Take a look and decide whether this affects your tenant, users or support teams.
Primary Audience
Why this score?
AT A GLANCE
END USERS
IT ADMINS
ROLLOUT TIMELINE
October 2026 – April 2027
📢 Official Microsoft Message Center Announcement
Microsoft SharePoint Online and OneDrive for the web: Updated search experience with Copilot Search
Message ID: MC1540513
[What and why]
We are updating the search experience in SharePoint Online and OneDrive on the web to align with the Copilot Search experience across Microsoft 365. This updated experience allows users to search using natural-language prompts and combines relevant search results, AI-generated summaries with source references, and filters. By bringing SharePoint and OneDrive onto a common search interface, we are providing a more consistent and familiar search experience across Microsoft 365.
[Rollout schedule]
- Frontier Preview (Worldwide): Rollout began in mid-October 2026 and is expected to complete by mid-January 2027.
- General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins in mid-January 2027 and is expected to complete by mid-April 2027.
[Impact on your organization]
Who is affected
- Users who search for content in SharePoint Online and OneDrive on the web
Platforms and services
- SharePoint Online
- OneDrive on the web
What will happen
- Users will see a modernized search experience aligned with Copilot Search across Microsoft 365. Please note that, while the core experience is shared, some AI-powered capabilities are available based on licensing.
- SharePoint Online and OneDrive on the web will use a common search interface, providing a more consistent experience regardless of where users begin their search.
- During the Frontier Preview period, SharePoint Online and OneDrive on the web will provide an opt-out option if users determine a critical search feature they rely on is unavailable.
Modernized search experiences in SharePoint and OneDrive
[Action required and recommendations]
No significant deployment work is required. We recommend that you test any custom search experiences or integrations that may be affected by the updated search experience. If your organization needs more time to prepare for this change, options are available to defer the new experience at the tenant and individual site level.
[Learn more]
We will publish new documentation prior to General Availability release.
[Compliance considerations]
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.
Source: Microsoft Message Center • Analysed by MWPro
