Microsoft Office for the web: Apply sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions

Microsoft 365 Office for the web will support applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint starting mid-February 2026. This aligns with desktop app permissions, requires no admin changes, and needs no user action to prepare.

Office for the web in Microsoft 365 now supports applying sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions. This enhancement provides organizations with greater flexibility and control over document access in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the web.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 468888.

When this will happen

General Availability

• Worldwide and GCC: We will begin rolling out in mid-February 2026 and expect to complete by early March 2026.
• GCCH and DoD: We will begin rolling out in mid-February 2026 and expect to complete by early April 2026.

How this affects your organization

• Who is affected: All users of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the web in Microsoft 365.
• What will happen:
  • Users can apply sensitivity labels with user-defined permissions in Office for the web.
  • The experience aligns with the modernized permissions dialog in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Windows.
  • No changes to existing admin policies; feature respects current configurations.

What you can do to prepare

No action is required. The user interface for applying custom permissions is consistent with the modernized dialog in Office desktop apps.

Learn more: 

• Apply sensitivity labels to your files | Microsoft Support
• Let users assign permissions - Restrict access to content by using sensitivity labels to apply encryption | Microsoft Purview | Microsoft Learn
• Sensitivity label capabilities in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Minimum versions for sensitivity labels in Office apps | Microsoft Purview | Microsoft Learn

Compliance considerations

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.