490057 – Microsoft Teams: New Microsoft Teams Chat and channels experience in Education

Product:

Teams

Platform:

Android, Education, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

The new, streamlined chat and channels experience makes it easier to stay on top of what matters most and organize your digital workspace. Catch up on chat, channels and teams in one place, create custom sections to organize conversations by topics, use filters to triage messages and more. This is an optional opt-in experience.

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Release Phase:
General Availability, Targeted Release

Created:
2025-05-02

updated:
2025-09-05

Docu to Check

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

MS workload name

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

summary for non-techies**

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Direct effects for Operations**

User Interface Changes
Users may struggle to adapt to the new layout and features, leading to confusion and decreased productivity during the transition period.
   - roles: End Users, Educators
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/education, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/announcing-the-new-microsoft-teams-chat-and-channels-experience/ba-p/3651230

Feature Adoption
Without proper training, users may not utilize new features effectively, resulting in missed opportunities for collaboration and communication.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/education, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/announcing-the-new-microsoft-teams-chat-and-channels-experience/ba-p/3651230

Integration Issues
Existing integrations with other tools may not function correctly with the new experience, causing disruptions in workflows and communication.
   - roles: IT Administrators, End Users
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/education, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/announcing-the-new-microsoft-teams-chat-and-channels-experience/ba-p/3651230

Configutation Options**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

Opportunities**

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Potentional Risks**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

IT Security**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

explanation for non-techies**

Imagine your office as a bustling city. In this city, Microsoft Teams is like the central hub where everyone comes together to share ideas, discuss projects, and make decisions. Now, think of the new chat and channels experience as a renovation of this hub, designed to make everything more accessible and efficient.

In the past, navigating through Teams might have felt like walking through a crowded marketplace where it was easy to get lost or miss important conversations. With the new streamlined experience, it's like having clear signposts and dedicated lanes for different topics, making it easier to find your way around and focus on what truly matters.

This update allows you to catch up on all your chats, channels, and teams in one convenient place, much like having a single bulletin board in the city square where all the important notices are posted. You can also create custom sections to organize conversations by topics, similar to having separate rooms for different meetings, ensuring that discussions are organized and easy to follow.

Additionally, filters act like a personal assistant, helping you sort through messages to find the ones that need your immediate attention, much like sorting through your mail to prioritize urgent letters over junk mail.

This new experience is optional, meaning you can choose to adopt it when you're ready, much like deciding when to renovate your office space to suit your needs better. Whether you're using Teams on your desktop, mobile device, or web, this update is designed to enhance your digital workspace, making it a more efficient and organized environment for collaboration.