Microsoft 365 Targeted Release is being retired in January 2027. Before that, from November 2026, administrators will no longer be able to add users to, remove users from, or otherwise change Targeted Release enrolment.
Microsoft is replacing the old approach with a newer audience-based release model built around Frontier, Standard release and Deferred release.
For most small businesses, this will not break Microsoft 365. But organisations that currently use Targeted Release for pilot users, IT staff or early testing should review their settings before November so they know who will receive new features first after the change.
What is Microsoft 365 Targeted Release?
Targeted Release has traditionally let an organisation give selected users, or the whole tenant, earlier access to certain Microsoft 365 changes before they reach everyone on Standard Release.
Many IT teams use it for a small pilot group so they can see new features first, update documentation and prepare support teams before a wider rollout.
Microsoft is now moving away from that model. The company says the new audience-based release approach is intended to simplify how organisations manage feature delivery across Microsoft 365.
When is Targeted Release being retired?
There are two dates to watch.
- November 2026: administrators can no longer add users to, remove users from, or modify Targeted Release enrolment.
- January 2027: Microsoft retires Targeted Release for the Microsoft 365 services covered by this change.
Users already assigned to Targeted Release can remain there until the retirement date. After that, feature delivery follows the organisation’s newer release preferences.
This makes November the practical deadline for businesses that still need to tidy up or change their current Targeted Release assignments.
What replaces Targeted Release?
Microsoft’s newer model has three main audiences.
Frontier
Frontier is the earliest option. It gives selected users access to eligible features before general availability so organisations can experiment, validate changes and provide feedback. Frontier features are pre-release and may still change.
Standard release
Standard release is the default. Users receive supported features as they become generally available.
Deferred release
Deferred release gives businesses more preparation time. Microsoft says eligible major features arrive approximately 30 days after they begin rolling out through Standard release.
The important distinction is that Frontier is for pre-GA preview access, while Standard and Deferred control when generally available features reach users.
Which Microsoft 365 services are affected?
Microsoft says this Targeted Release retirement applies to services that currently use Targeted Release for feature delivery, including:
- Microsoft 365 admin centre
- Microsoft Teams
- OneDrive
- SharePoint Online
- Outlook on the web
- New Outlook for Windows
- Office for the web
Microsoft 365 Apps update channels, Windows update channels and Microsoft 365 Insider programmes are not affected by this retirement. Those continue to use their own update mechanisms.
Not sure how quickly Microsoft 365 changes are reaching your users?
KES can review your Microsoft 365 release settings, pilot groups and wider configuration so changes arrive at the right pace for your business.
What should businesses using Targeted Release do now?
If your organisation currently uses Targeted Release, Microsoft recommends reviewing your release preferences before the retirement.
A practical checklist is:
- Identify users currently assigned to Targeted Release.
- Decide whether they should move to Frontier, Standard release or Deferred release after the change.
- Review whether your current pilot or validation process still makes sense.
- Update any internal documentation that still refers to Targeted Release.
- Tell support, change-management and IT staff what the new release model means.
Microsoft’s own guidance shows that organisations using Targeted Release for selected pilot users may want to use Deferred release for the wider organisation while keeping validation users on Standard release.
If you already use Standard release for everyone and do not use Targeted Release, Microsoft says no immediate action is required.
For businesses that want a broader health check, our Seven Microsoft 365 Checks Worth Making guide covers other areas worth reviewing alongside release preferences.
What happens if you do nothing?
If you currently use Targeted Release and make no changes, Microsoft says users assigned to it will remain there until retirement. In January 2027, they will then receive features according to the organisation’s current modern release preference, such as Standard or Deferred release.
That means the main risk is not an outage. It is losing the release pattern your IT team expected. Pilot users could start receiving updates at the same time as everyone else, or the wider organisation could move onto a different cadence than intended.
For small businesses with no formal change-management process, this may have little practical effect. For organisations that deliberately test Microsoft 365 changes before wider rollout, it is worth reviewing now rather than discovering the new behaviour later.
KES can also help with ongoing Microsoft 365 monitoring, security and management if you want these settings reviewed as part of the wider tenant configuration.
Quick answers
Is Targeted Release ending?
Yes. Microsoft says Targeted Release for the affected Microsoft 365 services will be retired in January 2027.
When can administrators no longer change Targeted Release users?
From November 2026, administrators can no longer add users to, remove users from, or modify Targeted Release enrolment.
What replaces Microsoft 365 Targeted Release?
Microsoft is moving to Frontier for pre-release access, Standard release for normal general-availability rollout, and Deferred release for eligible major features that need extra preparation time.
Does this change Microsoft 365 Apps update channels?
No. Microsoft says Microsoft 365 Apps update channels, Windows update channels and Insider programmes are not part of this retirement.
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