Frontier access now includes Microsoft Teams, Outlook, OneDrive and SharePoint

As announced in October, Microsoft is retiring Targeted release mode for services such as the new Outlook, Outlook on the web, OneDrive, and SharePoint.

The Frontier access now covers more Microsoft 365 services.
This update has two effects:

1. The Frontier setting is now available in all tenants, in the Microsoft 365 admin center > Copilot > Settings > Copilot Frontier.
   Previously, the setting required at least one Microsoft 365 Copilot license in the tenant, and users also needed a Copilot license. This requirement has been removed. Users still need a license for the product they want to use.
   
   Good to know:
   Microsoft will update the current Frontier settings in the admin center in the next few weeks. Microsoft plans to unify the Frontier setting with the release mode settings, which are currently separate.

2. Users enrolled in Frontier will begin receiving eligible public preview features in Microsoft Teams, the new Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, OneDrive, and SharePoint. They still get the Copilot preview features they already receive today. Previously, Targeted release mode managed the other services. Preview features are still works in progress, so they may change before they become generally available.

Frontier access in Microsoft 365 Apps
Frontier access does not affect Microsoft 365 Apps, such as classic Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and other desktop apps (new Outlook is excluded). But there are exceptions.

• Users in the Beta Channel get Frontier features by default, but only in the Microsoft 365 desktop apps, regardless of the setting in the Frontier admin control.
• Users in Current Channel (Preview) or Current Channel are enabled for Frontier features only if they are added to the Frontier Admin Control.
  

Pay attention to your Teams update policies
Microsoft does not yet explain how Frontier access affects your Teams update policies. The documentation only mentions "Teams-related Frontier features", without describing what that means.

Frontier features in SharePoint and OneDrive
The Frontier setting already affects SharePoint and OneDrive.
Frontier users can now use Copilot Search in SharePoint and OneDrive. The rollout is currently in progress for Copilot Premium users. Basic users should receive the new search soon.

Frontier access is optional. Each organization decides who is enrolled in Frontier.
Users who are not enrolled will not notice any change. They will continue receiving new features based on their current Standard release or Deferred release preference. Microsoft now allows up to 10,000 users to defer in the Standard release preferences (previously 100).