End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (2024)

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Microsoft Teams

Overview

A new Teams client is in the process of rolling out, in stages, for users who are still on classic Teams client. This rollout involves installing the new Teams client for users who still have the classic Teams client, with Microsoft attempting to uninstall the classic Teams client 14 days after the installation of new Teams. This article has the timelines and details of end of support and end of availability for classic Teams client.

Timeline updates

This rollout is going to differ based on your Teams Admin Center policy controls.

Note

These timelines don't apply to GCC, GCCH, and DoD. We cover this in a later section.

Important

Admins should know that they can always move forward in the steps to new Teams Only from any other point in the rollout schedule, but they can't move backwards in the steps from where they currently are. Some examples:

  • If a customer is currently in classic Teams default mode, they can go to new Teams default mode, or new Teams Only, by assigning those policy states. However, they can't move back to the AdminDisabled state.
  • If a customer is currently in new Teams default mode, they can move forward to new Teams Only by assigning that policy state. In this case, they couldn't move back to classic Teams default or AdminDisabled.

Native clients excluding VDI:

The end of support for the classic Teams client starts July 1, 2024. The end of availability for the classic Teams client starts July 1, 2025.

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (1)

VDI timeline:

The end of support for the classic Teams client in VDI starts October 1, 2024. The end of availability for the classic Teams client in VDI starts July 1, 2025.

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (2)

The timeline for VDI in regard to GCCH and DOD tenants. The end of support for VDI for these tenants starts October 1, 2024, and the end of availability starts July 1, 2025. For Microsoft-controlled tenants, the Update policy won't be effective from September 1, 2024, and users will be migrated gradually to new Teams starting at this time.

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (3)

For more information regarding VDI, see Upgrade to new Teams for Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

  • Microsoft-managed rollout: If Teams policy was set to be Microsoft-controlled, new Teams is being rolled out according to the outlined schedule. We'll attempt to uninstall classic Teams after 14 days.
  • Admin-managed rollout: Until the start of April, admins could choose to control the new Teams rollout as outlined in Upgrade to the new Teams client using policies. Apart from your VDI users, this period has ended, and admins will now see the following behaviors:
    • New Teams is installed and becomes the default client. The toggle to return to classic Teams is still available if needed.
    • In mid-May, any users remaining on classic Teams will be switched to new Teams, and the toggle to return to classic Teams won't be available. We'll attempt to uninstall classic Teams after 14 days.

These are the important timeline concepts to keep in mind going forward:

  • End of support: The end of our supporting classic Teams client. We'll no longer provide updates or new features for the client, nor will we help resolve support issues with the classic Teams client.
  • End of availability: The end of functionality for the classic Teams client. After this deadline, the client will stop working and users will no longer be able to do work in the classic Teams client.

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (4)

Timeline for GCC, GCCH, DoD

This rollout is going to differ based on your Teams Admin Center policy controls, as outlined in the following table:

Note

If you left the policy controls at their defaults state of Microsoft-controlled, we'll continue rolling out new Teams according to the schedule outlined in this article, but we won't proceed with the uninstallation of the classic Teams client for 14 days.

Government cloud and scenarioAdmin opt-inNew Teams toggle shownNew Teams default clientNew Teams only
GCC/GCCH Microsoft-managed rolloutCurrently, the new Teams update will only be available when administrators enable it for their users. Instructions for configuring policy for the new Teams client can be found in our Upgrade to the new Teams client using policies article. When the policy is enabled for a user, they can select the New Teams toggle switch in their Teams client to start the update.Starting in late February, we enabled the new Teams toggle for Microsoft-controlled users. If they're still using the classic Teams client, they will not be updated unless they toggle the switch.Beginning in late March, the new Teams client became the default client for Teams users. Customers will receive the new Teams update, unless disallowed by policy. Users may still toggle back to the classic Teams client.Beginning in early May all remaining classic Teams users are being updated to the new Teams client and the toggle switch will be removed. After this process completes, Microsoft will attempt to remove the classic Teams client.
GCC/GCCH admin-managed rolloutNANABeginning in late May, the new Teams client will become the default client for all active Teams users. Customers will receive the new Teams update. Users may still toggle back to the classic Teams client.Beginning mid-June all remaining classic Teams users will be updated to the new Teams client and the toggle switch will be removed. After this process completes, Microsoft will attempt to remove the classic Teams client.
DOD Microsoft-managed rolloutCurrently, the new Teams update only becomes available when administrators enable it for their users. Instructions for configuring policy for the new Teams client can be found in our Upgrade to the new Teams client using policies article. When the policy is enabled for a user, they can select the New Teams toggle switch in their Teams client to start the update.Starting in late February, we enabled the new Teams toggle for Microsoft-controlled users. If they're still using the classic Teams client, they won't be updated unless they toggle the switch.Beginning in early May, the new Teams client became the default client for Teams users. Customers will receive the new Teams update, unless disallowed by policy. Users may still toggle back to the classic Teams client.NA
DOD admin-managed rolloutNANABeginning in mid-July, the new Teams client will become the default client for all active Teams users. Customers will receive the new Teams update. Users may still toggle back to the classic Teams client.Beginning mid-August all remaining classic Teams users will be updated to the new Teams client and the toggle switch will be removed. After this process completes, Microsoft will attempt to remove the classic Teams client after 14 days.

User experience

Classic Teams will reach the end of support starting July 1, 2024.

What users will experience after March 31, 2024

Starting in March 2024, any classic Teams users who hadn’t updated to new Teams began seeing an informational banner to remind them about the classic Teams end of support timeline. This banner appeared in the main Teams client window at the top of the page (underneath the main bar).

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (5)

If we're unable to move you to new Teams, here's a list of the banner messages you may experience:

Condition for triggering the bannerBanner messageFurther information
Unsupported Windows operating systemClassic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. To use the new Teams, update your OS to meet requirements or contact your IT admin. Learn more.Prerequisites
Unsupported Mac operating systemClassic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. To use the new Teams, update your OS to meet requirements or contact your IT admin. Learn more.Prerequisites
Unsupported operating system (EDU)Classic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. To use the new Teams, update your OS to meet requirements or contact your IT admin. Learn more.Prerequisites
Unsupported operating system (Gov)Classic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. To use the new Teams, update your OS to meet requirements or contact your IT admin. Learn more.Prerequisites
Unsupported operating system (DOD)Classic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. To use the new Teams, update your OS to meet requirements or contact your IT admin. Learn more.Prerequisites
Microsoft 365 operated by 21Vianet in ChinaClassic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. To use the new Teams, update your OS to meet requirements or contact your IT admin. Learn more.Prerequisites
Unsupported OS (VDI)Classic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. Contact your IT admin to switch to the new Teams. Learn more.Prerequisites
Microsoft can't update because of policy restrictions (EDU)Classic Teams will soon be unavailable for use, and we can't update to the new Teams due to org policy. For more info, contact your IT admin. Learn more

On July 1, 2024, classic Teams becomes unsupported. Users still running classic Teams due to configuration issues or an unsupported OS will experience in-app dialog messages informing them that the client is no longer supported. These dialogs are dismissible, but will reappear periodically.

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (6)

Classic Teams End of availability

Unsupported OS

  • Starting October 23, 2024, classic Teams won't be available on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. If you use classic Teams on these systems, you'll see warning messages starting in August. On October 23, 2024, you won't be able to use the classic Teams app anymore. If you can't update your Windows to a supported browser, you can use the new Teams web app in a supported browser instead.
  • Starting July 1, 2025, classic Teams will stop working on Windows 10, macOS older than Big Sur (11), LTSC, or for users with configuration issues. You'll see the in-app messages about classic Teams going away and you won't be able to use the classic Teams app after that date.

Users who can't upgrade to the new Teams client on their device can use the new Teams web app on supported browsers instead.

Note

You can dismiss this banner when it starts to appear, but the banner will reappear with each client launch.

Here's a list of the messages you may experience:

ScenarioEnd of support warningEnd of supportEnd of availability warningEnd of availability
Unsupported operating systemClassic Teams will soon be unsupported, and your OS needs to be updated to run the new Teams. Starting July 1, 2024, we'll no longer be supporting classic Teams. Update your OS or contact your IT department. View minimum requirementsClassic Teams is no longer supported and your OS needs to be updated to run the new Teams. As of July 1, we're no longer supporting classic Teams. Update your OS or contact your IT department. View minimum requirementsClassic Teams will soon be unavailable, and your OS needs to be updated to run the new Teams. Starting July 1, 2025, classic Teams will no longer be available for use. Update your OS or talk to your IT department. View minimum requirementsClassic Teams is no longer available, and your OS needs to be updated to run the new Teams. As of July 1, 2025, classic Teams is no longer available for use. Update your OS or talk to your IT department. To experience the new Teams, you can try it out on the web. View minimum requirements
Windows GPO policy blocked usersClassic Teams will soon be unsupported, but due to org policy, we couldn't update you to the new Teams. Starting July 1, 2024, we'll no longer be supporting classic Teams. To update to the new Teams, contact your IT department. Learn about installation issuesClassic Teams is no longer supported, but due to org policy we couldn't update you to the new Teams. As of July 1, we're no longer supporting classic Teams. We couldn't update to the new Teams due to org policy. Contact your IT department. Learn moreClassic Teams will soon be unavailable, but due to org policy, we couldn't update you to the new Teams. Starting July 1, 2025, classic Teams will no longer be available for use. To update to the new Teams, contact your IT department. Learn about installation issuesClassic Teams is no longer available, but due to org policy, we couldn't update you to the new Teams. As of July 1, 2025, classic Teams is no longer available for use. Contact your IT department for more info. To experience the new Teams, you can try it out on the web. Learn about installation issues
Any install and launch issuesClassic Teams will soon be unsupported, and we couldn't update you to the new Teams. Starting July 1, 2024, we'll no longer be supporting classic Teams. To update to the new Teams, contact your IT department. Learn about installation issuesClassic Teams is no longer supported, and we couldn't update you to the new Teams. As of July 1, we are no longer supporting classic Teams. We couldn't update to the new Teams. Contact your IT department. Learn moreClassic Teams will soon be unavailable, and we couldn't update you to the new Teams. Starting July 1, 2025, classic Teams will no longer be available for use. To update to the new Teams, contact your IT department. Learn about installation issuesClassic Teams is no longer available, and we couldn't update you to the new Teams. As of July 1, 2025, classic Teams is no longer available for use. Contact your IT department for more info. To experience the new Teams, you can try it out on the web. Learn about installation issues

Classic Teams will remain available to use as defined in the timelines in this article. However, we highly encourage admins to update their users to new Teams, as new features are only being added to the new Teams client. Learn more in the Upgrade to the new Teams using policies article.

If users are on an unsupported OS (including Win 10 LTSC), you’ll see a slightly different banner messaging:

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (7)

What happens if we can’t update users to new Teams

Once classic Teams isn't available for you, you're going to see a dialog similar to this one, and classic Teams won't work for you anymore.

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (8)

Classic Teams users who've had issues moving to new Teams or who don't meet the prerequisites to upgrade will still have access to the classic Teams client until availability ends. After this time, users who can't upgrade on their devices can use the new Teams web app on a supported browser instead.

Admin experience

What admins saw until the end of March 31, 2024

Admins have full control over their tenant’s transition to new Teams via the Upgrade to the new Teams using policies article.

A bulk installer, including offline capability, is provided for admins who want to deploy new Teams using their own tools and process and use Teams policies to move their users to the desired experience: Bulk upgrade to the new Microsoft Teams client.

Microsoft highly recommends that admins who want more control or a more gradual rollout of new Teams take advantage of these tools and functionality to begin slowly transitioning their users to new Teams now. Policies can be targeted to individual users, groups of users, or your entire tenant to give you flexibility to release to users group by group while monitoring progress and feedback.

What admins are experiencing after April 01, 2024

In the Teams admin center:

  • Microsoft-managed rollout: If Teams policy was set to be Microsoft-controlled, new Teams is being rolled out according to the outlined schedule. We'll attempt to uninstall classic Teams after 14 days.
  • Admin-managed rollout: Until the start of April, admins could choose to control the new Teams rollout as outlined in Upgrade to the new Teams client using policies. Apart from your VDI users, this period has ended, and the following is now true:
    • New Teams is installed and becomes the default client. The toggle to return to classic Teams is still available if needed.
    • In mid-May, any users remaining on classic Teams will be switched to new Teams, and the toggle to return to classic Teams won't be available. We'll attempt to uninstall classic Teams after 14 days.
End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams (2024)

FAQs

End of availability for classic Teams client - Microsoft Teams? ›

The end of support for the classic Teams client starts July 1, 2024. The end of availability for the classic Teams client starts July 1, 2025.

How long will classic Teams be available? ›

The Teams Classic app was initially due to be shuttered at the end of March 2024, but that deadline is now being pushed back to July 1, 2024. The extension will give Commercial and Educational users who will not be able to meet the necessary requirements to transition to the new Teams App by April 1 this year.

Is Microsoft Teams Classic no longer available? ›

After April 12, 2023, Microsoft is retiring Microsoft Teams Free (classic), the legacy free Teams app for business.

How do you make Teams show you as available for longer? ›

Clicking the “Duration” button under the status options will allow you to choose exactly how long you want to show a specific status. At the end of the duration you choose, Microsoft Teams will automatically switch you back to “Available” and then to “Away” if it detects you've gone idle.

How do I stop Microsoft team status from timing out? ›

Under Status, select the status you want to show going forward. Under Reset status after, select the amount of time you want that status to last. Or, if none of the suggested time frames work for you, select Custom under Reset status after and enter the date and time manually. Select Done.

Will classic Teams be removed? ›

Classic Teams will soon be unavailable for use. Contact your IT admin to switch to the new Teams. Learn more. On July 1, 2024, classic Teams becomes unsupported.

How to change Teams Classic to New? ›

To get started using the new Teams, flip the toggle next to Try the new Teams in the upper-left corner of the classic Teams app. Note: If you don't see the toggle next to Try the new Teams, contact your IT admin. To use the new Teams: Open the Teams desktop app on your Windows device.

Is Microsoft Teams free classic going to be retired? ›

Microsoft has recently announced that it will putting Teams Free (Classic) into retirement from April 12th 2023 to help encourage businesses to make the transition to Microsoft Teams Essentials for around £3.28 per user per month if they are wishing to retain any shared files on the legacy version of Teams Free.

What's the difference between classic Teams and new Teams? ›

New Teams is a complete overhaul of the Teams app that offers better performance and reliability, as well as more security and IT control. Microsoft said that new Teams is twice as fast and uses half as much memory as Classic Teams.

How long will Teams stay available? ›

How Long Does Teams Stay Green? Teams stay green for as long as your computer does not go idle or sleep. This means that you can keep Microsoft Teams green for 15 minutes, 4 hours, or more - it depends on your computer settings.

How to keep Teams status green all the time? ›

How to Keep Teams Status Green?
  1. Click on your profile picture at the right-hand side on the top.
  2. Select 'Offline' to change the status.
  3. From the drop-down menu, click on 'Available' to set yourself as active.

How do I force Teams to show available? ›

Here's how.
  1. Step 1: Click on your Profile picture on the top right of the Teams screen.
  2. Step 2: Click on your current status.
  3. Step 3: Choose Available from the drop-down.
  4. Step 1: On Windows, open the Settings menu by pressing the Windows + I keys or searching for "settings" in the Windows search bar.
May 8, 2024

Is there a way to keep your Teams on available? ›

Replies (1) 

Teams will automatically set the status when the device is in sleep mode, or the program is running in the background. To keep your status “Active” on Microsoft Teams, you have to change the time it takes for your system to go into idle or sleep mode.

How to trick Microsoft Teams status? ›

If you're on mobile, tap “More” then “Set Status Message” and write your message. Hit “Clear after” to determine how long the status will remain active, and press “Done.” Alternatively, you can download a mouse jiggler software to prevent your computer from entering idle mode.

Does caffeine keep Teams active? ›

How to install Caffeine to keep your Teams status active on Windows. Another workaround is using an app called Caffeine for Windows—it'll keep your PC awake so that your Teams status stays active.

Will classic Teams be unsupported starting July 1 2024? ›

Classic Teams, which many have come to know and rely on, will reach its end of support on July 1, 2024, and subsequently, end of availability on July 1, 2025.

How do I switch back to old Teams 2024? ›

If you'd like to switch back to classic Teams, it's easy to toggle back and forth. To switch back to the classic Teams: Go to Settings and more Microsoft Teams more options icon at the upper-right of Teams. Turn off the New Teams toggle.

Why is Teams taking forever to open? ›

If there is no issue in Teams web client, we recommend you try to clear the client cache file and restart the Teams client to see if it can be worked.

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