Microsoft 365 continues to evolve rapidly, and the Microsoft 365 September 2025 update (check out October 2025) introduces impactful changes for organizations and users who rely on Microsoft’s productivity suite. This month’s release brings powerful enhancements to Teams and Copilot, streamlined automation, a redesigned SharePoint template experience, and a wave of critical retirements including the Microsoft Lens app. Below, discover a comprehensive breakdown of these updates, what they mean for daily workflows, and what IT admins should do to stay ahead.
Microsoft 365 September 2025 Update
Microsoft Teams: Integrated Calendar and Enhanced Workflows
Default to New Microsoft 365 Calendar
Kicking off September, Microsoft Teams is retiring the legacy calendar toggle. The new, integrated Microsoft 365 calendar—now default in Teams, the new Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, and Microsoft Places—offers rich features such as Copilot-powered suggestions and location-aware scheduling. This change unifies the scheduling experience, allowing seamless collaboration and leveraging AI for smarter meeting planning.
Automate Tasks Using Emoji Reactions
A standout Teams feature this month is the new workflow automation through emoji reactions. By using the Workflows app, users can now trigger actions directly from message reactions within chats or channels. For instance:
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A “❗” can escalate a support issue.
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“👀” can route a message to a specific team.
This workflow automation reduces manual intervention and accelerates response times, making collaborative processes more fluid and actionable. To get started, visit the Workflows app within Teams, where ready-to-use templates and blank workflow options are available, allowing full customization to suit diverse team scenarios.
SharePoint Modern Page Templates: A Centralized Template Gallery
SharePoint has launched a new Template Gallery, consolidating over 50 modern and custom templates into a single hub. This upgrade empowers users to easily build visually consistent, on-brand pages for everything from announcements to project updates. The gallery supports both out-of-the-box and organization-defined templates—streamlining the creation of impactful SharePoint sites and internal communications.
Microsoft 365 Copilot: File Preview and Chat Upgrades
On iOS and iPadOS
Starting September 15, the Microsoft 365 Copilot app for iPhone and iPad now allows users to preview Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files directly within the mobile app. View file contents, access comments, and interact with Copilot Chat for instant insights while on the go. To edit, users are prompted to launch the standalone Office apps, preserving a seamless mobile-first workflow.
Microsoft Lens App Retirement
The Microsoft Lens app—widely used for document scanning on smartphones—will be officially retired from iOS and Android starting September 15, 2025. Users may continue using scanning capabilities until December 15, 2025, after which support fully ends. Previously scanned content remains accessible as long as the app is installed, but new scanning should migrate to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, which now replicates and extends Lens’s functionality.
A Look Ahead at Upcoming Features
Network Strength Indicator in Teams
Rolling out in October, Microsoft Teams will introduce a Network Strength Indicator for online meetings. This visual indicator—using a three-bar system—will instantly communicate connection quality for all participants, pinpointing whether the network is Good, Poor, or Bad. If bandwidth is limited, Teams will offer prompts for bandwidth-saving actions, and give participants insight into others’ connection statuses for more effective troubleshooting and communication.
SharePoint Workflows: Cross-Platform Automation
SharePoint is set to integrate Workflows powered by Power Automate, matching the rapid automation experience already in place within Teams. This update enables users to automate notifications, approvals, file actions, and more—all directly from SharePoint’s interface—eliminating previous complexity and speeding up business processes.
Critical Retirements & Required Admin Actions
Numerous features and services are being deprecated to streamline Microsoft 365 and strengthen security:
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Microsoft Lens app deactivation timeline as detailed above.
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Classic Calendar toggle in Teams and legacy MFA/SSPR policies: IT admins must complete the transition to new configurations, as outdated options are removed this month.
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Azure DevOps Authentication: Conditional Access policies must be updated, as Azure DevOps no longer supports authentication via ARM.
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PowerShell and Exchange Online Commandlets: Certain legacy cmdlets and authentication methods are deprecated; admins should update all scripts and integrations accordingly.
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Mobile Device Sync Page in Outlook and Azure AD Graph API: Both are fully retired, prompting further tightening of security and functionality standards in Microsoft 365.
The Microsoft 365 September 2025 update introduces a broad set of innovations—from Teams workflow automation to mobile Copilot enhancements—while also sunsetting legacy services like Microsoft Lens. Admins and end-users alike should familiarize themselves with these changes to maximize productivity, maintain security, and take full advantage of the new features. For guidance, reference the official release notes on the Microsoft 365 September 2025 update, community discussions, and detailed product documentation below.
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Official change log and roadmap: Microsoft 365 Update History
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Community discussion and admin insights: Reddit Sysadmin: September 2025 M365 Changes
Don’t miss out on the changes coming in Microsoft 365 October 2025.
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