Microsoft Teams: Initiate side conversations within the meeting chat window

[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.