MC1523090 - Microsoft Teams: Initiate side conversations within the meeting chat window
Microsoft 365 Message Center announcement MC1523090.
MS Message Center's Summary
Microsoft is introducing a feature that allows users to initiate private one to one or small group side conversations directly inside the Teams meeting chat window while preserving chat history. The rollout begins worldwide in January 2027 and will conclude by early January 2027. Administrators should review this change to prepare support desks and inform users about parallel collaboration options within meetings.
- Administrator impact
- No direct administrator action is required.
- End user impact
- Users can collaborate in private side chats directly from the meeting window while keeping their main meeting focus.
- Importance
- 2/10: This is a standard feature rollout that enhances user collaboration without requiring administrative configuration or introducing compliance risks.
Microsoft Summary
Microsoft Teams will allow users to start or continue private side conversations within the meeting chat window, preserving chat history. This feature rolls out worldwide in January 2027, requires no admin action, and users can disable the side-chat tab if desired. No compliance issues identified.
- Message Center ID
- MC1523090
- Category
- stay Informed
- Severity
- normal
- Services
- Microsoft Teams
- Tags
- New feature, User impact
- Roadmap ID
- 573156
- Platforms
- Android, Desktop, iOS, Mac, Web
- Published
- 2026-10-23
- Last updated
- 2026-10-23
- Expires
- 2027-03-15
[What and Why:] Microsoft Teams will enable meeting participants to start and continue one-to-one or small-group conversations directly from the meeting chat experience. Users can create a side conversation without leaving the meeting context, helping them coordinate, ask questions, share information, and collaborate in parallel while keeping the main meeting discussion focused. [Rollout Schedule:] General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): We will begin rolling out in early January 2027 and expect to complete in early January 2027. [Impact on Your Organization:] Users will be able to start or continue private 1:1 and group chats directly from the meeting chat experience, without leaving the meeting window. Existing chat history is preserved, so conversations remain part of the user’s regular Teams chat history. [Action Required/Recommendations:] No admin action is required. This feature does not introduce a new chat surface, admin policy, or meeting option. Users can turn off the side-chat tab experience if they prefer not to use it. [Compliance considerations:] No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.