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(Updated) Introducing the new SharePoint experience

Message ID
MC1240699
View in Message Center
Services
SharePoint OnlineMicrosoft Copilot (Microsoft 365)
Category
Stay Informed
Tags
New featureUser impactAdmin impact
Rollout
March 2026April 2026May 2026June 2026July 2026
Roadmap ID
547732
View in M365 Roadmap
Platforms
AndroidDesktopiOSWeb

Summary

The new SharePoint experience, featuring a redesigned app bar, refreshed start page, and AI-assisted capabilities (requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license), will roll out starting May 5, 2026, via Targeted Release with no opt-out. Public preview runs March–April 2026; GA begins mid-June 2026. Users should prepare accordingly.

Details

Updated April 30, 2026: We have updated this post as a reminder. We will begin the Targeted Release (TR) rollout on May 5, with an expected ramp to 100% TR by the end of the week. All customers and users in the TR program will automatically receive the new SharePoint experience, with no option to opt out at either the tenant or user level.

We recommend that customers explore the experience ahead of TR to ensure readiness.

For users and tenants already opted in via EAP or Public Preview, we will preserve their current state, their experience as of Monday will remain unchanged.

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs from the preview period will be overridden, and no controls will remain. We recommend customers try the experience ahead of TR to be better prepared.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in early May 2026 (previously late April); expected completion by mid-May 2026 (previously June).
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in mid-June 2026 (previously early May); expected completion by mid-July 2026 (previously end of July).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

Change History

Show
May 1, 2026 at 2:32 AM Updated
Summary
Previous
A new SharePoint experience with a redesigned app bar, refreshed start page, and AI-assisted features (requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) will roll out in phases from March to July 2026. Admins can enable a public preview, with automatic deployment during Targeted Release and General Availability.
New
The new SharePoint experience, featuring a redesigned app bar, refreshed start page, and AI-assisted capabilities (requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license), will roll out starting May 5, 2026, via Targeted Release with no opt-out. Public preview runs March–April 2026; GA begins mid-June 2026. Users should prepare accordingly.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-04-21T21:32:09.307Z
New
2026-04-30T22:24:31.067Z
Body Content
Previous

Updated April 21, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs from the preview period will be overridden, and no controls will remain. We recommend customers try the experience ahead of TR to be better prepared.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in early May 2026 (previously late April); expected completion by mid-May 2026 (previously June).
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in mid-June 2026 (previously early May); expected completion by mid-July 2026 (previously end of July).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

New

Updated April 30, 2026: We have updated this post as a reminder. We will begin the Targeted Release (TR) rollout on May 5, with an expected ramp to 100% TR by the end of the week. All customers and users in the TR program will automatically receive the new SharePoint experience, with no option to opt out at either the tenant or user level.

We recommend that customers explore the experience ahead of TR to ensure readiness.

For users and tenants already opted in via EAP or Public Preview, we will preserve their current state, their experience as of Monday will remain unchanged.

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs from the preview period will be overridden, and no controls will remain. We recommend customers try the experience ahead of TR to be better prepared.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in early May 2026 (previously late April); expected completion by mid-May 2026 (previously June).
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in mid-June 2026 (previously early May); expected completion by mid-July 2026 (previously end of July).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

April 21, 2026 at 10:30 PM Updated
Summary
Previous
A new SharePoint experience with a redesigned app bar, refreshed start page, and AI-assisted features (requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) will roll out in three phases from March to July 2026. Admins can enable a public preview; post-preview, it applies to all users without opt-out.
New
A new SharePoint experience with a redesigned app bar, refreshed start page, and AI-assisted features (requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) will roll out in phases from March to July 2026. Admins can enable a public preview, with automatic deployment during Targeted Release and General Availability.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-04-21T16:39:41.860Z
New
2026-04-21T21:32:09.307Z
Body Content
Previous

Updated April 21, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs configured during the preview period will be overridden, and no tenant or user controls will remain.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in early May 2026 (previously late April); expected completion by mid-June 2026 (previously early May).
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in mid-June 2026 (previously early May); expected completion by late July 2026 (previously late May).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

New

Updated April 21, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs from the preview period will be overridden, and no controls will remain. We recommend customers try the experience ahead of TR to be better prepared.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in early May 2026 (previously late April); expected completion by mid-May 2026 (previously June).
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in mid-June 2026 (previously early May); expected completion by mid-July 2026 (previously end of July).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

April 21, 2026 at 8:30 PM Updated
Summary
Previous
A new SharePoint experience launching in 2026 includes a redesigned app bar with Discover, Publish, and Build features, AI-assisted capabilities for Copilot license holders, and updated navigation. It will roll out via public preview, Targeted Release, then General Availability, affecting all SharePoint users.
New
A new SharePoint experience with a redesigned app bar, refreshed start page, and AI-assisted features (requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) will roll out in three phases from March to July 2026. Admins can enable a public preview; post-preview, it applies to all users without opt-out.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-03-05T20:59:21.197Z
New
2026-04-21T16:39:41.860Z
Body Content
Previous

Updated March 4, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs configured during the preview period will be overridden, and no tenant or user controls will remain.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in late April 2026; expected completion by early May 2026.
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in early May 2026; expected completion by late May 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

New

Updated April 21, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs configured during the preview period will be overridden, and no tenant or user controls will remain.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in early May 2026 (previously late April); expected completion by mid-June 2026 (previously early May).
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in mid-June 2026 (previously early May); expected completion by late July 2026 (previously late May).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

March 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM Updated
Title
Previous
Introducing the new SharePoint experience
New
(Updated) Introducing the new SharePoint experience
Summary
Previous
A reimagined SharePoint experience with an intuitive design, streamlined architecture, and AI-assisted features (requiring a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) will roll out from March to May 2026. It includes a redesigned app bar with Discover, Publish, Build, OneDrive, and Home features. Enabling it is optional.
New
A new SharePoint experience launching in 2026 includes a redesigned app bar with Discover, Publish, and Build features, AI-assisted capabilities for Copilot license holders, and updated navigation. It will roll out via public preview, Targeted Release, then General Availability, affecting all SharePoint users.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-02-27T22:08:20.080Z
New
2026-03-05T20:59:21.197Z
Tags
Previous
New feature,User impact,Admin impact
New
Updated message,New feature,User impact,Admin impact
Body Content
Previous

[Introduction]

We are introducing a reimagined SharePoint experience that simplifies how users discover knowledge, publish content, and build solutions. This update delivers an intuitive design, a streamlined information architecture, and foundational support for future AI‑assisted creation scenarios in SharePoint Online. A Microsoft 365 Copilot license is required to access the AI capabilities in this update.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in late April 2026; expected completion by early May 2026.
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in early May 2026; expected completion by late May 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • Organizations with users who have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
  • Organizations that choose to enable the new SharePoint experience in the SharePoint admin center.

What will happen

If your organization enables the new SharePoint experience in the SharePoint admin center, licensed users will see:

  • A redesigned SharePoint app bar, including:
    • Discover – a refreshed start experience to quickly find relevant sites, content, and news:

       user settings

    • Publish – A unified publishing hub in SharePoint that brings together pages, news and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify:

      user settings

    • Build – A centralized experience to create, manage, and scale Sites, Lists, Libraries, and Agents all with a streamlined surface: 

      user settings

    • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
    • Home – Displayed when a Home site with global navigation is enabled, with the appropriate logo and name as configured in global navigation.

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content elevation
  • Neutral theming applied across core product surfaces (site‑level branding remains unchanged)

If you do not enable the preview, there is no impact to your users or admin experience.

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the new experience:

  • Verify that users who need access have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license assigned to access the AI capabilities in this update.
  • Enable the experience in the SharePoint admin center: Settings → SharePoint → New SharePoint Experience
  • Review instructions for enabling the experience: Enable the new SharePoint experience (preview) | SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | SharePoint | Microsoft Learn
  • Communicate expected UI changes to helpdesk and affected teams before enabling.
  • Update internal documentation if you describe SharePoint navigation or app bar elements.

[Compliance considerations]

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

New

Updated March 4, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We are introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a redesigned SharePoint app bar, a refreshed SharePoint start page for finding sites, content, and news, and support for AI-assisted creation, management, and discovery features. The new experience applies to all SharePoint users. Some capabilities in this experience use AI. Access to those capabilities requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 547732.

Before the new experience rolls out broadly, it will be available as a public preview. During the preview period, administrators can enable the experience for their tenant to evaluate the changes and prepare users. When enabled during preview, the experience applies to all users in the tenant. Users may opt out of the new experience during the preview period.

When the public preview ends, Targeted Release rollout will begin, followed by General Availability (GA). Starting with Targeted Release, the new SharePoint experience will automatically apply to all tenants and users. Any tenant-level preview settings or individual user opt-outs configured during the preview period will be overridden, and no tenant or user controls will remain.

[When this will happen]

  • Public Preview: Rolling out in early March 2026; expected completion by late April 2026.
  • Targeted Release: Rolling out in late April 2026; expected completion by early May 2026.
  • General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out in early May 2026; expected completion by late May 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • All SharePoint users
  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI capabilities included in this experience.

What will happen

When the new experience is enabled—either during preview or as part of the Targeted Release and General Availability (GA) rollout—users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that introduces entry points for discovering content, publishing communications, and building SharePoint solutions.

The updated app bar includes:

Discover

A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

 user settings

Publish 

A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications powered by Amplify.

user settings

Build 

A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

user settings

The app bar will also include:

  • OneDrive – Provides quick access to files.
  • Home – Appears when a Home site with global navigation is configured in the tenant.

Additional updates include:

  • Updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility
  • Neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces (site-level branding remains unchanged)

[What you can do to prepare]

If you plan to enable the preview experience:

[Compliance considerations]

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

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