MC1208688 – Microsoft Office for the web: Apply sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions

Product:

Microsoft 365 Apps, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview compliance portal, Purview Information Protection, Windows

Platform:

Online, US Instances, Web, World tenant

Status:

In development

Change type:

New feature, User impact, Admin impact

Links:

468888

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft 365 Office for the web will support applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint starting mid-February 2026. This aligns with desktop app permissions, requires no admin changes, and needs no user action to prepare.

Details:
Office for the web in Microsoft 365 now supports applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions. This enhancement provides organizations with greater flexibility and control over document access in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the web.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 468888.
When this will happen
General Availability
Worldwide and GCC: We will begin rolling out in mid-February 2026 and expect to complete by early March 2026.
GCCH and DoD: We will begin rolling out in mid-February 2026 and expect to complete by early April 2026.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-12-30

updated:
2025-12-30

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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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Disruption
Users may experience confusion or frustration if they are not adequately informed about the new sensitivity labeling feature, leading to potential misuse or incorrect application of permissions.
   - roles: End Users, Compliance Officers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/encryption-sensitivity-labels#let-users-assign-permissions, https://support.microsoft.com/office/apply-sensitivity-labels-to-your-files-2f96e7cd-d5a4-403b-8bd7-4cc636bae0f9#officeversion=web

Increased Security Risks
Without proper preparation, users may inadvertently grant excessive permissions, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive documents, which could compromise organizational data security.
   - roles: IT Security Personnel, Data Protection Officers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/sensitivity-labels-versions#sensitivity-label-capabilities-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=468888

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft is introducing a new feature for Office for the web in Microsoft 365 that allows users to apply sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This feature is set to roll out starting mid-February 2026 and will be available worldwide by early March 2026. For specialized government environments like GCCH and DoD, the rollout will complete by early April 2026.

To put it simply, think of sensitivity labels like a lock on a door. Just as you might have different keys for different people to access certain rooms in a building, sensitivity labels let you control who can access specific parts of a document. With this update, users can now decide who gets the key to open the document when working online, just like they can when using the desktop versions of these applications.

This change doesn't require any action from administrators or users. It's like getting a new feature on your smartphone through an automatic update—everything works as it did before, but now you have an extra tool at your disposal. The interface for applying these labels will look the same as it does in the desktop apps, making it easy for users to adapt without needing to learn anything new.

In terms of compliance, there are no new considerations identified, but it's always a good idea for organizations to review how these changes fit into their existing compliance strategies. This feature is designed to enhance flexibility and control over document access without disrupting current workflows or requiring changes to existing policies.