Information Technology Services > Microsoft Teams Chat and Channels Update, July 2025

Microsoft Teams Chat and Channels Update, July 2025

Please see the following scheduled Microsoft change:

Date: July 2025 (An exact implementation date for WSU’s Microsoft environment is unavailable.)

The following work is being completed: Microsoft is updating the Chat view in Teams to introduce a unified interface that combines chats, channels, and Teams. It will also include customizable sections, new filtering options, and an @mention view.

All affected groups: WSU Microsoft Teams users

All affected processes: Interface changes for the Chat view within Teams on Windows desktops, Mac desktops, the web, and iOS and Android devices. Expected changes are detailed below.

Duration of impact: This is a permanent, Microsoft-driven change.

Necessary follow-up steps: Microsoft will automatically transition WSU users to the unified Chat view. Following the transition, users can opt out of the new Chat experience via Teams Settings.

Questions? Please contact Crimson Service Desk at crimsonservicedesk@wsu.edu or 509-335-4357.

Upcoming Changes

Preview the new experience in the following video:

Onboarding Process

When the new experience becomes available, users will see the following prompt:

Screenshot of a message within the Microsoft Teams application that reads, "A streamlined experience for chats, teams, and channels is here." At the bottom of the image are two buttons labeled "Do it later" and "Get started.

This default prompt provides a guided, self-service onboarding experience that helps users explore and configure the new Chat interface. Selecting Get Started will navigate users to the updated interface and highlight the Settings location.

The transition to the new experience may be deferred up to three times over an approximate period of three days.

Section Organization

The new Chat interface will display the following sections in order:

  1. Favorites containing any previously pinned chats and channels
  2. Chats sorted by most recent
  3. Teams and channels organized in same order as in the current Teams view
Screenshot of the Microsoft Teams application interface. The left sidebar lists chat groups and channels under "Favorites," "Chats," and "Teams and channels." The main panel shows a conversation in the chat.

Filters

New filters for Unread, Chat, Channels, Meetings and more will become available:

Screenshot of the Microsoft Teams application interface with the "Unread," "Chats," and "Channels" filters highlighted in red on the left sidebar. The main panel displays messages with various users.

Mentions View

The new @mention view consolidates all personal @mentions into a single list, enabling users to quickly access messages from chats, channels, and meetings:

Screenshot of the Microsoft Teams application interface with the "Mentions" tab highlighted in red on the left sidebar. The main panel displays messages with various users.

Customize Settings

Users can customize their chat and channels experience in Teams’ Settings. Users may retain the default combined Chat view or revert to the separate Chat and Teams views:

Screenshot of the Microsoft Teams settings page under the "Chats and channels" section. The left sidebar lists settings categories. The main panel shows options for viewing chats and channels as either Combined or Separate, with Separate selected.

In the combined Chat view, message previews are disabled by default to streamline the list. Users may enable previews in Settings.

In the separate Chat and Teams views, users can continue to use the new filters and the @mentions view to triage and organize conversations using custom sections.