Microsoft Warns of Upcoming Major Change in Office Apps, Unveils Copilot UI Updates for Teams and Outlook

Microsoft has issued a warning to IT administrators and system admins regarding an upcoming “major change” that will affect Office apps. The company says that some features within these apps will cease to function after a set deadline. This announcement was shared via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal earlier this week.

Speaking of Microsoft 365, two recent additions to the company's Microsoft 365 Roadmap website indicate that it is also working on a UI (user interface) update for the Teams and Outlook apps.

The business claims that this "new UI" for the Copilot Chat navigation pane on Teams and Outlook would "provide a more intuitive structure" for users while also "ensuring continuity in user experience" (UX). Microsoft claims to have accomplished this by only moving the navigation pane from the right to the left, but there is most likely more involved.

To refresh your memory, Microsoft announced the feature's complete details a week before it started rolling it out in January of this year.

The Copilot Chat UI is evolving — now with a more intuitive left-side navigation pane.

What’s New in the Copilot Chat Update?

Here’s how Microsoft describes the update in its roadmap entry:

"The navigation pane has been repositioned from the right side to the left, offering a more intuitive layout. Despite the shift, it continues to host agents and conversation history, ensuring continuity in user experience. This redesign introduces new features, including access to the 'All Conversations' page, which provides a comprehensive view of chat history. The change aims to enhance usability and streamline navigation within Copilot Chat."

These updates were first rolled out in January 2025, and the latest enhancements are a continuation of that initial launch. Microsoft appears to be refining the interface incrementally, focusing on clarity, usability, and better integration with user workflows.

AI-Focused Development Takes Center Stage

While the repositioned chat pane may seem like a minor tweak, it’s part of a broader trend: Microsoft is placing significant emphasis on AI-powered tools, particularly Copilot. Nearly every productivity app is being enhanced with AI capabilities, and even relatively small changes are receiving considerable attention from the development team.

That said, not everyone is satisfied. Some users are hoping for deeper functional updates and broader UX improvements. Delays in other feature rollouts have added to the anticipation.

Still, for those who regularly engage with Copilot in their daily workflow, these interface enhancements could prove useful in making their productivity tools more intuitive and efficient.

More Information

Stay tuned for more Microsoft 365 updates as the company continues to integrate AI deeper into its ecosystem — one UI pane at a time.

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