check before: 2025-07-08
Product:
Microsoft 365 Apps
Platform:
Online, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
User impact, Admin impact, Retirement
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft is modernizing the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel for Windows desktop apps to streamline updates and align with customer needs. The Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Preview and Extended will be retired by 2025 and 2026, respectively. Organizations should migrate devices to other channels and plan for a twice-yearly update cycle.
Details:
To help organizations stay current and benefit from the latest Microsoft 365 innovation, we are modernizing the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel to streamline update options and align with evolving customer needs. These changes simplify channel management and encourage broader adoption of update cadences that deliver features and security updates more efficiently.
This message applies to Windows desktop apps.
What's changing
Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Preview and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Extended will be retired
Devices currently on Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Preview will not receive updates after July 8, 2025.
Support for Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Extended will end March 10, 2026.
Feature previews are now available through Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel.
Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel support will be simplified
Starting July 8, 2025, the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel will move to a 6+2-month lifecycle (6 months of feature updates followed by 2 months of rollback support).
This channel will be reserved for specialized non-attended scenarios where more frequent updates are not practical.
Monthly Enterprise Channel improvements
Starting June 1, 2025, the Monthly Enterprise Channel will support N, N-1, and N-2 builds, giving admins greater flexibility during deployment validation.
All update channels will continue to receive security updates on Patch Tuesday.
What you need to do
Now is the time to evaluate your update strategy:
Migrate devices off the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Preview to ensure they continue receiving security updates.
Move interactive or user-facing devices to the Monthly Enterprise Channel for a more modern, validated experience.
For any remaining devices on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel, plan to follow the twice-yearly update cycle in January and July.
Learn more: Overview of update channels for Microsoft 365 Apps
Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Release Phase:
Created:
2025-06-03
updated:
2025-06-03
Task Type
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Docu to Check
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**
Microsoft is retiring the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel for Windows desktop apps in Microsoft 365 in favor of more frequent update options, such as the Monthly Enterprise Channel, and is changing the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel to a 6+2-month update cycle, requiring organizations to adjust their update strategies accordingly.
Direct effects for Operations**
Retirement of Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Preview
Devices on this channel will not receive updates after July 8, 2025, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and lack of feature updates.
- roles: IT Administrators, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/updates/overview-update-channels
End of Support for Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Extended
Support will end on March 10, 2026, which may result in outdated software and increased risk of incidents due to unpatched vulnerabilities.
- roles: IT Administrators, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/updates/overview-update-channels
Migration to Monthly Enterprise Channel
Failure to migrate may lead to a lack of access to the latest features and security updates, negatively impacting user experience and productivity.
- roles: IT Administrators, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/updates/overview-update-channels
Change in Update Cycle
Transitioning to a twice-yearly update cycle may disrupt user workflows if not properly communicated and managed, leading to frustration and decreased efficiency.
- roles: IT Administrators, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/updates/overview-update-channels
Simplified Channel Management
Without preparation, the changes in channel management may confuse users and admins, leading to mismanagement of updates and potential downtime.
- roles: IT Administrators, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/updates/overview-update-channels
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
** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
a free basic plan is required to see more details. Sign up here
A cloudsocut.one plan is required to see all the changed details. If you are already a customer, choose login.
If you are new to cloudscout.one please choose a plan.
Last updated 1 week ago
