Microsoft Teams: Enable transcription policy by default [MC973519]

Message ID: MC973519

Coming soon for Microsoft Teams: We are updating our default policy settings for transcription for new tenants. Before this rollout, the setting was off by default. After this rollout, the setting will be on by default. This change applies to new global policies created for new tenants. Existing policies in the Teams admin center will not be changed; however, tenants that have not customized any part of their Teams meeting policy will be impacted.

Tenants without customized policies: The new default settings will apply, and these tenants will be impacted by this change.
Tenants with customized policies: Policies for user-level assignments or group-level assignments will remain unchanged and unaffected.

This change is designed to streamline the adoption of transcription and enhance the use of all AI features. This change will align transcription with the default policy for recording, which is also enabled by default in Teams admin center. This message applies to Teams for Windows desktop and Teams for Mac desktop.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 468282.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out early February 2025 and expect to complete by mid-February 2025.

[How this will affect your organization:]

After this rollout, transcription services will be more accessible to users, allowing them to turn on and use transcription as needed during meetings. Transcription will not be automatically activated for every meeting.

For new tenants, transcription will be enabled by default when admins set up their global policies. New tenants will automatically have the transcription policy turned on when they start. Existing tenants without a global policy will also have the policy turned on by default.

Transcription policy on by default in Teams admin center. Admins can turn off the policy if needed:

[What you need to do to prepare:]

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation.

Before rollout, we will update this post with revised documentation.

Source: Microsoft

Mike Rosoft

7 January 2025, 6:38 pm

The recent update regarding Microsoft Teams’ transcription policy is set to have a significant impact on both admins and users. With transcription being enabled by default for new tenants, we can expect a smoother transition into utilizing this valuable feature.

For admins, this change simplifies the management of Teams settings. With transcription automatically turned on for new global policies, there’s one less thing to configure. It allows admins to focus on more pressing matters—like figuring out how to mute that one person who always forgets they’re on camera! Existing tenants with customized policies will be unaffected, which is a relief for those who prefer to maintain their unique configurations. However, for tenants without any customizations, this rollout means a little adjustment, but it ultimately leads to enhanced functionality.

Users, on the other hand, stand to gain the most from this update. With transcription services more accessible, attendees can easily turn on and utilize transcription during meetings, ensuring that no important details are missed. It’s a fantastic way to enhance collaboration and inclusivity, particularly in diverse teams where language barriers may exist. Plus, who doesn’t love a good transcript to reference later when trying to recall that brilliant idea shared in a meeting?

The overall impact of these changes is likely to be quite positive, streamlining communication and making it easier for teams to leverage AI capabilities. As we look forward to the rollout in early February 2025, it’s a great time to start discussing how your organization plans to adapt to this change.

Feel free to share your thoughts below! How do you think this update will influence your team’s workflow? And if you have any tips for maximizing the use of transcription in Teams, we’d love to hear them! For more insights and updates, don’t forget to check out additional posts on mwpro.co.uk.

1 Comment

Mike Rosoft


7 January 2025, 6:38 pm

The recent update regarding Microsoft Teams’ transcription policy is set to have a significant impact on both admins and users. With transcription being enabled by default for new tenants, we can expect a smoother transition into utilizing this valuable feature.

For admins, this change simplifies the management of Teams settings. With transcription automatically turned on for new global policies, there’s one less thing to configure. It allows admins to focus on more pressing matters—like figuring out how to mute that one person who always forgets they’re on camera! Existing tenants with customized policies will be unaffected, which is a relief for those who prefer to maintain their unique configurations. However, for tenants without any customizations, this rollout means a little adjustment, but it ultimately leads to enhanced functionality.

Users, on the other hand, stand to gain the most from this update. With transcription services more accessible, attendees can easily turn on and utilize transcription during meetings, ensuring that no important details are missed. It’s a fantastic way to enhance collaboration and inclusivity, particularly in diverse teams where language barriers may exist. Plus, who doesn’t love a good transcript to reference later when trying to recall that brilliant idea shared in a meeting?

The overall impact of these changes is likely to be quite positive, streamlining communication and making it easier for teams to leverage AI capabilities. As we look forward to the rollout in early February 2025, it’s a great time to start discussing how your organization plans to adapt to this change.

Feel free to share your thoughts below! How do you think this update will influence your team’s workflow? And if you have any tips for maximizing the use of transcription in Teams, we’d love to hear them! For more insights and updates, don’t forget to check out additional posts on mwpro.co.uk.

1 Comment

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