering teams will be hosting a second Ask Microsoft Anything (AMA) on the Microsoft Tech Community to help you get the information you need about updating Secure Boot certificates on your Windows devices before they start expiring in June 2026. Experts will be on camera and in the chat to help you with update scenarios, inventorying your estate, formulating the right deployment plan for your organization, and…
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(Updated) New features coming to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat for Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
MC1187671 | January 20 – Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat updates include expanded Outlook reasoning over inbox, calendar, and enterprise data; Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint using web data and files; and new app-specific agents leveraging Anthropic’s Claude model. Rollout begins January 2026, completing by March, with no required admin action.
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Microsoft SharePoint: Retirement of IDCRL authentication protocol and enforcement of OpenID Connect and OAuth protocols
MC1184649 | January 20 – 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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(Updated) Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Admins can block external users in Microsoft Teams from Defender Portal
MC1200058 | January 24 – Starting mid-February 2026, admins can block external Microsoft Teams users via the Tenant Allow/Block List in the Microsoft Defender portal, controlling access and deleting existing communications. This applies to Teams and Defender XDR, with audit logging and limits of 4,000 domains and 200 emails blocked.
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(Updated) Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint agents: A new Copilot experience for content creation
MC1187799 | January 24 – Microsoft 365 Copilot introduces Word, Excel, and PowerPoint agents in the Frontier program starting January 29, 2026. These agents assist with content creation via multi-turn chat, accessible in the Copilot app for tenants with Anthropic enabled. No action is needed; users can refine documents interactively.
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva Engage: Smarter delivery of Community Announcement notifications
MC1143276 | January 24 – Microsoft Viva Engage is updating Community Announcement notifications to use a smarter, behavior-based delivery system. Users will receive notifications through their most engaged channel first, with a secondary channel if unopened. Immediate email notifications remain available for urgent announcements. Rollout begins mid-September 2025, completing by January 2026.
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Message Trace support on Graph API is now in Public Preview
MC1221939 | January 24 – Message Trace support on Microsoft Graph API is now in Public Preview, offering a modern REST-based experience for Exchange Online email tracing. It replaces legacy Reporting Web Service endpoints, which will retire starting April 6, 2026. Admins and developers should plan migration before then; no user impact expected.
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Dynamics 365 Contact Center – Customize transfers and consults for queues, representatives
MC1221931 | January 23 – We are announcing the ability to customize transfers and consults for queues and customer service representatives in Dynamics 365 Contact Center. This feature will reach general availability on January 26, 2026.How does this affect me?This feature allows administrators to manage the queues or customer service representatives who are available during a consult or transfer action. On the Consult and transfer page in the Copilot Service admin center, administrators can configure…
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Configuration change to upload diagnostics in Outlook for Android and iOS
MC1221926 | January 23 – Starting February 16, 2026, Outlook for Android and iOS will allow diagnostic uploads even if Optional Connected Experiences are disabled, enabling support teams to collect troubleshooting data without changing admin policies or user workflows. No action is required, but helpdesk staff should be informed.
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Microsoft 365 Copilot: Custom dictionary expands language support and increases limits for Teams meeting transcripts
MC1221925 | January 23 – Microsoft 365 Copilot’s custom dictionary now supports more languages, doubles per-language entry limits to 1,000, and allows incremental CSV uploads for easier management. These updates improve Teams meeting transcript accuracy and will roll out globally by late January 2026, enabling enhanced Copilot and Intelligent Recap features automatically.
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Microsoft 365 Copilot: AI audio overview support for pages and additional languages in Viva Connections and SharePoint
MC1221924 | January 23 – Microsoft 365 Copilot is expanding AI audio overview support in Viva Connections and SharePoint, adding more languages and AI-generated audio summaries for site pages and news posts. The feature rolls out from January to February 2026, is on by default, and requires no admin action.
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Ticket status updates more frequently in ServiceNow Tickets Copilot connector
MC1221922 | January 23 – The ServiceNow Tickets Copilot connector will now ingest both active and inactive tickets by default, enabling more frequent and accurate ticket status updates in Microsoft 365 Copilot. Admins can modify query filters to include inactive tickets. This update rolls out from late December 2025 to late February 2026.
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Microsoft Edge: A refreshed profile flyout experience for better clarity and actionability
MC1221918 | January 23 – Microsoft Edge will update its profile flyout by mid-February 2026 for clearer distinction between work and personal profiles, streamlined sign-in, and preserved organization branding. The redesign improves usability, is enabled by default, affects all users, and requires no admin action before rollout.
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva: Copilot Dashboard – Broader access to M365 Copilot Chat insights
MC1191915 | January 23 – Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Adoption Metrics will roll out globally by late February 2026 to tenants with at least one Copilot license. Enabled by default, it provides admins with detailed usage insights, trends, adoption by group, app-level data, and filtering options via the Copilot Dashboard, with admin controls for access and exclusions.
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(Updated) Microsoft Purview | Insider Risk Management: Policy tuning analysis for priority content only policies
MC1059679 | January 23 – Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management will roll out real-time policy tuning analysis for priority content policies worldwide from late June to August 2025, postponed for GCC, GCC High, and DoD. Admins can enable Analytics to predict user matches, adjust thresholds, and optimize insider risk alerts efficiently.
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(Updated) Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint: Reference a Microsoft Teams meeting when creating a presentation with Copilot
MC1085672 | January 23 – Microsoft has canceled the planned feature allowing PowerPoint Copilot to reference Microsoft Teams meetings when creating presentations. This change affected PowerPoint on Windows, Mac, and web, and required a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. No admin action is needed, and the feature will not be released.
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(Updated) Offline Support for Calendar – Create, Edit and Delete Event support
MC1101906 | January 23 – Offline support in the new Outlook for Windows will allow users to create, edit, and delete single calendar events without internet. Rollout starts late September 2025, completing by February 2026. Recurring events offline are not supported. Controlled by the Owamailboxpolicy -OfflineEnabledWin setting.
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(Updated) Queues app historical reporting will support 45 days of data
MC1219789 | January 23 – The Queues app will support viewing up to 45 days of historical data for call queues, auto attendants, and agents starting mid-February 2026, with general availability by mid-March 2026. The default 7-day range and report access remain unchanged. No action is required.
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Microsoft Purview | eDiscovery – Advanced review set explorer
MC1221453 | January 23 – Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Premium) introduces the Advanced Review Set Explorer (public preview in February 2026) enabling Kusto Query Language (KQL) for advanced data analysis alongside existing KeyQL. It offers complex filtering, visualization, and querying across 100+ metadata properties, with no impact on current workflows or permissions.
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New policy to add watermarks to content generated or altered by using AI in Microsoft 365
MC1221451 | January 23 – Microsoft 365 will offer a policy to add visual or audio watermarks to AI-generated or altered video and audio content, available via Cloud Policy by February 2026. This enhances transparency but does not apply to images, which users can watermark through privacy settings separately.
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Microsoft Purview: Export adaptive scope members using PowerShell
MC1221450 | January 23 – Microsoft Purview will introduce a new PowerShell cmdlet to export adaptive scope members, enabling automated, resumable exports with granular control. Available by January 2026 worldwide, this feature complements the existing portal without affecting current workflows. No preparation is required, but admins may update scripts or inform teams.
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Microsoft Purview: Insider Risk Management – Quick policy to detect data theft from non-Microsoft 365 data sources
MC1221449 | January 23 – A new quick policy template in Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management will help detect data theft from Microsoft Fabric and non-Microsoft 365 cloud sources like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Azure, and AWS. It requires minimal setup, is not enabled by default, and rolls out worldwide in late February 2026.
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(Updated) PowerPoint adds AI-powered image editing with “Designer editor”
MC1187787 | January 22 – PowerPoint’s new AI-powered Designer editor, rolling out from mid-December 2025 to March 2026, enables seamless in-app image editing with features like generative erase/move, text editing, background removal, and auto-enhance. It affects all Microsoft 365 users and cannot be individually disabled.
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Power Platform – Upcoming enforcement of tenant isolation
MC1221422 | January 22 – As part of our Secure Future Initiative (SFI), the tenant isolation feature will be enabled by default for all Power Platform tenants as the new default behavior. The enforcement is scheduled to begin on February 1, 2026.This feature applies only to Power Platform policies and is separate from guest access policies and Azure tenant restriction features.How does this affect me?Tenant isolation only applies to connectors running within a tenant. The default…
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(Updated) Microsoft Authenticator app: Upcoming changes to jailbreak and root detection
MC1179154 | January 22 – Starting February 2026, Microsoft Authenticator will detect jailbroken/rooted devices and block Entra credentials on iOS and Android. The rollout includes warning, blocking, and wiping phases. This security feature is automatic with no opt-out. Users on non-jailbroken/rooted devices remain unaffected. Notify users and helpdesk accordingly.
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(Updated) Microsoft Viva: Viva Glint – Survey Designer Role
MC1218413 | January 22 – Microsoft Viva Glint will introduce a Survey designer role on March 9, 2026, allowing selected users to create and manage surveys without access to sensitive settings. Admins must assign this role. Organizations should prepare by identifying users, updating documentation, and informing stakeholders. No compliance issues noted.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Podcast voice interactions make audio experiences conversational
MC1183009 | January 22 – Microsoft 365 Copilot will introduce real-time voice interactions in podcasts, enabling users to ask questions and engage conversationally with audio content. This feature, initially for en-US, rolls out globally from February to March 2026, is on by default, requires no admin action, and aims to enhance immersive audio experiences.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Q&A in Read Aloud enables real-time voice interactions
MC1183010 | January 22 – Microsoft 365 Copilot’s Read Aloud now supports real-time voice Q&A for en-US users, enhancing accessibility and comprehension. Available from February 2026, users with a Copilot license get an interactive experience, while others retain classic Read Aloud. No admin action is needed; users can enable or disable the feature.
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(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Proactively RSVP to meetings and remove canceled meetings in Outlook
MC1219796 | January 22 – Microsoft 365 Copilot will proactively RSVP to new meetings and remove canceled ones in Outlook for licensed users. Users can set custom calendar instructions, receive notifications of actions, and keep calendars organized. The feature rolls out worldwide from late January to early March 2026, requiring no admin changes.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Miracast support for Teams Rooms on Windows (Teams Rooms Pro only)
MC1186374 | January 22 – Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows (Pro only) will support Miracast for wireless content sharing, rolling out from mid-March to mid-April 2026. The feature is off by default, enabled via admin portal, requires Miracast-compatible laptops, and has no impact unless activated. Prepare by reviewing compatibility and updating documentation.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Custom AI summary now available in Meeting Recap
MC1189004 | January 22 – Microsoft Teams will introduce a Custom AI Summary feature in Meeting Recap for Copilot users, allowing personalized meeting notes via templates or instructions. Rolling out from mid-December 2025 to late February 2026, it requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and supports all Teams Intelligent Recap languages.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Shorter meeting URLs
MC772556 | January 22 – Microsoft Teams is rolling out shorter meeting URLs by January 2026, improving link sharing, consistency, and security. New links expire 60 days after scheduled meetings or 8 hours after Meet Now creation. Old links remain valid. No admin action is needed, but users should update integrations and inform organizers.
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MTA-STS and SMTP DANE mode on connectors
MC1220759 | January 22 – Exchange Online will let admins control MTA-STS and SMTP DANE validation modes on outbound connectors starting late February 2026. Modes include Opportunistic (default), None (disables validation), and Mandatory (enforces SMTP DANE). No action is needed unless changes to validation behavior are desired.
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Microsoft Purview: Insider Risk Management – New Microsoft Fabric lakehouse risk indicators
MC1220758 | January 22 – Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management will add new ready-to-use risk indicators for Microsoft Fabric lakehouse activities, available worldwide by late February 2026. These indicators help detect data theft or leakage and can be enabled by admins in the Purview portal; they are not enabled by default.
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Reminder: “Require approved client app” control in Microsoft Entra Conditional Access will be retired in June 2026
MC1220751 | January 22 – The “Require approved client app” control in Microsoft Entra Conditional Access will retire in June 2026. Organizations should update policies to use the “Require application protection policy” control for equivalent and enhanced protection. After retirement, the old control will no longer be enforceable.
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(Updated) Deploy a frontline worker pilot in Teams Admin Center
MC1130395 | January 21 – Teams Admin Center will enable deployment, management, and monitoring of frontline worker pilots, allowing admins to configure workloads, assign users, share app access via QR code, and track adoption. Public preview starts November 2025; general availability expected by February 2026. No compliance issues noted.
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(Updated) Plan for Change: Removing Intune guided scenarios from the Intune admin center in March 2026
MC1162945 | January 21 – Starting March 2026, all Intune guided scenarios except Windows 365 Boot will be removed from the Intune admin center. Existing configurations remain unaffected, no admin action is needed, and alternative guidance is available through provided Microsoft resources.
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Power Platform admin center – New usage experience rolling out in Public Preview
MC1220728 | January 21 – On January 20, 2026, the new usage experience in Power Platform admin center began rolling out in Public Preview, with full availability expected by February 2, 2026. This new feature will provide powerful insights into adoption and usage trends across your environment.How does this affect me?Power Platform admins will gain the ability to track platform adoption trends, identify top-used resources, and make data-driven decisions to drive success in your…
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Viva Engage communities in Teams
MC1218423 | January 21 – Viva Engage communities will be integrated into Microsoft Teams by April-May 2026, enabling asynchronous conversations and leadership engagement within Teams. The feature is on by default for all users with Viva Engage access, includes synced memberships, notifications, and rich interaction options. Admins can manage settings in Teams; disabling is optional.
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Updates available for Microsoft 365 Apps for Current Channel
MC1220722 | January 21 – We’ve released updates to the following update channel for Microsoft 365 Apps: Current Channel
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Microsoft Copilot Studio – Draft with Copilot
MC1165633 | January 21 – Update: Release of this feature has been updated.We are introducing the Draft with Copilot feature for Copilot Studio. This feature will help write or rewrite your prompts using Copilot to produce better outcomes. This feature will be available on February 28, 2026. How does this affect me? When authoring a prompt, the prompt builder will allow you to trigger Copilot to assist in turning your intent into a more effective prompt that follows best practices and…
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(Updated) Microsoft 365: Enrich profile cards with custom properties from third-party systems
MC1193692 | January 21 – Starting March 2026, Microsoft 365 admins can add up to 10 custom properties from external systems to profile cards via Microsoft Graph People connectors. This feature is off by default, requires configuration, and enhances profile information in Outlook Web. Future updates will support SAP SuccessFactors and Workday connectors.
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(Updated) SharePoint branding governance via PowerShell
MC1186372 | January 21 – SharePoint will enable tenant admins to centrally manage site branding via PowerShell, enforcing enterprise themes, disabling custom branding per site, auditing changes, and embedding branding in site creation. Theme management will centralize in the primary geo, with rollout from late 2025 to early 2026.
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Microsoft Viva – Viva Glint: Navigation improvements in Reporting
MC1219803 | January 21 – Viva Glint Reporting will improve navigation by replacing the “Go Back” link with a feature allowing users to drill down and up within reports, returning to the previous report state instead of the home page. This will roll out globally in February 2026, enabled by default with no admin action needed.
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Custom greetings in voice call authentication will retire on Feb 28, 2026
MC1219798 | January 21 – Custom greetings in voice call authentication will retire on February 28, 2026. After this date, voice calls for multifactor authentication will use Microsoft’s default recordings. Organizations should prepare users for this change and review their MFA configurations accordingly.
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Microsoft Teams: External domains anomalies report
MC1219794 | January 21 – Microsoft Teams will roll out an External domains anomalies report by March 2026, enabling admins to detect unusual external communication patterns. Available in the Teams admin center, it provides insights and blocking options for suspicious domains. Admins can enable alerts for proactive monitoring without required action to access the report.
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Brand impersonation protection for Teams Calling
MC1219793 | January 21 – Brand Impersonation Protection for Teams Calling will launch mid-February 2026, warning users of suspicious external calls to reduce fraud risks. Enabled by default, it evaluates inbound calls for impersonation, showing high-risk alerts. No admin action is needed; organizations should prepare helpdesk and training accordingly.
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Microsoft Purview | Data Loss Prevention – Additional diagnostics for Data Loss Prevention and Information Protection
MC1219791 | January 21 – Microsoft Purview is introducing new diagnostics for Data Loss Prevention and Information Protection, providing admins deeper insights into triggered policies for files and emails. Rolling out from January to May 2026, these tools require no action, cause no workflow impact, and are enabled by default.
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Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Enable users to report suspicious Teams messages in Plan 1
MC1219788 | January 21 – Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 will allow users to report suspicious Teams messages as security risks or false positives starting mid-February 2026. Reports appear in the Defender portal, with opt-in settings and automatic Teams admin toggles. Organizations should enable user reporting and update guidance accordingly.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Graph APIs for Teams administration now available in beta
MC1169072 | January 20 – Microsoft Graph now offers Teams administration APIs: Teams User Configuration API (V1.0), Number Management, and Policy Assignment APIs (beta). These enable automation of user settings, phone number management, and policy assignments for Teams admins. APIs support delegated and application permissions in commercial environments.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Automatically set work location by connecting to a Wi-Fi network
MC1081568 | January 20 – Starting March 2026, Microsoft Teams will let users automatically set their work location by connecting to organizational Wi-Fi or peripherals. This opt-in feature improves location accuracy, requires admin configuration, respects working hours, and applies to Teams on Windows and Mac desktops.
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(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Improved organization chart in Profile Card (Desktop, Mac, Web)
MC1151242 | January 20 – Microsoft Teams is enhancing the organization chart in the Profile Card on Desktop, Mac, and Web with improved UI, easier navigation, and fewer clicks. Rollout begins early February 2026, enabled by default, requiring no admin action. Users should be informed and documentation updated accordingly.
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Microsoft Purview: Data Loss Prevention – DLP support for Fabric warehouses
MC1219530 | January 20 – Microsoft Purview is expanding Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to support Microsoft Fabric warehouses starting February 2026. Existing DLP policies will automatically include warehouse data without changes or user impact. This enhances data security and compliance, with no action required from organizations.
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