MC1194077 – Microsoft Purview | Data Lifecycle Management – New cmdlet to remove retention holds from inactive mailboxes

Product:

eDiscovery, Exchange, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview compliance portal

Platform:

Online, US Instances, Web, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

New feature, User impact, Admin impact

Links:

537204

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Purview introduces new opt-in cmdlet parameters to remove retention holds from inactive mailboxes, enabling permanent deletion while respecting compliance. The ExcludeFromAllHolds parameter removes most holds except eDiscovery and litigation holds, and RemoveComplianceTagHold targets only Compliance Tag holds. Rollout begins December 2025.

Details:
[Introduction]
We're introducing new opt-in cmdlet parameters in Microsoft Purview Data lifecycle management that help administrators remove retention holds from inactive mailboxes. The new ExcludeFromAllHolds parameter removes all applicable holds except eDiscovery holds, litigation hold, and restrictive retention policies, enabling permanent deletion of mailboxes while continuing to respect compliance requirements.
The RemoveComplianceTagHold switch, in contrast, removes only the Compliance Tag-based hold (ComplianceTagHoldApplied) from a mailbox. This gives administrators more granular control when they want to adjust Compliance Tag enforcement without excluding the mailbox from other holds.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 537204.
[When this will happen]
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC-High, DoD): Rollout begins in early December 2025 and completes by late December 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-12-11

updated:
2025-12-11

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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linked item details

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summary for non-techies**

Microsoft Purview is introducing a new cmdlet to manage retention holds on inactive mailboxes, with functions like ExcludeFromAllHolds to remove most locks except critical ones, and RemoveComplianceTagHold to remove specific compliance tag locks, starting rollout in December 2025.

Direct effects for Operations**

Data Loss Risk
Removing retention holds from inactive mailboxes may lead to permanent data loss if compliance holds are not properly managed, resulting in the inability to recover important information.
   - roles: Exchange Administrators, Compliance Officers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?rtc=1%26filters=537204

Compliance Violations
Executing the cmdlet without prior compliance review may result in violations of legal or regulatory requirements, exposing the organization to potential fines or legal action.
   - roles: Compliance Officers, Legal Advisors
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?rtc=1%26filters=537204

User Access Disruption
Users may experience disruptions in accessing their data if retention holds are removed unexpectedly, leading to confusion and potential loss of trust in IT processes.
   - roles: End Users, Helpdesk Support
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?rtc=1%26filters=537204

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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DPIA Draft**

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explanation for non-techies**

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