Plan for Change: Windows 365 User settings transition to the new settings framework

Windows 365 User settings will transition to a unified Cloud PC Settings framework in Intune by January 2027. Existing User settings policies will be blocked from creation and editing starting September and October 2026, then fully deprecated in January 2027. Admins must migrate settings to avoid loss of controls and disruptions.

[What and Why:]

We are introducing a unified Cloud PC Settings experience in Microsoft Intune to simplify and modernize how Windows 365 settings are managed. This change consolidates previously fragmented configuration experiences into a centralized framework, improving consistency, scalability, and administrative control.

As part of this transition, the existing User settings capability will be retired, with all functionalities moving to Cloud PC Settings, including Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) and local administrator controls.

Rollout Schedule

• September 2026: Creation of new User settings policies is blocked
• October 2026: Editing of existing User settings policies is blocked
• January 2027: User settings are fully deprecated

[Impact on your organization:]

Who is affected:

• Admins managing Windows 365 Cloud PCs in Microsoft Intune
• Organizations currently using User settings policies

What will happen:

Admins will configure settings using the Cloud PC Settings blade in Intune. Existing User settings policies will not be automatically migrated.

Previous User settings capabilities will be distributed across:

• Cloud PC configurations
• Windows App settings

Beginning September 2026:

• User settings tab will be labeled “User settings (legacy)” and appear grayed out
• Creation of new User settings is disabled
• Editing of existing User settings will still be permitted
• In-product banners will prompt admins to migrate policies

Beginning October 2026:

• User settings policies become read-only (no editing allowed)

Beginning January 2027:

• User settings are removed from active use
• Existing User settings policies will no longer function
• Alerts and banners to guide migration

[Actions/Recommendations:]

Action is required.

• Review all existing User settings policies in your tenant
• Inventory current configurations, including:
  • Assigned users/groups
  • BCDR settings
  • Local admin settings
• Recreate equivalent configurations in Cloud PC Settings:
  • Configure BCDR parameters (region, failover behavior)
  • Configure local admin access policies
• Validate that new settings apply correctly to Cloud PCs
• Complete migration before January 2027
• Update internal documentation and notify helpdesk/support teams

What happens if you do not take action:

This is a breaking change. After January 2027, existing User settings policies will no longer be applied to any users. Local administrator access, disaster recovery behavior (BCDR) and restore capabilities will stop working unless recreated in Cloud PC Settings.

This may result in:

• Loss of administrative controls on Cloud PCs
• Unexpected changes to user experience and access
• Potential operational disruption

Learn more:
Windows 365 settings overview

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.