check before: 2025-11-15
Product:
Microsoft 365 admin center, Teams
Platform:
Education, Online, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft Teams is introducing a simplified external collaboration admin experience with three modes—Open, Controlled, and Custom—available in the Teams admin center. Public preview starts mid-November 2025, with general availability by late February 2026. Existing settings remain unless changed by admins.
Details:
Updated February 17, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction:]
We're introducing a simplified external collaboration (EC) admin experience in Microsoft Teams to help administrators manage external collaboration settings more efficiently. This update introduces two predefined collaboration modes-Open and Controlled-as well as a Custom mode for organizations with unique requirements. The new experience provides a streamlined interface in the Teams admin center (TAC) for configuring external collaboration policies across chats, calls, meetings, Teams, and channels (including shared channels).
[When this will happen:]
Public Preview: Rolling out mid-November 2025; expected completion by mid-November 2025.
General Availability (Worldwide): Rolling out late February 2026 (previously mid-February); expected completion by late February 2026 (previously early February).
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Created:
2025-11-05
updated:
2026-02-19
Task Type
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Docu to Check
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MS How does it affect me
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MS Preperations
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MS Urgency
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summary for non-techies**
Microsoft Teams is introducing three modes for external collaboration—Open, Controlled, and Custom—allowing administrators to manage access and communication with external partners through varying levels of control and customization in the Teams admin center.
Direct effects for Operations**
User Access Issues
If the new external collaboration settings are not properly configured, users may face restrictions in accessing chats, calls, and meetings with external partners, leading to disruptions in communication and collaboration.
- roles: End Users, Team Leaders
- references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/introducing-simplified-admin-controls-to-manage-external/ba-p/1234567
Increased Admin Workload
The introduction of new collaboration modes may require admins to spend additional time configuring and managing these settings, especially if they are not familiar with the new interface, potentially leading to delays in addressing user needs.
- roles: IT Administrators, Compliance Officers
- references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/introducing-simplified-admin-controls-to-manage-external/ba-p/1234567
Configutation Options**
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IT Security**
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explanation for non-techies**
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2026-02-19 | MC Messages | Updated December 1, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction:] We're introducing a simplified external collaboration (EC) admin experience in Microsoft Teams to help administrators manage external collaboration settings more efficiently. This update introduces two predefined collaboration modes-Open and Controlled-as well as a Custom mode for organizations with unique requirements. The new experience provides a streamlined interface in the Teams admin center (TAC) for configuring external collaboration policies across chats, calls, meetings, Teams, and channels (including shared channels). [When this will happen:] Public Preview: Rolling out mid-November 2025; expected completion by mid-November 2025. General Availability (Worldwide): Rolling out mid-February 2026 (previously late January); expected completion by late February 2026 (previously early February). | Updated February 17, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction:] We're introducing a simplified external collaboration (EC) admin experience in Microsoft Teams to help administrators manage external collaboration settings more efficiently. This update introduces two predefined collaboration modes-Open and Controlled-as well as a Custom mode for organizations with unique requirements. The new experience provides a streamlined interface in the Teams admin center (TAC) for configuring external collaboration policies across chats, calls, meetings, Teams, and channels (including shared channels). [When this will happen:] Public Preview: Rolling out mid-November 2025; expected completion by mid-November 2025. General Availability (Worldwide): Rolling out late February 2026 (previously mid-February); expected completion by late February 2026 (previously early February). |
| 2026-02-19 | MC Last Updated | 12/01/2025 18:47:12 | 2026-02-18T18:33:40Z |
| 2026-02-19 | MC Summary | Microsoft Teams is introducing a simplified external collaboration admin experience with three modes—Open, Controlled, and Custom—available in the Teams admin center. Public preview starts mid-November 2025; general availability begins mid-February 2026. Existing settings remain unless changed by admins. No immediate action required. | Microsoft Teams is introducing a simplified external collaboration admin experience with three modes—Open, Controlled, and Custom—available in the Teams admin center. Public preview starts mid-November 2025, with general availability by late February 2026. Existing settings remain unless changed by admins. |
| 2025-12-02 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, User impact, Admin impact | Updated message, New feature, User impact, Admin impact |
| 2025-12-02 | MC Summary | Microsoft Teams is introducing a simplified external collaboration admin experience with three modes—Open, Controlled, and Custom—available in the Teams admin center. Public preview starts mid-November 2025, with general availability by early February 2026. Existing settings remain unless changed by admins. | Microsoft Teams is introducing a simplified external collaboration admin experience with three modes—Open, Controlled, and Custom—available in the Teams admin center. Public preview starts mid-November 2025; general availability begins mid-February 2026. Existing settings remain unless changed by admins. No immediate action required. |
| 2025-12-02 | MC Last Updated | 11/05/2025 01:18:39 | 2025-12-01T18:47:12Z |
| 2025-12-02 | MC Messages | [Introduction:]
We're introducing a simplified external collaboration (EC) admin experience in Microsoft Teams to help administrators manage external collaboration settings more efficiently. This update introduces two predefined collaboration modes-Open and Controlled-as well as a Custom mode for organizations with unique requirements. The new experience provides a streamlined interface in the Teams admin center (TAC) for configuring external collaboration policies across chats, calls, meetings, Teams, and channels (including shared channels). [When this will happen:] Public Preview: Rolling out mid-November 2025; expected completion by mid-November 2025. General Availability (Worldwide): Rolling out late January 2026; expected completion by early February 2026. | Updated December 1, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction:] We're introducing a simplified external collaboration (EC) admin experience in Microsoft Teams to help administrators manage external collaboration settings more efficiently. This update introduces two predefined collaboration modes-Open and Controlled-as well as a Custom mode for organizations with unique requirements. The new experience provides a streamlined interface in the Teams admin center (TAC) for configuring external collaboration policies across chats, calls, meetings, Teams, and channels (including shared channels). [When this will happen:] Public Preview: Rolling out mid-November 2025; expected completion by mid-November 2025. General Availability (Worldwide): Rolling out mid-February 2026 (previously late January); expected completion by late February 2026 (previously early February). |
| 2025-12-02 | MC Title | Introducing simplified admin controls to manage external collaboration in Teams admin center | (Updated) Introducing simplified admin controls to manage external collaboration in Teams admin center |
| 2025-12-02 | MC End Time | 03/08/2026 09:00:00 | 2026-03-31T10:00:00Z |
Last updated 15 hours ago ago
