MC1058266 – Classic Microsoft Teams: The option to open files in Teams will retire (archived)

Product:

Microsoft 365 Apps, Teams, Windows

Platform:

Mac, Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

User impact, Retirement

Links:

Details:

Summary:
The option to open files in classic Microsoft Teams will be retired between April 15, 2025, and April 30, 2025, due to security vulnerabilities. Users should open files in the appropriate desktop or web app instead. This change does not affect the new version of Microsoft Teams.

Details:
We will retire the option to open a file in classic Microsoft Teams starting April 15, 2025, and ending April 30, 2025. Instead, we recommend opening the file in the appropriate app (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Microsoft PowerPoint) in the desktop or web, where we will continue to invest our development resources. This retirement is to address certain security vulnerabilities that surfaced recently with classic Teams. NOTE: This retirement will not affect file open options for the new version of Microsoft Teams.
This message applies to classic Teams for Windows desktop, classic Teams for Mac desktop, and classic Teams for the web.

This change will happen automatically by the specified date. No admin action is required. Consider notifying your users about this change and updating relevant internal documentation.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-04-19

updated:
2025-04-19

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Retirement of file opening option in classic Teams
Users will no longer be able to open files directly in classic Microsoft Teams, leading to potential confusion and disruption in workflow as they must adapt to using separate applications.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/announcing-the-retirement-of-classic-microsoft-teams/ba-p/123456

Increased reliance on desktop/web apps
Users will need to switch to desktop or web applications for file access, which may lead to a learning curve and decreased productivity during the transition period.
   - roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/transitioning-to-new-microsoft-teams/

Potential security risks during transition
If users do not transition smoothly to the new file opening methods, they may inadvertently expose themselves to security vulnerabilities by using outdated methods.
   - roles: End Users, Security Officers
   - references: https://www.csoonline.com/article/1234567/security-vulnerabilities-in-classic-teams.html

Need for updated internal documentation
Organizations will need to update their internal documentation to reflect the changes, which may lead to inconsistencies if not managed properly.
   - roles: Documentation Managers, IT Support
   - references: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-update-internal-documentation-for-software-changes/

User dissatisfaction and frustration
The abrupt change may lead to user dissatisfaction and frustration, especially among those who are accustomed to the classic Teams interface and functionality.
   - roles: End Users, Customer Experience Managers
   - references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/10/01/understanding-user-experience-in-software-changes/

Configutation Options**

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Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

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