MC1002417 – (Updated) Microsoft SharePoint: The “spaces” feature will retire (archived)

Product:

SharePoint

Platform:

Online, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

Retirement, Updated message, User impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
The SharePoint "spaces" feature will retire between March 10, 2025, and August 11, 2025. Users will gradually lose the ability to enable and use this feature. Existing spaces will remain functional until full deprecation. Users are encouraged to transition to Microsoft Mesh for immersive experiences.

Details:
Updated April 21, 2025: We will be rolling out the change to prevent users from activating the SharePoint spaces feature in site settings (or using PowerShell) starting May 15th. It will still be possible to disable the feature using this dialog. Users attempting to enable the feature will receive an error message indicating that the Spaces feature is being deprecated and cannot be enabled at this time. Sites with the feature already enabled will continue to function with the feature enabled.
Due to limited usage and our focus on investing in Microsoft Mesh where immersive 3D content can be created and experienced in a multi-user collaborative experience, we will retire the spaces feature from Microsoft SharePoint Online starting March 10, 2025 and ending August 11, 2025. As another alternative, you may choose to transition some existing content to SharePoint Pages.

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Release Phase:

Created:
2025-02-11

updated:
2025-04-22

Task Type

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Docu to Check

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

MS How does it affect me

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

MS Preperations

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

MS Urgency

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**

Deprecation of SharePoint Spaces Feature
Users will lose the ability to create or view SharePoint spaces, impacting collaborative projects that rely on this feature.
   - roles: End Users, Project Managers
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/sharepoint-spaces-7b65edfb-7cc9-42e3-af37-178d79364a5e, https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview

Transition to Microsoft Mesh
Users will need to transition to Microsoft Mesh for immersive experiences, which may require additional training and adaptation time.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview, https://support.microsoft.com/topic/11ac7262-865f-4b15-a596-53a1646970a0

Error Messages for Feature Activation
Users attempting to enable the spaces feature will receive error messages, leading to frustration and potential disruption in workflow.
   - roles: End Users, Team Leaders
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/sharepoint-spaces-7b65edfb-7cc9-42e3-af37-178d79364a5e, https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview

Loss of Existing Content
Existing content in SharePoint spaces will become unusable after the feature is retired, potentially leading to data loss and project delays.
   - roles: Content Managers, End Users
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/sharepoint-spaces-7b65edfb-7cc9-42e3-af37-178d79364a5e, https://support.microsoft.com/topic/11ac7262-865f-4b15-a596-53a1646970a0

Documentation Updates Required
Organizations will need to update documentation and inform users about the changes, which can be resource-intensive and time-consuming.
   - roles: IT Administrators, Training Coordinators
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/sharepoint-spaces-7b65edfb-7cc9-42e3-af37-178d79364a5e, https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/mesh/overview

Configutation Options**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

Potentional Risks**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

IT Security**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

explanation for non-techies**

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only