MC1174858 – Introducing Image Search in Microsoft Teams

Product:

Teams

Platform:

Linux, Mac, Online, US Instances, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

In development

Change type:

New feature

Links:

505443

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Teams now supports image search in chats and channels, showing results by message content, sender, and location. Features include image suggestions in Autosuggest, an Images filter, and a Search Results Page with context and a carousel view. Rollout occurs November–December 2025 across all environments.

Details:
[Introduction]
You can now search for images in Microsoft Teams - whether it's a screenshot, whiteboard photo, or any other visual shared in chats or channels. Images can be found by person name or message content in Autosuggest, while the Search Results Page also shows the chat or channel where the image was shared for added context.
This message is associated with Roadmap ID 505443.
[When this will happen:]
Targeted release: Rollout begins early November 2025 and completes by mid-November 2025.
Worldwide and GCC: Rollout begins mid-November 2025 and completes by early December 2025.
GCC-H and DoD: Rollout begins early December 2025 and completes by mid-December 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Targeted Release

Created:
2025-10-18

updated:
2025-10-18

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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linked item details

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Confusion
Users may be confused by the new image search functionality, leading to frustration and decreased productivity as they learn how to use the feature effectively.
   - roles: End Users, Support Staff
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=505443

Increased Support Requests
The introduction of image search without preparation may lead to an increase in support requests as users encounter issues or have questions about the new feature.
   - roles: Support Staff, IT Helpdesk
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=505443

Search Performance Issues
The new image search feature could lead to temporary performance issues in Teams if the infrastructure is not prepared to handle the increased load of image queries.
   - roles: IT Operations, System Administrators
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=505443

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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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft Teams is introducing a new feature that allows users to search for images shared in chats and channels. Imagine you're looking for a specific photo in a large album. Previously, you might have had to flip through each page to find it. Now, with this new feature, it's like having a personal assistant who can quickly find the photo for you based on who took it, what was happening in the picture, or where it was taken.

When you start typing in the search bar, Teams will suggest images based on the words you use or the people involved. It's similar to when you start typing a search in a web browser, and it predicts what you're looking for before you finish typing. This is called Autosuggest, and it helps you find what you need faster.

Once you search, you'll see a dedicated Images tab showing all the relevant pictures. It's like having a special section in your photo album where all the related pictures are grouped together. You can click on any image to see it in a larger view and scroll through related images using a carousel, much like flipping through a slideshow.

There's also an Images filter that lets you see only pictures in your search results. It's akin to filtering your email inbox to show only messages with attachments. This filter can be activated by typing a specific keyword or simply clicking an option.

This feature is rolling out to all Microsoft Teams users in various environments, starting in November 2025. It will be available by default, so no setup is required. While this new capability enhances the search experience, it currently doesn't support searching for text within images, known as OCR.

Overall, this update aims to make finding images in Teams as easy as finding a specific page in a well-organized book, helping users quickly locate the visuals they need in their daily communications.