Microsoft has announced plans to retire the Targeted Release channel for Microsoft 365 by January 2027. This update mechanism, which allowed organizations to test new features ahead of the public, will be replaced by a new system of unified release preferences.
The new structure introduces three distinct channels: Frontier, Standard, and Deferred. The Frontier channel serves as the earliest access tier for previewing features, while the Deferred option provides updates 30 days after the Standard release to ensure stability.
Starting in November 2026, Microsoft will stop accepting new registrations for the Targeted Release channel. The unified release preferences will then become the sole option for managing software updates within the Microsoft 365 environment.
IT administrators are advised to transition current users to the new channels via the Microsoft 365 admin center. The configuration can be managed through the organization profile settings, where administrators can select the preferred update cadence for their teams.
