MC1188222 – (Updated) Microsoft Teams: Private chat for organizers and presenters in structured meetings, webinars, and town halls

Product:

Microsoft 365 admin center, Teams, Teams Premium, Windows

Platform:

Android, iOS, Mac, Online, US Instances, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

In development

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

392328

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Teams will introduce a private chat for organizers, co-organizers, and presenters in structured meetings, webinars, and town halls, unifying backroom chat behavior across town halls. Rollout begins March 2026, affecting meeting policies and requiring admin review and communication.

Details:
Updated January 8, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction]
We're introducing a private chat feature for organizers, co-organizers, and presenters in structured meetings and webinars in Microsoft Teams. This separate chat enhances collaboration by allowing key participants to communicate privately before, during, and after the event, without involving attendees. Additionally, we are unifying backroom chat behavior in town halls to ensure consistent functionality across all structured meetings. Currently, backroom chat behavior varies depending on whether streaming chat is enabled for town halls and whether the organizer has a Teams Premium license. This update removes that inconsistency.
This message is associated with Roadmap ID 392328 and applies to Teams for Windows desktop, Teams for Mac desktop, Teams for the web, Teams for iOS/Android, MTR-W and MTR-A devices.
[When this will happen:]
Targeted Release: Rollout begins in early March 2026 (previously early February) and is expected to complete by mid-March 2026 (previously mid-February).
General Availability (Worldwide and GCC): Rollout begins in mid-March 2026 (previously mid-February) and is expected to complete by late March 2026 (previously late February).

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

Created:
2025-11-20

updated:
2026-01-09

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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linked item details

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Loss of Backroom Chat Access
If an admin turns the new backroom chat policy OFF, previously scheduled town halls will lose access to backroom chat, impacting communication among organizers and presenters.
   - roles: Admins, Event Organizers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

Increased Communication Overload
For non-TPre town halls, backroom chat will switch to ON by default, potentially overwhelming organizers and presenters with additional communication channels.
   - roles: Organizers, Presenters
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

Need for Policy Review
Admins must review and potentially update Teams meeting policies to accommodate the new private chat feature, which may lead to confusion if not communicated properly.
   - roles: Admins, Helpdesk Staff
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

Documentation Updates Required
Internal documentation must be updated to reflect the new backroom chat behavior, which could lead to inconsistencies if not done timely.
   - roles: Admins, Event Organizers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

User Experience Disruption
Changes in chat functionality may disrupt the user experience for organizers and presenters if they are not adequately prepared for the new features.
   - roles: Organizers, Presenters
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

Enhanced Collaboration for Event Management
The introduction of private chat for organizers, co-organizers, and presenters allows for more effective communication during structured meetings and webinars. This feature can streamline event management by enabling real-time coordination without attendee distraction.
   - next-steps: Conduct training sessions for event managers and presenters on utilizing the new private chat feature effectively. Create guidelines for best practices in using the feature during events.
   - roles: Event Managers, Presenters, Organizers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

Improved Meeting Policy Management
With the unification of backroom chat behavior, IT admins can simplify the management of meeting policies across different types of events. This reduces the complexity of managing varying chat settings and ensures consistency across town halls and structured meetings.
   - next-steps: Review and update existing meeting policies in the Teams admin center to align with the new unified settings. Communicate these changes to all relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth adoption.
   - roles: IT Administrators, Compliance Officers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

Documentation and Communication Efficiency
The requirement to update internal documentation regarding the new backroom chat behavior presents an opportunity to improve overall documentation practices. This can enhance user understanding and reduce support queries related to meeting functionalities.
   - next-steps: Develop a comprehensive update plan for internal documentation and communication materials. Ensure that all relevant teams are informed about the changes and provide easy access to updated resources.
   - roles: Documentation Specialists, Helpdesk Staff
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=392328

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 organizers, co-organizers, and presenters to have a private chat during structured meetings, webinars, and town halls. Think of it like having a separate room where the event hosts can discuss and coordinate without the attendees hearing. This can be compared to a backstage area in a theater where performers and crew can communicate and prepare without the audience being aware of their conversations.

This private chat is designed to enhance collaboration among key participants, allowing them to communicate privately before, during, and after the event. It is separate from the chat that attendees can see, providing a space for organizers and presenters to share information or make quick decisions without involving everyone else.

Additionally, Microsoft Teams is standardizing the chat behavior for town halls. Previously, the ability to have a backroom chat depended on whether the streaming chat was enabled and if the organizer had a Teams Premium license. This update will make the backroom chat available by default for all town halls, regardless of these factors, ensuring a consistent experience across all structured meetings.

For administrators, this means reviewing and possibly updating meeting policies to decide whether to enable this private chat feature. It’s like setting the rules for who can enter the backstage area. If you choose to turn off the backroom chat, any town halls that previously had it enabled will lose access once the meeting options are updated.

It's important to communicate these changes to helpdesk staff and event organizers, and update any internal documentation to reflect the new chat behavior. This ensures everyone involved is aware of the new capabilities and can use them effectively. If you decide the backroom chat isn't necessary for your organization, you can adjust the policy in the Teams admin center to disable it.