check before: 2024-07-15
Product:
Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 suite, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview Information Protection
Platform:
Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant
Status:
Launched
Change type:
Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint now support dynamic watermarking for sensitive files. This feature, available on all platforms, adds user information to watermarks and requires admin configuration. Public preview starts mid-July 2024, with general availability beginning mid-January 2025. Admins should update documentation and notify users.
Details:
Updated April 22, 2025: We have recently implemented the necessary fixes to expand the GA scope, enabling support for dynamic watermarking on labels with both user-defined and admin-defined permissions (the original scope).
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This setting is supported for labels with admin-defined protection. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub
This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717.
[When this will happen:]
Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024.
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late February 2025 (previously late January).
The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Preview
Created:
2024-07-25
updated:
2025-04-23
Public Preview Start Date
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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**
Microsoft has introduced dynamic watermarking for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which adds personalized watermarks to documents to enhance security and track access, available for testing in mid-July 2024 and fully by early 2025 across multiple platforms.
Direct effects for Operations**
Dynamic Watermarking Implementation
If dynamic watermarking is rolled out without prior admin configuration, users may experience confusion and frustration due to unexpected watermarks containing their information on documents, leading to potential privacy concerns.
- roles: Admins, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/encryption-sensitivity-labels#dynamic-watermarking, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/security-compliance-and-identity/preview-dynamic-watermarking-for-sensitivity-labels-in-word/ba-p/4185842
User Notification and Documentation
Failure to notify users about the new dynamic watermarking feature may result in a lack of understanding of its purpose and functionality, leading to decreased productivity and potential misuse of sensitive documents.
- roles: Admins, End Users
- references: https://aka.ms/DWAdminDocs, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=400717
Configutation Options**
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Data Protection**
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IT Security**
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explanation for non-techies**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2025-04-23 | MC Last Updated | 02/18/2025 21:57:37 | 2025-04-22T22:44:49Z |
| 2025-04-23 | MC Messages | Updated February 18, 2025: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience.
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This setting is supported for labels with admin-defined protection. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late February 2025 (previously late January). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. | Updated April 22, 2025: We have recently implemented the necessary fixes to expand the GA scope, enabling support for dynamic watermarking on labels with both user-defined and admin-defined permissions (the original scope).
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This setting is supported for labels with admin-defined protection. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late February 2025 (previously late January). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. |
| 2025-04-23 | MC End Time | 04/07/2025 10:00:00 | 2025-04-30T10:00:00Z |
| 2025-04-23 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 is rolling out dynamic watermarking for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to protect sensitive files, with a current issue causing access errors. Public Preview begins mid-July 2024, with General Availability starting mid-January 2025. Admins need to configure this feature post-rollout. | Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint now support dynamic watermarking for sensitive files. This feature, available on all platforms, adds user information to watermarks and requires admin configuration. Public preview starts mid-July 2024, with general availability beginning mid-January 2025. Admins should update documentation and notify users. |
| 2025-02-19 | MC Last Updated | 01/24/2025 23:41:03 | 2025-02-18T21:57:37Z |
| 2025-02-19 | MC Messages | Updated January 24, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
Update December 20, 2024: There is an issue causing users to get an access denied error when attempting to open files for which they are not the RMS owner, when the file has a sensitivity label configured for dynamic watermarking. We are working to resolve this issue. Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late February 2025 (previously late January). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. | Updated February 18, 2025: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience.
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This setting is supported for labels with admin-defined protection. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late February 2025 (previously late January). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. |
| 2025-02-19 | MC End Time | 03/03/2025 09:00:00 | 2025-04-07T10:00:00Z |
| 2025-01-25 | MC Messages | Update December 20, 2024: There is an issue causing users to get an access denied error when attempting to open files for which they are not the RMS owner, when the file has a sensitivity label configured for dynamic watermarking. We are working to resolve this issue.
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late January 2025. (previously late November). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. | Updated January 24, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
Update December 20, 2024: There is an issue causing users to get an access denied error when attempting to open files for which they are not the RMS owner, when the file has a sensitivity label configured for dynamic watermarking. We are working to resolve this issue. Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late February 2025 (previously late January). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. |
| 2025-01-25 | MC Last Updated | 12/21/2024 01:19:47 | 2025-01-24T23:41:03Z |
| 2024-12-21 | MC Messages | Updated November 27, 2024: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late January 2025 (previously late November). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. | Update December 20, 2024: There is an issue causing users to get an access denied error when attempting to open files for which they are not the RMS owner, when the file has a sensitivity label configured for dynamic watermarking. We are working to resolve this issue.
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late January 2025. (previously late November). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. |
| 2024-12-21 | MC Last Updated | 11/28/2024 01:42:04 | 2024-12-21T01:19:47Z |
| 2024-12-21 | MC Summary | Dynamic watermarking, a new sensitivity label setting, will be added to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, embedding the user's information onto files. It will be available on various platforms, with a Public Preview in July 2024 and General Availability in mid-January 2025 | Microsoft 365 is rolling out dynamic watermarking for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to protect sensitive files, with a current issue causing access errors. Public Preview begins mid-July 2024, with General Availability starting mid-January 2025. Admins need to configure this feature post-rollout. |
| 2024-11-28 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, User impact, Admin impact | Updated message, New feature, User impact, Admin impact |
| 2024-11-28 | MC Summary | Dynamic watermarking, a new sensitivity label setting, will be added to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, embedding the user's information onto files. It will be available on various platforms, with a Public Preview in July 2024 and General Availability in November 2024. | Dynamic watermarking, a new sensitivity label setting, will be added to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, embedding the user's information onto files. It will be available on various platforms, with a Public Preview in July 2024 and General Availability in mid-January 2025 |
| 2024-11-28 | MC Last Updated | 07/24/2024 21:51:54 | 2024-11-28T01:42:04Z |
| 2024-11-28 | MC Messages | Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub
This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-November 2024 and expect to complete by end of November 2024. The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. | Updated November 27, 2024: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
Dynamic watermarking is a new sensitivity label setting that will add watermark text containing the consuming user's information onto content in files created in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection help you classify and protect your organization's data. Learn more: (Preview) Dynamic watermarking for sensitivity labels in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Microsoft Community Hub This message applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the web, Desktop/Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 400717. [When this will happen:] Public Preview: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out to Current Channel mid-January 2025 (previously mid-November) and expect to complete by late January 2025 (previously late November). The rest of the channels will follow in line with their normal cadence. |
| 2024-11-28 | MC Title | Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint: Protect sensitive files with dynamic watermarking | (Updated) Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint: Protect sensitive files with dynamic watermarking |
| 2024-11-28 | MC End Time | 01/31/2025 09:00:00 | 2025-03-03T09:00:00Z |
Last updated 2 days ago
