check before: 2026-02-15
Product:
Microsoft 365 Apps, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview compliance portal, Purview Information Protection, Windows
Platform:
Online, US Instances, Web, World tenant
Status:
Rolling out
Change type:
Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft 365 Office for the web will support applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint starting mid-April 2026. This feature requires coauthoring on encrypted files, aligns with desktop app permissions, and respects existing admin policies. No user action is needed.
Details:
Updated March 19, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
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 feature will only be available in tenants that have enabled coauthoring on files encrypted with sensitivity labels: Enable co-authoring for files encrypted with sensitivity labels
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-April 2026 (previously mid-March) and expect to complete by early May 2026 (previously early April).
GCCH and DoD: We will begin rolling out in mid-April 2026 (previously mid-March) and expect to complete by early June 2026 (previously early May).
Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Release Phase:
General Availability
Created:
2025-12-30
updated:
2026-03-20
Task Type
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Docu to Check
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS How does it affect me
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
linked item details
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
summary for non-techies**
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Direct effects for Operations**
User Experience Disruption
If the change is implemented without preparation, users may face confusion or frustration due to the new sensitivity label feature, leading to potential misuse or incorrect application of permissions.
- roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
- 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 Support Requests
The introduction of user-defined permissions may lead to an increase in support requests from users who are unfamiliar with the new feature, impacting IT support resources.
- roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Personnel
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=468888, https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/sensitivity-labels-coauthoring
Configutation Options**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
Data Protection**
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.
change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2026-03-20 | MC Last Updated | 02/13/2026 18:10:44 | 2026-03-19T17:21:35Z |
| 2026-03-20 | MC Messages | Updated February 13, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
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-March 2026 (previously mid-February) and expect to complete by early April (previously early March). GCCH and DoD: We will begin rolling out in mid-March (previously mid-February) and expect to complete by early May (previously early April). | Updated March 19, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
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 feature will only be available in tenants that have enabled coauthoring on files encrypted with sensitivity labels: Enable co-authoring for files encrypted with sensitivity labels 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-April 2026 (previously mid-March) and expect to complete by early May 2026 (previously early April). GCCH and DoD: We will begin rolling out in mid-April 2026 (previously mid-March) and expect to complete by early June 2026 (previously early May). |
| 2026-03-20 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Office for the web will support applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint starting mid-March 2026. This aligns with desktop app permissions dialogs, requires no admin changes, and enhances document access control without compliance impacts. | Microsoft 365 Office for the web will support applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint starting mid-April 2026. This feature requires coauthoring on encrypted files, aligns with desktop app permissions, and respects existing admin policies. No user action is needed. |
| 2026-03-20 | MC End Time | 06/08/2026 09:00:00 | 2026-07-13T09:00:00Z |
| 2026-03-20 | MC prepare | https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/encryption-sensitivity-labels#let-users-assign-permissions
https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/sensitivity-labels-versions#sensitivity-label-capabilities-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint https://support.microsoft.com/office/apply-sensitivity-labels-to-your-files-2f96e7cd-d5a4-403b-8bd7-4cc636bae0f9#officeversion=web https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=468888 | https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/encryption-sensitivity-labels#let-users-assign-permissions
https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/sensitivity-labels-coauthoring https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/sensitivity-labels-versions#sensitivity-label-capabilities-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint https://support.microsoft.com/office/apply-sensitivity-labels-to-your-files-2f96e7cd-d5a4-403b-8bd7-4cc636bae0f9#officeversion=web https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=468888 |
| 2026-02-14 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, User impact, Admin impact | Updated message, New feature, User impact, Admin impact |
| 2026-02-14 | MC 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. | Microsoft 365 Office for the web will support applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint starting mid-March 2026. This aligns with desktop app permissions dialogs, requires no admin changes, and enhances document access control without compliance impacts. |
| 2026-02-14 | MC Last Updated | 12/29/2025 23:48:54 | 2026-02-13T18:10:44Z |
| 2026-02-14 | MC Messages | 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. | Updated February 13, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
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-March 2026 (previously mid-February) and expect to complete by early April (previously early March). GCCH and DoD: We will begin rolling out in mid-March (previously mid-February) and expect to complete by early May (previously early April). |
| 2026-02-14 | MC Title | Microsoft Office for the web: Apply sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions | (Updated) Microsoft Office for the web: Apply sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions |
| 2026-02-14 | MC End Time | 05/06/2026 09:00:00 | 2026-06-08T09:00:00Z |
Last updated 2 months ago ago
