Microsoft Roadmap, messagecenter and blogs updates from 23-12-2025

Updated December 22, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

Coming soon for Microsoft Teams: In channels, we will rename the Files tab as the Shared tab to enable users to view content shared in posts and content in the document library in one place. Note: The Shared tab in chats will not be affected by this change.

This message applies to Teams for Windows desktop and Teams for Mac desktop.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 470597.

[When this will happen:]

Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out early November 2025 and expect to complete by mid-November 2025.

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out mid-November 2025 and expect to complete by mid-January 2026 (previously late November 2025).

GCC: Start mid Dec 2025 and finish by late Jan 2026

[How this will affect your organization:]

After this rollout, users can still work with files and folders in the Microsoft SharePoint document library linked to the channel. All existing functionality in the Files tab will be available in the In library view of the Shared tab in channels. The In posts view in the Shared tab will display all files and links shared in channel posts:

Users can use the order the files by date using the Recent view and then filter by Files or Links. Before this rollout, this functionality was only available in chats:

Users can use the In posts view to find links:

These changes to channels will be available by default.

Coming soon after this rollout for the In posts view of the Shared tab in channels: Keyword search

[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 any relevant documentation.

Before rollout, we will update this post with new documentation.

Updated December 22, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

Introduction

We’re introducing Agent Mode in Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word that enhance how users interact with Copilot to create and refine content. These updates are designed to streamline document creation and editing through a more conversational and iterative experience. 

This message is associated with Roadmap ID 499428

When this will happen

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin November 17th 2025 (previously October 2025) and is expected to complete by early January 2026 (previously early December 2025).

How this affects your organization

Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will be able to use Agent Mode to make native changes directly on the Word canvas, like drafting new documents or sections, reorganizing content into formats like FAQs, updating existing content, or rewriting sections. Users will maintain control on the content as they will be able to review and approve any changes.  

What you can do to prepare

No admin action is required for this rollout. We recommend informing users about Agent Mode in Word and encouraging them to explore the new capability. Additional resources and documentation will be available closer to rollout. 

Compliance considerations

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

Additional resources:

• Vibe working: Introducing Agent Mode and Office Agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 Blog
• Agent mode in Word – Microsoft Support

Updated December 22, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We’re introducing the Adaptive Front-of-Room Experience for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android in Town Hall scenarios. This update helps create a distraction-free experience for attendees while giving presenters full control over what’s shown on the front-of-room display. It’s designed to support hybrid Town Halls where presenters and attendees share the same physical space.

A Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro license is required to use this feature.

This message is associated with RMID 500378.

[When this will happen:]

Targeted release: Rollout will begin in early December 2025.

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin by early February 2026 (previously mid-December 2025).

[How this affects your organization:]

• Who is affected: Organizations must have a Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro license to benefit from this feature. It applies to Teams Rooms on Android devices used in Town Hall scenarios.
• What will happen:
  • Teams Rooms added will join Town Hall meetings in a presenter role by default.
  • The front-of-room display will default to attendee view, showing only stage content and hiding backstage distractions.
  • The console will retain full presenter capabilities, including:
    • Green Room access
    • Backroom chat
    • Off-stage management tools
  • Presenters can switch the front-of-room display to presenter view when needed, without disrupting attendees.

Screenshot – New adaptive Front-of-Room Experience for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android:

[What you can do to prepare:]

• Confirm your organization has a Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro license.
• When scheduling a Town Hall, add the Teams Room and assign it a presenter role.
• Ensure the room device is running the latest version of the Teams Rooms app.
• Communicate this new capability to Town Hall organizers and facilities teams.
• Update internal documentation if you provide guidance on Town Hall participation.

Learn more: Get started with town hall in Microsoft Teams | Meetings | Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Support

[Compliance considerations:]

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

Updated December 5, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence (MDTI) is converging with Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel to deliver integrated threat intelligence capabilities directly within your SecOps environment. This change simplifies access to threat insights, improves detection and response workflows, and aligns with customer feedback for a unified experience.

[When this will happen]

Full convergence will be completed by August 1, 2026. New capabilities are available now, and as of August 2025, all MDTI data has been published via the free connector, with new Threat Analytics APIs replacing retired MDTI APIs.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected: Organizations using Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence, Microsoft Defender, or Microsoft Sentinel.

What will happen:

• Threat Intelligence Library will be accessible via the Microsoft Defender portal, including exclusive threat reports, intel profiles, and Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) integrated into Threat Analytics.
• Enhanced Threat Analytics reports will include:
  • Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) embedded in reports.
  • MITRE ATT&CK mapping for tactics, techniques, and procedures.
  • Insights on targeted industries and actor origins.
  • Related intelligence and aliases for cross-referencing.
• IoCs will be linked to cases for Sentinel customers.
• After August 1, 2026, MDTI capabilities will require an active Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Sentinel license.

[What you can do to prepare]

• Plan your transition to Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Sentinel before August 1, 2026, to maintain uninterrupted access.
• Review licensing requirements for MDTI capabilities.
• Update internal documentation to reflect new Threat Analytics APIs and connector availability.

[Compliance considerations]

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

Agent Mode in Microsoft 365 Copilot for Excel, available in Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac, introduces a new way for users to work with Copilot in Excel. It uses natural language to build and edit workbooks, keeps content editable, and ensures users stay up to date with the latest changes. Agent Mode can search the web to pull in trusted, up-to-date information to complement Excel data, answer questions, provide context, and enrich analysis without leaving the workbook. It also supports working with Claude AI models from Anthropic to build workbooks directly in Excel.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 542182.

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in mid-January 2026 and is expected to complete by early March 2026.

• 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 the M365 Copilot Chat pane by selecting it from the Tools menu.
  • Agent Mode will be available by default for eligible users.
  • The feature supports 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.

• No admin action is required.
• Agent Mode respects your Admin Center data access settings for Copilot web search.
• Agent Mode in Excel is a method for using M365 Copilot Chat to interact with your active workbook and is not a Microsoft 365 Copilot agent that needs to be managed from the Admin Center.
• 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 | Microsoft Support
• Anthropic as a subprocessor for Microsoft Online Services | Microsoft Learn
• Use Claude with Agent Mode (Frontier) in Excel | Microsoft Support

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

New Outlook for Windows will now support the ability to show a customizable oversharing dialog for Data Loss Prevention (DLP). This enhancement allows organizations to tailor the experience for end users when oversharing is detected, improving clarity and compliance.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 498921.

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins in early January 2026 and is expected to complete by late January 2026.

General Availability (GCC): Rollout begins in early February 2026 and is expected to complete by late February 2026.

• Who is affected: Admins managing DLP policies in New Outlook for Windows.
• What will happen:
  • New Outlook will display a customizable oversharing dialog when DLP rules are triggered.
  • Customization options include:
    • Custom titles and body text with multi-language support (up to 10 languages).
    • Business justification options (up to 3 predefined + 1 optional free-text).
    • Dynamic tokens for matched recipients, sensitivity labels, and attachment filenames.
    • Text formatting (Bold, Italic, Underline, Line breaks).
  • If this feature is already enabled in classic Outlook, it will work in New Outlook without additional action.
  • Feature is OFF by default unless configured by admins.

• No action is required unless you want to enable this feature.
• If enabling, configure settings in the Compliance portal under DLP policy tips.

Learn more: Data loss prevention policy tip reference for Outlook for Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Purview | Microsoft Learn

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

Enable Microsoft Purview to access, process, and store prompt and response data—including associated metadata—from Microsoft Foundry apps and agents. This integration supports key data security and compliance scenarios such as:

• Sensitive information type (SIT) classification
• Analytics and reporting through Microsoft Purview DSPM for AI
• Insider Risk Management
• Communication Compliance
• Microsoft Purview Audit
• Data Lifecycle Management
• eDiscovery

Microsoft Foundry now has direct integration with Microsoft Purview. This capability helps your organization manage and monitor AI-generated data in alignment with enterprise policies and regulatory requirements.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 537271.

• Public Preview: Rolling out mid-December 2025, expected completion mid-January 2026.
• Worldwide: Rolling out mid-March 2026, expected completion mid-April 2026.

• Who is affected: Admins managing Microsoft Foundry and Purview integrations.
• What will happen:
  • Admins can enable a toggle in Foundry to send AI interaction data to Purview.
  • Feature is opt-in; requires admin action to enable.
  • Once enabled, AI interaction data will be monitored and secured for compliance purposes.

• Work with the Foundry subscription owner to enable the toggle in the Foundry control plane.
• Pre-requisite: Assign “Cognitive Services Security Integration Administrator” role.
• Steps:
  • Go to Operate → Compliance.
  • Select the “Security” tab.
  • Select the Azure Subscription.
  • Click the enablement toggle next to “Microsoft Purview.”
• Repeat for other Azure subscriptions as needed.

Learn more: Use Microsoft Purview to manage data security & compliance for Microsoft Foundry | Microsoft Learn

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

Updated December 22, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

 Coming soon to Microsoft Purview | Data Loss Prevention: When an admin wants to enable user email notifications, policy tips also need to be enabled and vice versa. After this rollout, notifications and policy tips will be decoupled, and admins can configure the following rules to enable:

1. Only a user email notification
2. Only a policy tip
3. A user email notification and a policy tip
4. No policy tips or user email notifications

After this rollout, policy tips and user email notifications will align with the behavior currently available with Microsoft Exchange.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 394279.

[When this will happen:]

Public Preview: We will begin rolling out February 20, 2026 (previously late January 2026) and expect to complete by late February 2026 (previously late July).

General Availability Worldwide: We will begin rolling out March 2026 (previously late March) and expect to complete in March 2026 (previously late April). 

[How this will affect your organization:]

After rollout, to configure policy tips and user email notifications, you can use PowerShell or Purview | Data Loss Prevention.

In PowerShell

After rollout, use the new parameter called -NotifyUserType with the cmdlets New-DlpComplianceRule and Set-DlpComplianceRule.

Use New-DlpComplianceRule to create a new rule. Use Set-DlpComplianceRule to update an existing rule.

• Default value: NotSet
• To enable a policy tip: PolicyTip
• To enable a user email notification: Email
• To enable a user email notification and a policy tip: Email,PolicyTip

Example 1: New-DlpComplianceRule -Name "PT rule" -Policy "Policy Name" -ContentContainsSensitiveInformation @{Name="India Unique Identification (Aadhaar) Number"} -NotifyUserType PolicyTip -NotifyUser SiteAdmin,LastModifier,Owner

Example 2: Set-DlpComplianceRule -Identity "Rule Name" -NotifyUserType Email

To check that the value is set correctly, check the following and check the parameter value for NotifyUserType:

Get-DlpComplianceRule -Identity "Rule Name" | fl

In Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Before rollout:

After rollout:

DLP examples

Rule 1: Configured to only trigger a user email notification:

Rule 2: Configured to only trigger a policy tip:

Rule 3: Configured to trigger a user email notification and a policy tip:

[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 update any relevant documentation as appropriate.