Microsoft Teams: Upcoming changes to Microsoft Places licensing and feature access

Starting April 1, 2026, Microsoft Places licensing will shift from user-based to space-based, making core features widely available without Teams Premium. Advanced features like desk reservations and analytics will require a Shared Space license. Teams Premium users retain current capabilities until renewal, then must switch to Shared Space licensing. Starting April 1, 2026, Microsoft Places licensing will move from a user-based model to a space-based model. This change will align licensing with how organizations manage physical workspaces and will make core Places experiences more broadly available. Most users will gain access to Places Finder and the Places app, while advanced capabilities such as desk reservations, auto-release policies, and space-based analytics will require a Shared Space license. Customers with an active Teams Premium subscription will be able to continue using existing Places premium capabilities through the remainder of their current subscription term. After renewal, these capabilities will be included in Shared Space licensing. When this will happen General availability (Worldwide): April 1, 2026 On this date, organizations will be able to acquire space-based licenses for Microsoft Places. How this will affect your organization Who is affected Organizations that use Microsoft Places, including: Users who interact with Places experiences. Admins who will configure or manage Places resources (desks, desk pools, and rooms). What will happen Places Finder and the Places app will be available across most user licenses; Teams Premium will no longer be required for these capabilities. Licensing for Microsoft Places will transition from a user-based model to a space-based model. Advanced Places functionality will require a Shared Space license, including: Desk reservation support Auto‑release policies for desks and rooms Space‑based analytics Users will be able to reserve individual desks only if those desks are covered by a Shared Space license. Desks that are configured as bookable but not covered by a Shared Space license will appear as unavailable to users. Auto-release policies for desks and rooms will be enforced only when the space is covered by a Shared Space license. Admins will still be able to configure auto-release policies, but these policies will not take effect unless the related spaces […]

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