The Microsoft 365 monthly update includes updates and recently released features across Microsoft 365. The free version includes updates to SharePoint, Teams and OneDrive, whilst subscribers get all of the updates, plus Power Platform, Copilot and more.
You can take a look back at previous monthly updates here, plus take a look at our weekly roadmap roundup.
SharePoint
SharePoint Site Header & Footer Enhancements
Microsoft has announced a set of enhancements to SharePoint site headers and footers, improving customization and visual appeal. These updates allow site owners to set background images with overlay colors across all layout types, choose from predefined font families for various site elements, and align footers to the left for greater layout flexibility.
For site viewers, the command bar will now be hidden in view mode, offering a cleaner and more immersive browsing experience. The rollout of these features began in late August 2025 and is expected to complete by mid-September 2025.
Find out more: Introducing new SharePoint Site Header & Footer Enhancements | Microsoft Community Hub
Sections with AI for SharePoint Pages
Microsoft has announced a new feature called “Sections with AI”, designed to streamline the page authoring process. This tool allows users to generate sections on SharePoint pages by providing a prompt. The prompt analyzes the existing page content and organizational knowledge to suggest relevant section ideas, which users can either select or customize. Users can also ground the AI in specific files or meeting transcripts to enhance contextual accuracy.
Once a section is generated, users can refine it using natural language prompts—such as changing images, adding contact details, or adjusting tone—and toggle between layout options. The AI-generated content remains in draft form, giving users full control over what gets published.
Find out more: SharePoint Pages: Introducing Sections with AI | Microsoft Community Hub
SharePoint Page Template Gallery
The SharePoint Page Template Gallery is now generally available. This centralized gallery simplifies the process of creating pages and news posts by offering a curated selection of templates. Users can choose from templates saved on their site, full-page apps (if available), and professionally designed options from Microsoft. These templates are accessible from multiple entry points, including the Site Home, App Bar, and News Web Part, making it easier than ever to build polished content quickly.
Find out more: Introducing the New SharePoint Page Template Gallery | Microsoft Community Hub
Collaborate on SharePoint pages and news with co-authoring
Real-time coauthoring for SharePoint pages and news posts allows multiple authors to edit the same content. Authors can see each other’s presence and changes live at the page, section, and web part levels. While multiple users can edit the same section, only one person can edit a specific web part at a time, with automatic saving occurring every few seconds. The “Save as draft” command has been removed, streamlining the editing process, and up to 100 coauthoring sessions can occur at once.
Additional updates include improved sharing options for both individual pages and entire sites, as well as enhanced version history tools. Authors can undo recent changes or restore previous versions, and a warning is now shown if someone tries to publish while others are still editing.
Find out more: Collaborate on SharePoint pages and news with coauthoring – Microsoft Support
SharePoint agents are available in Teams app Store
Microsoft has released SharePoint agents in the Teams app store, allowing users to engage with SharePoint content directly in Teams, enhancing document discovery, summarization, and collaboration. These personalized agents cannot be managed by admins, potentially increasing SharePoint content visibility within Teams. The feature is enabled by default and will be globally available by late August 2025, providing easy access to streamline workflows with up to 25 agents shown in the store.
Find out more: Share an agent from SharePoint in Teams – Microsoft Support
Expanded access to Data Access Governance report
Microsoft have introduced an ability for SharePoint administrators to generate the Site permissions report directly from the SharePoint Admin Center portal, eliminating the need for PowerShell. This report provides insights into the exposure levels of SharePoint and OneDrive sites, helping organizations identify potential risks and take remedial actions. The feature, which is on by default, supports broader adoption of Microsoft Copilot and aims to ensure data is appropriately governed and accessible. The rollout began in mid-August 2025 and is expected to be completed by late August 2025.
Find out more: Get ready for Microsoft 365 Copilot with SharePoint Advanced Management – SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn
AI-powered site content and policy comparison report
A new AI-powered report for SharePoint admins allows comparison of site content and policies across an organization. Admins can select a site, compare its settings with others, and receive a similarity percentage without altering site settings. This feature, requiring a SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) or Microsoft Copilot license, aims to enhance governance by aligning settings across sites. The public preview rollout began in early April 2025, with general availability expected from late August to late December 2025.
Find out more: Get ready for Microsoft 365 Copilot with SharePoint Advanced Management – SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn
Office 365 CDN in SharePoint
Microsoft has updated its guidance on using the Office 365 Content Delivery Network (CDN) with SharePoint Online to improve performance and reduce delays for static assets like images, scripts, and styles. The CDN stores these assets closer to users and uses HTTP/2 for faster delivery. Organizations can set up public and private origins, control access with CDN policies, and manage deployment using PowerShell or the CLI for Microsoft 365. SharePoint’s Publishing feature can automatically change asset URLs to their CDN versions, and best practices are suggested to avoid hardcoding URLs for secure and efficient asset delivery.
Find out more: Use Office 365 Content Delivery Network (CDN) with SharePoint Online – Microsoft 365 Enterprise | Microsoft Learn
Teams
Filter for messages with files in contextual search
Finding shared content in Teams is now simpler thanks to enhancements in the Find in Chat/Channel feature, allowing users to quickly locate documents and media shared in conversations without scrolling through lengthy threads. The updates include message filtering to show only those with attachments and the addition of file chiclets in search results, improving productivity and streamlining the search for shared content.
Find out more: Search and filter messages – Microsoft Support
Search with SQL-like commands
When searching in Teams, you can now efficiently narrow down your search results by using SQL-like commands in the search bar. This allows you to quickly filter messages, files, or conversations with precise queries such as from:username or in:channel. This feature provides users with a familiar and structured method to find information swiftly and accurately.
Find out more: Search and filter messages – Microsoft Support
Keyboard Shortcuts
Customize keyboard shortcuts in Teams to align with your workflow preferences, using your own commands or preset layouts from other apps. Access this feature via the top bar menu by selecting Keyboard shortcuts to modify shortcuts as desired.
Find out more: Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
Saved message view
Quickly get back to important information without scrolling through long conversations. You can save messages in chats and channels and find them later in the saved messages view in your chat list. From the saved view, click on a saved message to open the full conversation in the right pane, where you can review or reply directly.
Find out more: Save a message – Microsoft Support
Multiple Emoji Reactions
You can now use multiple reactions to messages and posts, allowing for a richer expression of emotions. For instance, responding to your manager’s update with a “check” and “thank you” emoji shows understanding and gratitude. This use of emoji combinations helps convey feelings like agreement or urgency efficiently, keeping discussions focused while expressing yourself comprehensively.
Find out more: Send an emoji or GIF in Microsoft Teams Free – Microsoft Support
Edit your display name in Teams meetings
Participants can now edit their display name during a Teams meeting — whether to reflect a preferred name, indicate a role (e.g., “Moderator” or “Interpreter”), or support inclusive self-representation. The change of display name is temporary and only visible during the meeting. The change is not permanent in any artifact like recording.
Find out more: Edit your display name in Teams meetings
Book desks using maps [Premium]
You can now book a desk using an interactive, map-based experience. The new maps-first interface shows office layouts and is responsive on mobile devices and smaller screens. Whether reserving an individual desk or a pooled desk, the experience is optimized within Outlook and Teams calendars and across the Places app. This feature is available with a Teams Premium license.
Find out more: Setting up Bookable Desks in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Book desks near colleagues [Premium]
You can now book a desk based on where your colleagues are working. When selecting a desk, you’ll be able to see who is occupying nearby desks or find where a specific colleague plans to sit on a given day, then book a desk close to them. You always retain control over whether to share your own desk location with others. This capability is available with a Teams Premium license.
Find out more: Setting up Bookable Desks in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Book desks for partial days and multiple days [Premium]
Desk reservations are now more flexible in duration: you can book a desk for a partial day (just a few hours) or for multiple days in one go, rather than requiring a separate full-day booking for each day. This change accommodates real in-office workflows – for example, if you only need a desk for a morning, or conversely want to keep the same desk all week, you can do so easily. This feature is available with a Teams Premium license.
Find out more: Setting up Bookable Desks in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Book desks on behalf of others [Premium]
Delegates can now book desks for their principals. If you manage another person’s schedule, you can reserve a workspace on their behalf through the familiar calendar delegation workflow. This desk booking process mirrors existing Outlook calendar management, so it fits seamlessly into delegates’ routines. This feature is available with a Teams Premium license.
Find out more: Setting up Bookable Desks in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Configure auto-release for no-show desk reservations
Admins can now set desks to auto-release after a specific time frame if a user does not check in for their reservation. This frees up space for others, and helps maximize workspace utilization by ensuring no-show reservations don’t keep a desk locked all day.
Find out more: Enable check-in and autorelease – Microsoft Places | Microsoft Learn
Enhanced walk-up desk booking experience for users
Teams walk-up desk booking now features enhanced interface updates, showing reservation confirmation or notifications if desks are booked. The improved experience guides users on reservations, calendar syncing, and management.
Find out more: Configure desk peripherals – Microsoft Places | Microsoft Learn
Configure new desk modes: reservable, drop-in, assigned, unavailable
Microsoft has launched flexible desk configuration options for administrators, including reservable, drop-in, assigned, and unavailable desks, allowing organizations to customize workspace management according to their booking policies and operational needs.
Find out more: Configure desk booking – Microsoft Places | Microsoft Learn
New Places admin dashboard
Administrators can now manage Places directory data through a dedicated, user-friendly dashboard that provides a central interface to easily view and edit workspace directory information (such as office locations, desks, and rooms) and set and manage booking policies. This simplifies day-to-day management of workplace data by putting all relevant controls in one place.
Find out more: Microsoft Places overview – Microsoft Places | Microsoft Learn
New Places built-in admin role support
Places now supports built-in Microsoft 365 admin roles for delegation. IT admins can assign responsibility for Places management to other administrators using standard roles, allowing day-to-day management tasks to be handled without elevated permissions. In practice, this means administrators can delegate tasks (like updating office space details or approving changes) to team members with appropriate built-in roles, streamlining operations.
Find out more: Configure administrator roles – Microsoft Places | Microsoft Learn
Meeting organizers can send messages to attendees in the lobby with lobby chat
Now meeting organizers can send one-way messages to attendees in the lobby via the lobby chat. The lobby chat is intended to optimize the lobby experience for all participants, ensuring that organizers are better equipped to run external meetings, have more control over meetings with external participants, and external attendees are well informed about the meeting upon meeting start.
Find out more: Using the lobby in Microsoft Teams meetings – Microsoft Support
Customize the screen in Teams Town halls through ‘Manage what attendees see’ [Premium]
Organizers will be able to elevate their Teams Town hall presentations by customizing their screen with select layouts, backgrounds, and name tags using “Manage what attendees see” feature. This will result in a polished, high-quality, and engaging event experience. This feature is available with a Teams Premium License.
Find out more: Plan for Teams town halls – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Personal meeting templates [Premium]
With personal meeting templates, users can easily customize and apply pre-saved options for various meeting types, saving time and ensuring consistency. This feature is accessible with a Teams Premium license.
Find out more: Personal meeting templates in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
Immersive events, experience customization tools and presenter tools [Premium]
Immersive events enable organizers with Teams Premium licenses to host large-scale, 3D virtual gatherings directly within Teams. These events support up to 300 attendees in spatial audio environments, allowing simultaneous conversations and cross-room interactions. With new Experience Customization Tools, hosts can personalize 3D spaces using logos, colors, images, and videos—no coding required—and save layouts as reusable templates. Enhanced presenter tools simplify event management with features like easy presentation start, attendee teleportation, room-wide search, and a streamlined control panel for a smoother production experience.
Find out more: Get started with immersive events in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
Shifts integration with Teams call queues
Teams administrators can now use scheduling groups created in the Shifts app to dynamically manage call routing in call queues, ensuring calls are directed only to agents who are actively on shift. By integrating shift data with call queue configurations, this update streamlines workforce management and offers greater flexibility in aligning call routing with team schedules and availability.
Find out more: Create a Call queue in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Email notifications for phone number assignments
Microsoft has introduced a feature that allows Teams admins to send branded email notifications to users when assigning or unassigning Teams Phone numbers via PowerShell. This enhancement supports a smoother onboarding experience by informing users of their new number, expected activation timeline (up to 48 hours), instructions for accessing the dial pad in Teams, and links to explore Teams Phone capabilities.
Find out more: Manage phone numbers for users – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
GCC/ DoD
- New Microsoft Teams Chat and channels experience in GCC: The new chat and channels experience is now available for GCC users.
- Meeting notes powered by Loop now available for Microsoft 365 GCC High and DoD: Teams Notes and Loop components are now available in Microsoft 365 GCC High and DoD environments, enabling real-time collaboration in chats and meetings.
- Meeting inherits label from shared files – GCC [Premium]: Now available for GCC users, Microsoft 365 E5 and Teams Premium customers can now leverage sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection to help set the right data protection settings in meetings.
Find out more: Teams Release notes for Government Cloud feature releases – Office release notes | Microsoft Learn
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