💡 Our Technical Review in summary
Summary
- Microsoft is transitioning Teams app installations to an App Centric Management model. This update shifts the workflow for preinstalling apps from “App Setup Policies” to the individual app settings level within the Teams Admin Center.
- This change follows the previous transition of app availability (permission policies) to a similar app-centric model (MC688930).
- The rollout is divided into two phases: Phase 1 (tenants with no custom setup policies) and Phase 2 (all remaining tenants), with completion expected by the end of March 2026.
Impact
- Administrative Workflow: Admins will now install apps for specific users, security groups, or the entire organization directly from the specific app’s management page in the Teams Admin Center.
- Policy Changes: Existing “Installed apps” configurations within App Setup Policies will remain active but will become read-only for additions. Admins can delete existing apps from these policies, but all new preinstallations must be managed via the app-centric interface.
- User Experience: The deployment process is streamlined. Previously, installing an app and allowing its use were separate steps. Under the new model, when an admin installs an app for a user, that user is automatically granted the right to use it immediately.
- Pinned Apps: This update does not affect the “Pinned apps” section of App Setup Policies. Managing which apps appear on the Teams navigation bar remains unchanged.
Action Required
- Review Current Policies: Audit your existing App Setup Policies to understand which apps are currently being force-installed across your organization.
- Update Documentation: Revise internal IT standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Teams app deployment to reflect that new installations must be performed at the individual app level rather than within setup policies.
- Phase 2 Preparation: For tenants with custom policies (Phase 2), monitor the Microsoft 365 Message Center for revised documentation and specific rollout dates closer to the end of 2025.
- Training: Ensure Teams Service Admins are aware that the “Installed apps” section in Setup Policies will soon restrict new entries, and they should begin using the app-centric management tab for all new deployment requests.
Microsoft Official Update
Service: N/A
Category: planForChange
Severity: normal
Updated February 17, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Coming soon for Microsoft Teams: App centric management for admin app installation introduces new admin settings to control who in the tenant has specific Teams apps preinstalled. Similar to app centric management for app availability, as communicated in MC688930 (Updated) Teams admin center: App centric management and changes to app permission policies (November 2023), admins will be able to install apps for users, groups, or everyone in the organization.
After rollout, app-centric management will let admins install apps individually. Existing Installed apps in app setup policies will remain intact; however, no new additions will be permitted, and only deletions will be allowed. Instead, you can install Teams apps for selected users, groups, or all users directly from the respective app. Other settings in app setup policies, including Pinned apps, will remain unchanged.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 394274 and 500637.
[When this will happen:]
App centric management will roll out in following General Availability phases.
- Phase 1 | We will begin rolling this feature mid-October 2025 and complete rollout by end of March 2026 (previously end of February). Phase 1 applies to tenants who meet both conditions: 1) tenants with no Installed apps in the Global app setup policy and 2) tenants with no custom app setup policies created in the Teams admin center.
- Phase 2 | We will begin rolling this feature end of October 2025 and complete rollout by end of March 2026 (previously end of February) for all remaining tenants.
[How this will affect your organization:]
Before the rollout: If you install an app to a user, the user cannot actually use an admin preinstalled app if you did not take the additional step to allow the user to use it. After the rollout, if you install an app through app centric management, the user will immediately be able to use the app.
After the rollout, you can install any number of Teams apps for selected sets of users, groups, or all users in the organization from the respective apps.
Learn more: Preinstall Teams apps for your org users – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
[What you need to do to prepare:]
No action needed for Phase 1 tenants. We will update this message with more information before the rollouts for Phases 2 tenants.
You may want to update any relevant documentation as appropriate.
Before rollout, we will update this post with revised documentation.
