Microsoft Teams clients older than 90 days will be blocked in future
No current version, no use: Microsoft wants to prevent the use of outdated Teams clients in future.
Microsoft forces users to update Teams.
(Image: wichayada suwanachun / Shutterstock.com)
Security first. Microsoft blocks Teams clients that are older than 90 days. Some time ago, the Redmond-based company pointed out in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center that Teams clients that have not been updated more than 90 days after the release of a new version will be rendered unusable. Users will not be able to use the client until they have installed a new version
Microsoft pushes updates to the Teams app
Microsoft explains the move by stating that "maintaining app security is a top priority". In light of the current security climate in the "entire company and the entire industry, it is more important than ever to keep this important ecosystem secure".
The Microsoft Teams client is subject to the "Modern Lifecycle Policy", which requires that users always use the latest version of the application. This is usually ensured by automatic updates.
If desktop clients have not been updated despite the update policy, Microsoft will take action, as the company states in a post dated April 4, 2025.
Users are warned about blocking
To prevent users from sitting in front of a blocked Teams client, a warning banner will be displayed in the app 60 days before the deadline. For a virtual desktop environment (VDI), this is only 30 days.
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Microsoft has announced the following time periods from which users will see the blocking notice:
- From April 11, 2025: For users of the Windows desktop app.
- From May 6, 2025: For users who use the Teams app in a VDI environment,
- From May 15, 2025: For users who use Teams on the Mac.
Microsoft advises automatic updates for Teams
If users have a blocked Teams client, Microsoft advises them to update to the latest version of the Teams app. This can be downloaded from the download page. Alternatively, the Teams app can also be used on the web.
To avoid a Teams blockade, administrators should ensure that the Teams client is updated automatically. Incidentally, the warning is not really new: the company has been pointing out this new update policy since the end of 2023. It is only now being implemented with a one-year delay.
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