Microsoft has revealed plans to discontinue its ‘Together Mode’ feature in Microsoft Teams, aiming to enhance performance and streamline meeting experiences. This decision marks a significant shift in the company’s strategy for its collaboration platform.
Timeline for the Transition
The retirement of Together Mode is scheduled to begin on June 30, 2026. This move is part of Microsoft’s larger initiative to boost platform stability, simplify meeting interfaces, and enhance video quality for users across different devices.
According to Microsoft, the decision stems from the desire to simplify meeting layouts and focus on improving core features. The Gallery view, which now supports up to 49 participants, has evolved to meet user needs better than Together Mode.
Reasons Behind the Change
Originally designed to create a shared virtual space for meeting participants, Together Mode has become less vital due to improvements in the Gallery view. This modern layout offers a scalable and adaptive experience that adjusts based on device capabilities and network conditions.
By phasing out Together Mode, Microsoft intends to reallocate engineering resources to crucial enhancements, such as improved video rendering, better stability, and advanced features like super-resolution and noise reduction.
Impact on Users and Administrators
The update will see the removal of several Together Mode components, including the toggle switch from the meeting interface and the discontinuation of custom scenes and seat assignments. Organizations that used branded scenes will need to switch to custom backgrounds managed via the Teams Admin Center.
From a security standpoint, reducing feature complexity minimizes the attack surface and enhances system resilience. A unified Gallery-based framework will help reduce inconsistencies across platforms, ensuring more reliable performance and security.
Administrators can maintain visual consistency with branded backgrounds through centralized policy management, while users benefit from built-in tools like pinning and spotlighting to focus on key participants.
Future Outlook
Microsoft Teams Product Manager Katarina Tranker has announced that Together Mode will be retired gradually, adhering to the company’s safe deployment practices. Users in the Targeted Release and Public Preview channels may notice the changes before full rollout.
Microsoft advises organizations to stay informed via the Microsoft 365 Message Center to plan for the transition effectively. This update aligns with Microsoft’s secure-by-design principles, ensuring a more predictable and manageable system for all users.
