Microsoft Roadmap, messagecenter and blogs updates from 12-03-2026

Updated March 11, 2026: Agent Mode in Excel and Word are starting to roll out across web, Windows, and Mac and are expected to complete in the following weeks. Additionally, Anthropic has onboarded as a Microsoft subprocessor and we have updated the related information below.

Updated January 20, 2026: The change to Copilot Chat in Outlook to expand reasoning to include a user’s entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data is starting to roll out across web, new Outlook for Windows, Classic Outlook for Windows, Mac and mobile and is expected to complete in the following weeks. For more information on the data Copilot Chat in Outlook will be able to access, please see Organizational Data in our documentation. Users can learn more about this change from the Use Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 apps article. There is no update at this time regarding Agent Mode and the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents availability.

[Introduction]

We’re introducing new capabilities for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat users (without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) to help them better manage their day in Outlook and create and refine Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations. These updates include:

• Copilot Chat in Outlook will expand from reasoning over a single email thread to reasoning over a user’s entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data.
• Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint uses web data and referenced files to help users create and refine content in the apps.
• Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents allow users to create high-quality documents, workbooks, and presentations in Copilot Chat using web data and referenced files.

Please find our Microsoft Ignite announcements here.

[When this will happen:]

We will begin rolling out early January 2026 and expect to complete by late March 2026.

[How this will affect your organization:]

• Who is affected: Eligible Copilot Chat users with a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription. There is no change for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
• What will happen:
  • Copilot Chat in Outlook will understand the entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data for a user. Additional documentation will be provided closer to rollout. Users will be able to ask Copilot to source information across their inbox, uncover action items, or manage their calendar.
  • Users will be able to access Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through the Tools menu in the Copilot Chat input box in each individual app. Agent Mode lets users create and refine content as they are working. Agent Mode will use web data and referenced files but will not have access to work data.
  • Users will be able to access the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents in Copilot Chat from the Tools menu in the input box or by typing “@” and selecting the agents. These agents use several models, including Anthropic’s Claude model, to help create high-quality documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. These agents will use web data and referenced files but will not have access to work data.

[What you need to do to prepare:]

• No admin action is required for Copilot Chat in Outlook. If you’d like to manage Copilot Chat in Outlook, you can use Integrated Apps in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Learn more here.
• No admin action is required for Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you’d like to manage Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can use the Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat setting. Learn more here.
• To provide access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents, you must connect to Anthropic’s Claude model. Learn how to connect here.

[Compliance considerations:]

The following considerations are relevant to the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents.

• Anthropic has onboarded as a Microsoft subprocessor: Learn more here.

Updated March 11, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

[Introduction]

We’re enhancing Microsoft Purview Content Explorer with new summary metrics to improve visibility into scanning and classification activities. These updates will help admins identify unscanned files and monitor classification trends, enabling better data governance and informed decisions.

This message is associated with Roadmap ID 526796.

[When this will happen:]

• Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2026 (previously late January) and expect to complete by early August 2026 (previously mid-February). 
• General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out mid-August 2026 (previously early March) and expect to complete by late August 2026 (previously late March). 

[How this affects your organization:]

• Who is affected: Admins managing Microsoft Purview Information Protection and using Content Explorer.
• What will happen:
  • A new Unscanned Files Summary will display the count and percentage of files not scanned for classification.
  • Classification History Insights will show trends and details of classification changes over time.
  • These metrics will appear in Content Explorer alongside existing Sensitive Information Types (SITs) and labels.
  • Admins can explore the new metrics to identify gaps and use on-demand classification capabilities to retrigger scans if needed.
  • No changes to existing policies or configurations; the feature is enabled by default.

    

[What you can do to prepare:]

• No action is required.
• These metrics will automatically appear in Content Explorer.

[Compliance considerations:]

Updated March 11, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We are adding new, more granular permissions for users to get access to administrative areas in Viva Glint. These areas include Advanced Configuration, Nudges, General Settings, and Viva Integrations. We are also updating the name of the highest privileged role in Viva Glint to “Viva Glint Service Admin,” and for increased security, restricting the ability to assign new Viva Glint Service Admins to the Microsoft Admin Center (MAC) only.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin March 23, 2026 (previously March 9) and complete by March 23, 2026 (previously March 9).

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected: Admins managing Viva Glint roles and permissions.

What will happen:

• Additional permissions will be introduced for Advanced Configuration, General Settings, Nudges, and Viva Integrations.
• Assigning Viva Glint Service Admins will only be possible through the MAC.
• M365 Global Admins and Viva Glint Tenant Admins will have sole responsibility for assigning Service Admins.
• All Viva Glint Service Admins will have Advanced Configuration access going forwards
• No changes to existing admin policies; this update enhances security and role clarity.

[What you can do to prepare:]

• Review your organization’s needs to determine how to use these new permissions
• Ensure that only M365 Global Admins or Viva Glint Tenant Admins are prepared to assign Service Admins via MAC.
• Update internal documentation and communicate these changes to your helpdesk or support teams.

Learn more about Viva Glint roles and permissions: Viva Glint documentation.

[Compliance considerations:]

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

Updated March 11, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

To support organizations that will run additional employee listening programs, such as surveys for AI transformation or change management, we will introduce a dedicated Survey designer role. This role will grant selected users the ability to create and run Viva Glint surveys with only the permissions required for that work. It will not provide access to platform settings or sensitive data. This will allow organizations to expand survey creation in a secure and flexible way.

[When this will happen]

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out on March 23 (previously March 9) and expect to complete by March 23 (previously March 9).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected:

• Viva Glint customers in Microsoft Viva
• Admins assigning roles and users who create surveys

What will happen:

• A new Survey designer role will be available in Viva Glint.
• Users assigned this role will be able to create and run Viva Glint surveys, collect employee feedback, and manage survey lifecycle tasks.
• Survey designers won’t have access to broader Viva Glint configuration settings or sensitive admin data.
• The role will be available by default but must be explicitly assigned by an admin.

[What you can do to prepare]

• Review which users may benefit from expanded survey creation capabilities.
• Assign the Survey designer role as needed in Viva Glint role management.
• Update internal documentation as relevant.
• Communicate this role availability to stakeholders who run employee listening programs.

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.

Updated March 11, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience.

[Introduction]

Starting in March 2026, Microsoft Entra ID will introduce passkey profiles and synced passkeys to General Availability (GA). This update allows administrators to opt in to a new passkey profiles experience that supports group-based passkey configurations and introduces a new passkeyType property.

Important: Only tenants that already have Passkeys (FIDO2) enabled are affected by this update. 

The passkeyType property enables admins to configure:

• Device-bound passkeys
• Synced passkeys
• Both

If your tenant already has Passkeys (FIDO2) enabled and you do not opt in to passkey profiles during the initial rollout window, your tenant will be automatically migrated to the passkey profiles schema at the date range specified below. When this occurs: 

• Existing Passkey (FIDO2) authentication method configurations will be moved into a Default passkey profile. 
• The passkeyType value will be set based on the tenant’s current attestation settings.
• For tenants that have synced passkeys enabled, Microsoft-managed registration campaigns will update to target passkeys.
• No new authentication methods are enabled as part of this migration. 

Authentication Methods Registration Campaign changes (Microsoft-Managed Only)

For tenants with passkeys (FIDO2) enabled and active Authentication methods registration campaign set to “Microsoft-managed” state, the registration campaign settings may change after passkey profile automatic migration. 

[When this will happen]

• General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins in early March 2026 and is expected to complete by late March 2026.
  • Automatic migration for existing Passkeys (FIDO2) enabled tenants (Worldwide): Rollout begins in early April 2026 and is expected to complete by late May 2026.
• General Availability (GCC, GCC High, and DoD): Rollout begins in early April 2026 and is expected to complete by late April 2026.
  • Automatic migration for existing Passkeys (FIDO2) enabled tenants (GCC, GCC High, and DoD): Rollout begins in early June 2026 and is expected to complete by late June 2026. 

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected: Microsoft Entra ID tenants with Passkeys (FIDO2) enabled

What will happen:

If you have not opted in to passkey profiles by your automatic enablement period, your tenant will be migrated to passkey profiles.

• Your existing Passkey (FIDO2) configurations will be migrated into a Default passkey profile
• New passkeyType property will be auto-populated
  • If enforce attestation is enabled, then device-bound allowed
  • If enforce attestation is disabled, then device-bound and synced allowed
• Any existing key restrictions will remain intact
• Any existing user targets will be assigned to the Default passkey profile

[Who is affected for Authentication Methods Registration Campaign changes:]

Microsoft Entra ID tenants with passkeys (FIDO2) enabled and active Authentication methods registration campaign set to “Microsoft-managed” state.

What will happen:

If your tenant has passkey profiles that allow both device-bound and synced passkeys, does not have attestation enforcement, and does not have AAGUID‑specific key restrictions, your Microsoft-managed registration campaign settings will be updated.

Resulting Microsoft-managed registration campaign changes:

• “Targeted authentication method” will change from Microsoft Authenticator to “passkeys (FIDO2)”.
• “Days allowed to snooze” setting will change from 3days to “1 day”. This setting will no longer be configurable.
• “Limited number of snoozes” setting will change from Enabled to “Disabled”. This setting will no longer be configurable.
• The default user targeting will be updated from voice call or text message users to all multifactor authentication (MFA) capable users. 

What is the end user impact:

Once the above changes have taken effect, users targeted in the registration campaign will begin to receive passkey registration nudges during sign-in flows after they have completed multifactor authentication.

[What you can do to prepare]

If you want a configuration different from the migration defaults, review the timeline above and opt in to passkey profiles before your tenant’s automatic enablement window begins. Then configure the Default passkey profile’s passkeyType to your preferred values.

We also recommend:

• Review your registration campaign configuration, especially if its set to Microsoft-managed. If you want synced passkeys enabled in your tenant but do not want registration campaign to target passkeys, you can: 
  • Switch the registration campaign state to Enabled and continue targeting Microsoft Authenticator, or 
  • Set the registration campaign state to Disabled.
• Update runbooks and help content so your help desk and end users understand any changes in passkey availability or behavior. 

Learn more:

• How to Enable Passkey (FIDO2) Profiles in Microsoft Entra ID (preview) – Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Learn
• How to Enable Synced Passkeys (FIDO2) in Microsoft Entra ID (preview) – Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Learn
• How to run a registration campaign to set up Microsoft Authenticator – Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Learn
• Synced passkeys FAQ – Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Learn

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.

Updated March 11, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

As previously announced in MC1219792, PowerPoint will update the Microsoft 365 Copilot experience by enabling Agent mode for several on‑canvas authoring features, including rewrite, translate, and speaker notes. These enhancements will support more intelligent multi‑step reasoning and allow users to interact with Copilot through chat while performing actions directly on their presentations. This update aligns with our goal of delivering a more consistent, flexible, and powerful Copilot experience across Microsoft 365 apps.

[When this will happen]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in mid‑March 2026 starting with PowerPoint for the web, followed by PowerPoint for Windows (Win32) and PowerPoint for Mac, and is expected to complete by end of April 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

• Users of PowerPoint for the web, Windows, and Mac in Microsoft 365 tenants with Copilot access

What will happen

Rewrite

• Rewrite actions will be processed through Copilot Agent mode chat.
• Users will see progress and outputs directly in chat.
• Updated text will automatically appear on the slide.
• Existing rewrite entry point and options will remain unchanged.
• Partial text rewrite will not be supported.
• Rewrite will continue to not support tables, charts, or other non‑text objects.
• Rewrite will be enabled by default for tenants with Copilot access.

Translate

• Users will be able to initiate translation for a text box, a selected slide, or an entire presentation using Copilot Agent mode chat.
• Users will be able to prompt chat with: “Translate this presentation to [language].”
• The Copilot slide menu (sparkle icon) for translation will be removed starting in mid‑March for PowerPoint for the web, followed by Windows and Mac in April.
• Presentation‑level translation will continue to function as before.
• Translation will not support presentations larger than 1M text characters, with a large number of slide masters, or file sizes larger than 500MB.
• All Copilot‑supported languages will be available; however, English and Spanish will not support regional variants.
• During the transition, Copilot may edit the current file. Users should save a copy before initiating translation if needed.
• Translate will be enabled by default for tenants with Copilot access.
• The existing Translate feature will be accessible during the transition period from Ribbon Menu Review -> Translate with Copilot.

Speaker notes

• Users will be able to generate speaker notes for a slide or an entire presentation through Agent mode chat.
• Users will be able to prompt: “Add speaker notes to this slide.”
• Notes will be inserted directly into the Notes pane and can be refined using chat.

[What you can do to prepare]

No admin action is required.

However, you may consider the following optional steps:

• Inform users of upcoming changes to rewrite, translate, and speaker note workflows.
• Ensure that users intending on using this feature have an active Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
• Update internal training or documentation related to Copilot in PowerPoint.
• Encourage users to save a copy of large or critical presentations before initiating translation during the transition period.
• Notify users if your organization currently trains or instructs users to rely on the sparkle icon, as it will be removed.

Learn more: Agent Mode in PowerPoint (Frontier) | Copilot | Microsoft Support

[Compliance considerations]

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

Updated March 11, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

When users delete a Loop workspace, owners will be able to restore it from a recycle bin in Loop.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 421615

[When this will happen:]

We will begin rolling out June 2026 (previously early March) and expect to complete by end of June 2026 (previously late March).

[How this will affect your organization:]

Once available, when users delete a Loop workspace, owners can restore it from a recycle bin in Loop.

[What you need to do to prepare:]

There is nothing you need to do to prepare. These changes will roll to your tenant automatically.