MC1024395 – (Updated) Transitioning from user’s OneDrive to SharePoint for Whiteboards created in Teams Channels (archived)

Product:

OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Whiteboard

Platform:

Online, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

Feature update, Updated message, User impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Whiteboards created in Teams Channels will transition from being stored on the initiator's OneDrive to the corresponding SharePoint site to resolve access issues. This rollout will occur from early May 2025 to late June 2025. No action is required from tenant admins.

Details:
Updated June 10, 2025: We have updated the timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
We are updating the storage location for Whiteboards created from the Teams Channel Tab App. Previously, these whiteboards were saved on the initiator's OneDrive, which caused access issues due to sharing settings, information barriers, or conditional access policies. To resolve these issues and align with the behavior of other M365 apps, whiteboards initiated from the Teams Channel Tab App will now be stored in the corresponding SharePoint site of the Teams Channel (also known as the channel site). This change ensures seamless access for all channel members while adhering to set policies.
[When this will happen:]
We will begin rolling out in early May 2025 and expect to complete by late June 2025 (previously late May).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-03-06

updated:
2025-06-11

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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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Access Issues
Transitioning whiteboards to SharePoint may initially cause access issues for users who are accustomed to finding them in OneDrive, leading to confusion and potential delays in collaboration.
   - roles: Team Members, Project Managers
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-whiteboard-blog/whiteboard-integration-with-microsoft-teams/ba-p/1234567

User Experience Disruption
Users may experience a disruption in their workflow as they adapt to the new location of whiteboards, which could lead to decreased productivity during the transition period.
   - roles: End Users, Team Leaders
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/05/01/whiteboard-in-teams-channels/

Training and Adaptation Needs
The change in storage location may necessitate additional training for users to familiarize themselves with accessing whiteboards in SharePoint, impacting time and resources.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, End Users
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=searchterms=whiteboard

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you have a group of people working together on a big whiteboard in a shared office space. Initially, the whiteboard was kept in one person's office, which meant that everyone had to go through that person to access it. This setup often led to complications, like if the office was locked or if that person was unavailable, making it difficult for others to see or add to the whiteboard.

Now, to make things easier, the whiteboard is being moved to a common area where everyone in the group can access it freely. This way, anyone can walk up to it, see what's on it, and contribute without needing special permission or facing any barriers.

In the digital world, something similar is happening with the whiteboards created in Microsoft Teams Channels. Previously, these digital whiteboards were stored in the personal OneDrive of the person who started them. This sometimes caused issues with access because of individual sharing settings or security policies. To fix this, Microsoft is moving these whiteboards to the SharePoint site associated with the Teams Channel. Think of SharePoint as that common area where everyone in the group can easily access the whiteboard.

This change is set to happen between May and June 2025. The good news is that no action is needed from your side, as this transition is being handled by Microsoft. Once the change is complete, all members of the Teams Channel will have seamless access to the whiteboards, just like walking up to that common whiteboard in the shared office space. This ensures that everyone can collaborate effectively without any hurdles.