💡 Our Technical Review in summary
Summary
- Microsoft is introducing the ability to customize Microsoft 365 profile cards by adding up to 10 custom properties sourced from external third-party systems, such as HR platforms.
- This feature utilizes Microsoft Graph People connectors to ingest data, providing users with more relevant organizational context and improving colleague discoverability.
- The rollout is scheduled to begin and complete in March 2026.
- This update is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 529851.
Impact
- Administrative Control: This feature is OFF by default. It will not change the user experience unless an administrator proactively configures the settings.
- Visibility: Once enabled, the custom properties will appear in the “Contact Information” section of profile cards, initially supported in Outlook Web.
- Data Integration: Information must be ingested via Microsoft Graph People connectors. Microsoft has noted that direct ingestion for SAP SuccessFactors and Workday connectors will be supported in future updates.
- Configuration Latency: Any changes made to the profile card configuration or ingested data may take up to 24 hours to propagate across the organization.
- Capacity: Organizations are limited to a maximum of 10 custom properties on the profile card.
Action Required
- Review Data Requirements: Identify which external attributes (e.g., Employee ID, Cost Center, or specialized certifications) would be most beneficial for your users to see on profile cards.
- Technical Implementation: Set up or verify your Microsoft Graph People connectors to ensure the desired data is being ingested into the Microsoft 365 environment.
- Administrative Setup: When the feature becomes available in March 2026, navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center to configure the properties under: Settings > Org settings > People settings > Profile > Person info on profile cards.
- Documentation: Update internal IT support documentation and inform helpdesk staff of these new fields to handle potential user inquiries.
- Resource Link: Review the technical documentation for Microsoft Graph connectors to prepare for data ingestion.
Microsoft Official Update
Service: N/A
Category: stayInformed
Severity: normal
Updated January 20, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
We’re introducing the ability for organizations to customize Microsoft 365 profile cards by adding up to 10 custom properties sourced from external systems such as HR platforms. This enhancement helps enrich user profiles with relevant organizational details, improving discoverability and context for collaboration.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 529851.
When this will happen:
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in March 2026 (previously mid-January) and expect to complete in March 2026 (previously late January).
How this affects your organization
Who is affected: Microsoft 365 tenant admins managing user profile cards
What will happen:
- You can add up to 10 custom properties to profile cards using Microsoft Graph People connectors.
- Properties can be sourced from external systems (such as HR platforms).
- This feature is OFF by default and requires admin configuration to enable.
- Admins can configure visibility, display name, and icon for each property in Microsoft 365 admin center under: Settings > Org settings > People settings > Profile > Person info on profile cards
- Once enabled, properties appear in the Contact Information section of profile cards in Outlook Web:
- Changes may take up to 24 hours to propagate across profile cards.
- Future updates will include direct ingestion from SAP SuccessFactors and Workday connectors.
What you can do to prepare
- Review external systems for properties you want displayed on profile cards.
- Ingest these properties using a Microsoft Graph People connector.
- Configure visibility and enable properties in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
- Communicate this change to helpdesk staff and update internal documentation if needed.
Learn more: Microsoft 365 Copilot connectors for people data | Microsoft Learn
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.
