Microsoft Roadmap, messagecenter and blogs updates from 11-11-2025

Updated November 10, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

We’re enhancing the contact experience in Microsoft Outlook Mobile (iOS and Android) by introducing profile-enriched contacts and automatic duplicate contact management. These improvements aim to streamline contact views and provide richer organizational context.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 493753.

This feature has previously been released to the People Hub in new Outlook for Windows. More details in MC927963 (Updated) New Microsoft Outlook for Windows: People Hub improvements (published November 2024, updated April 2025).

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out mid-July 2025 (previously late June) and expect to complete by end of February 2026 (previously early October 2025).

[How this will affect your organization:]

Before this rollout, Outlook Mobile may have displayed multiple entries for the same contact and lacked organizational profile context.

After this rollout:

• Contacts will be unified into a single enriched view, displaying additional profile information from your organization’s directory (where available).
• Identical duplicate contacts will be automatically hidden.
• These enhancements will be on by default and apply to both iOS and Android versions of Outlook Mobile. No admin controls exist.
• Users can access their contact list by selecting Contacts from the Apps section in the Outlook Mobile app.

[What you need to do to prepare:]

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified dates with no admin action required before the rollout. You may want to notify your users about this change and update internal documentation.

After the feature is rolled out, please ensure that users have updated to the latest version of Outlook for iOS or Outlook for Android.

Learn more: Manage Outlook contacts in your organization – Microsoft Support

Updated November 10, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

We’re introducing an enhanced organization chart experience in the Profile Card in Microsoft Teams for Windows Desktop, Mac, and Teams on the web. This update improves the user interface and navigation while maintaining the core browsing functionality. These changes are based on user feedback to streamline org chart exploration and reduce friction in navigating team structures.

This feature is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 500696.

Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out in late January 2026 (previously early December 2025) and expect to complete in mid-February 2026 (previously mid-December 2025).

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in mid-February 2026 (previously mid-January) and expect to complete in late February 2026 (previously late January).

Who is affected: All users of Microsoft Teams on Windows Desktop, Mac, and web platforms.

What will happen:

• The organization chart in the Profile Card will receive UI/UX enhancements to improve navigation and usability.
• The focused individual remains centered when the manager chain is collapsed, improving visual clarity.
• Fewer clicks are needed to view another person’s Profile Card from the current view, reducing navigation effort.
• New navigation buttons allow users to scroll through previously viewed individuals within the same Profile Card instance, streamlining org chart exploration.
• The feature is enabled by default and requires no configuration changes.

Screenshot 1 – Updated Profile Card with centered individual and collapsed manager chain:

Screenshot 2 – Expanded organization chart view:

What you can do to prepare

• No admin action is required at this time.
• We recommend informing users about the improved navigation experience to help them take full advantage of the update.
• Update internal documentation or training materials if they reference the Profile Card experience.

Learn more (to be updated closer to rollout): Profile cards in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Support 

Compliance considerations

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

[Introduction]

We’ve added a new Copilot button that gives users a quick and visible entry point to Copilot directly within the file previewer in OneDrive and SharePoint. This button appears near the bottom-right corner of the file previewer (instead of in the command bar) and surfaces contextual prompts for Copilot-supported file types. It also provides access to the Copilot chat.

This message is associated with Roadmap ID 513432.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, and DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-November 2025 and expect to complete by December 2025.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

• Users in GCC, GCC High, and DoD environments who preview files in OneDrive or SharePoint.

What will happen:

• A new Copilot button will appear in the bottom-right corner of the file previewer.

• This button provides access to Copilot chat and contextual prompts based on the file type.
• The previous Copilot command in the command bar will be removed.
• No changes to admin policies or settings are required.
• The feature is enabled by default.

[What you can do to prepare:]

• No action is required at this time.
• Communicate this change to helpdesk or support staff.
• Update internal documentation to reflect the new location of the Copilot button.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

[Introduction]

As part of ongoing improvements to the Microsoft 365 Copilot experience, App Skills in Excel will be retired. Capabilities previously accessed through App Skills are being consolidated into Agent Mode in Excel, offering a more streamlined and integrated way to perform tasks directly on the grid. This change simplifies the user experience and aligns with our goal of delivering consistent, intelligent assistance across Excel.

Screenshot 1: App Skills option will be removed

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide):
Rollout will begin in early December 2025 and is expected to complete by late February 2026.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

All users of Excel with access to Microsoft 365 Copilot.

What will happen:

• App Skills in Excel will be removed from supported versions.
• Users will no longer be able to access App Skills via the Copilot chat pane.
• Agent Mode in Excel will begin rolling out to supported versions, offering similar and expanded capabilities.

[What you can do to prepare:]

No admin action is required at this time.

• Encourage users to explore alternative solutions within Excel including using M365 Copilot Chat.
• Recommend trying Agent Mode in Excel once it becomes available.
• Communicate this change to helpdesk or support staff.
• Update internal documentation if App Skills are referenced.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

[Introduction]

Agent mode in Excel, previously available through the Frontier program, will soon be generally available. This feature enables users to build and edit workbooks side by side with Copilot, streamlining tasks like updating budgets, creating financial models, and analyzing data. Agent mode leverages Excel’s most powerful tools—tables, charts, PivotTables, and formulas—making it easier to complete complex tasks with AI-powered assistance.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in early December 2025 and is expected to complete by late February 2026.

[How this affects your organization:]

• Who is affected: All Microsoft 365 users licensed for Copilot who use Excel.
• What will happen:
  • Users will be able to access Agent mode in Excel from M365 Copilot Chat by selecting it from the Tools menu.

  Screenshot 1: From M365 Copilot chat pane select Tools, then Agent mode

  

  • Agent mode will be available by default for eligible users.
  • The feature includes support for Excel capabilities such as editing tables, charts, PivotTables, formulas, and more.
  • No changes to existing admin policies are required.
  • Some geographies may receive access later in the rollout window.

[What you can do to prepare:]

• No admin action is required.
• You may wish to:
  • Inform helpdesk and support teams about the availability of Agent mode.
  • Update internal documentation or training materials to reflect this new capability.

Learn more: Agent mode in Excel (Frontier)

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

[Introduction:]

We’re introducing the People agent in Frontier—a Copilot agent designed to help users quickly understand and discover people in their organization. By surfacing insights from emails, chats, meetings, and documents, the People agent simplifies meeting prep and helps users navigate organizational relationships. This release is part of the Frontier program, which provides early access to experimental Microsoft 365 Copilot innovations for evaluation and feedback.

[When this will happen:]

• Public Preview (Worldwide): Begins in mid-November 2025.
• General Availability (Worldwide): Begins in Q1 (January – March) 2026.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

• Admins managing Microsoft 365 Copilot deployments.
• Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and the “Microsoft 365 Copilot in Productivity Apps” service plan.

What will happen:

• The People agent will be available to deploy via the Copilot Control center in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
• Users will be able to access the agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Teams.
• The People agent leverages three main data sources to provide a tailored experience for users:
  • Microsoft 365 data available to the user: Documents, emails, Teams messages, meeting recordings, and transcripts that the user has access to are used to build context about colleagues—who they are, what they care about, and prior interactions.
  • Organizational data from your company directory: Enables high-fidelity org charts and answers questions about team structure.
  • The People Skills service: Powers skill-based query responses and helps users find colleagues with specific skills.
• Admins can:
  • Deploy the agent on behalf of users by accepting Microsoft Entra permissions.
  • Restrict access to specific users or groups.
  • Remove or block the agent entirely.

Screenshot 1 – People agent homepage, where a user can better understand the organization and the people in it, and prepare for meetings:

Screenshot 2 – People agent displaying organizational insights using directory and Copilot data:

[What you can do to prepare:]

• Identify end users who will gain early access to Frontier features. Add those users to a Microsoft Entra ID group so the group can be configured for access.
• Frontier features are experimental and subject to change. Participation in the Frontier program is optional.
• Review admin controls for agent deployment and access: Settings for agents – Manage Microsoft 365 Copilot agents in the Microsoft 365 admin center | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn
• Ensure users have an active Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
• Enable the People Skills service to unlock skills-related features in the agent.

Licensing Requirements:

• Users must have an active Microsoft 365 Copilot license to access Frontier features, including the People agent.
• To access skills features in the People agent, the People Skills service must be enabled for the tenant. If the service is not enabled, the skills tab and associated skills-related prompts will not appear in the People agent.

[Compliance considerations:]

[Introduction]

To help users focus on the main conversation flow, Outlook for iOS and Android will now automatically collapse automatic replies (such as out-of-office messages) within email threads. These messages remain accessible and can be expanded when needed, providing a cleaner and more consistent reading experience. Now when users receive multiple automatic replies at once, they appear collapsed in the reading pane by default. Users can then expand to access all the automatic replies if desired.

This message is associated with Roadmap ID 523207 and 523208.

• General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH): Rollout begins early December 2025; expected to complete late December 2025

• Who is affected: All users of Outlook for iOS and Android
• What will happen:
  • Automatic replies will appear collapsed by default in email threads.
  • Users can tap to expand and view the full content of these replies.
  • This feature is enabled automatically; no configuration is required.
  • There is no impact to message delivery or reply behavior.

[What you can do to prepare:]

No action is required. This feature will be enabled automatically.

• Communicate this change to helpdesk staff to reduce potential confusion.
• Update any internal documentation that references email thread behavior in Outlook mobile apps.

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new setting in Microsoft Teams on the web that helps maintain users’ presence more accurately. When enabled, Teams will detect activity on the user’s device—even if they’re not actively using the Teams tab—ensuring their status remains “Available” when they are truly active. This update addresses common feedback about inaccurate presence status and improves collaboration visibility.

[When this will happen:]

• Public Preview: Rolling out late November 2025, expected completion by late November 2025.
• Targeted Release: Rolling out early December 2025, expected completion by early December 2025.
• General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out early December 2025, expected completion by early December 2025.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

• All users of Microsoft Teams on the web using supported browsers (Chrome v94+ and Edge v114+).

What will happen:

• A new setting will appear under Settings > Notifications and Activity > Presence.
• Users can enable “Keep my current status when I’m active outside of Teams on the web.”



• Upon enabling, the browser will prompt users to grant permission for Teams to detect activity.
• Teams will only detect whether the user is active or idle—it does not track specific actions or content.
• The feature is off by default and must be enabled by the user.

[What you can do to prepare:]

• No admin action is required for this rollout.
• Ensure helpdesk staff are aware of the new setting and browser permission prompt.
• Share end-user documentation when available.
• Confirm users are on supported browser versions (Chrome v94+ or Edge v114+).
• Encourage users to enable the feature if presence accuracy is important for their workflow.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new preview experience in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app for Android that allows users to open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files and interact with them using Copilot Chat. For editing actions, the Microsoft 365 Copilot app will transition to the fully featured standalone Word, Excel, or PowerPoint apps. This change positions Microsoft 365 Copilot as your AI-first productivity assistant, bringing together activity across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft 365 apps.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 518290.

[When this will happen] 

• Mid-November 2025: Users may begin seeing prompts to install the standalone Word, Excel, or PowerPoint apps when attempting to edit those file types in Copilot.
• Mid-December 2025 – Mid-January 2026: Previewer experience rollout begins and is expected to complete by mid-January 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected: 

• All users of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Android.
• Tenant admins responsible for app deployment and mobile productivity.

What will happen: 

• Copilot Preview Experience: Users can open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files in the Copilot app on Android and use Copilot Chat for summaries and insights.
• Editing Files: Editing will require switching to the standalone Word, Excel, or PowerPoint apps. Users will be prompted to install or open these apps.
• Teams, OneDrive, Outlook app integration: These apps on Android will continue to show users previews of Office files. Editing will redirect users to the respective standalone apps. The Microsoft 365 Copilot app will no longer handle file open and edit operations from Teams, OneDrive or Outlook.
• File Management: File search remains available in Copilot. Advanced management will require the standalone OneDrive app.
• Document creation: Users can create documents via chat in Copilot. Viewing remains in-app; editing transitions to standalone apps.
• Offline access: Offline viewing will only be available in the standalone Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive apps. “Make Available Offline” is being removed from Copilot.
• PDF workflows: No changes; PDF handling continues as before.
• Folder browsing: Folder browsing from OneDrive, SharePoint, or third-party hosts will no longer be supported in Copilot.
• Protocol URLs: Opening documents via protocol URLs will require the standalone apps.
• Third-Party hosts: Adding third-party host accounts to Copilot will no longer be supported.

[What you can do to prepare]

Tenant admins should:

• Plan deployment of the standalone Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps to support file editing.
• Deploy the standalone OneDrive app to enable file and library management.
• Communicate to users that editing and template creation will require switching to standalone apps.
• Update internal documentation to reflect this workflow change.

[Compliance considerations]

Updated November 10, 2025: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience.

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a set of enhancements to Channel Agent, a Copilot-powered assistant in Microsoft Teams channels that helps users manage tasks, generate reports, and collaborate more effectively using natural language. These updates improve how users interact with generative AI for project management and localization. Channel Agent now supports file-based grounding from Channel SharePoint and smarter task handling — making it more intuitive and responsive across diverse work scenarios.

This message applies to Teams for Windows desktop, Teams for Mac desktop, Teams for the web, and Teams for iOS/Android.

[When this will happen:]

Targeted Release: Rollout begins mid-November 2025; expected to complete by late December 2025.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

• Users with Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses and permissions to create Channel Agents in Microsoft Teams.
• Admins managing Teams channels and app configurations.

What will happen:

• Files as Grounding: Channel Agent will now be able to use files from the Channel SharePoint to respond to user queries.



• Status Report Skill Updates: Users can at-mention the agent with queries like “create a status report.” Reports will post directly in the channel. Users can cancel recurring reports in “Status Report settings.”



• Workback Plan: Share your objective and deadline with Channel Agent to generate a sequenced task list. You can review and adjust before tasks are added to Planner.



• GitHub MCP Skill: Channel Agent now supports GitHub MCP integration.
• Agent Settings: Admins can disable agent auto-creation via Teams Admin Center (App Details page).
• Localization: Channel Agent supports 25+ languages and responds in the language used to prompt it.
• Smarter Task Updates: Bulk task updates, task title editing, and context-aware references are now supported.
• Limitations: 
  • Channel Agent uses the files in the Channel SharePoint as grounding information. When doing this, they check the access of the user prompting the agent and provide the user the option to share the response with others in chats / channels that may not have access.
  • Channel Agent uses sensitivity labeled information to answer user questions, including the files in the Channel SharePoint, Channel messages and meetings, and standard meetings. Channel Agent will visually indicate the sensitivity label above its response message; however, the output does not inherit the controls of the sensitivity label itself and does not prevent the information from being shared further without any sensitivity label indicator. 

[What you can do to prepare:]

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout.

However, we recommend the following:

• Review your current Channel Agent configuration to determine the impact for your organization.
• Notify users about changes to status report behavior.
• Update any relevant internal documentation to reflect new features and agent settings.
• To create Channel Agent, a user must:
  • Be Copilot licensed
  • Have the necessary admin permissions
  • Be an owner of the channel or have permissions to add/remove apps in the channel
• To disable agent auto-creation, use the toggle in Teams Admin Center (path: App Details > Channel Agent).
• Learn more: Set up Channel Agent in Microsoft Teams

[Compliance considerations:]