(Updated) Microsoft Teams Copilot without transcription becomes default for meetings - conversation history now persists

Updated March 6, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

Introduction

We’re updating the default behavior of Microsoft Teams Copilot in meetings. Copilot without transcription will become the default mode for newly scheduled Teams meetings where Copilot is allowed. Additionally, conversation history will now persist during meetings, improving multitasking and continuity of insights.

This update is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 478611.

When this will happen

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in late April 2026 (previously late March) and expect to complete by mid-May 2026 (previously early April).

[What's changing?]

Who is affected:

• Affected tenants: If your TeamsMeetingPolicy was created or modified before the Copilot without transcription policy option was introduced (June 2024), your tenant will be affected by this change.
• Not Affected: If your TeamsMeetingPolicy was created or modified after June 2024 when the Copilot without transcription option was introduced, your tenant will not be affected.

What will happen:

• The default Copilot policy will change from EnabledWithTranscript to Enabled for both new and existing Teams meetings where Copilot is allowed.
• Copilot and Facilitator will no longer automatically start transcription for meetings in affected tenants.
• Users must manually enable transcription to use post-meeting Copilot or Facilitator queries.
• Conversation history will persist during meetings for Copilot without transcription.
• Tenants with TeamsMeetingPolicy created or modified after June 2024 are not affected.

If adopting the new defaults:

• Review TeamsMeetingPolicy for transcription dependencies.
• Update internal documentation and training.
• Communicate to users how to enable transcription when needed.

Optional admin steps to retain current behavior:

• Update Global and Custom TeamsMeetingPolicy settings via TAC or PowerShell.
• TAC UI Portal: Navigate to Teams Admin Center and set the Copilot policy default value as required. For example, if the current default value is desired, update it to a different value, then set it back. Please ensure both TeamsMeetingPolicy and all Custom Policies are updated.
• PowerShell example to set Copilot policy to EnabledWithTranscript for all relevant meeting policies:

  get-csteamsmeetingpolicy | ? {
    $_.Identity -ne "Tag:AllOn" -and
    $_.Identity -ne "Tag:AllOff" -and
    $_.Identity -ne "Tag:Default" -and
    $_.Identity -ne "Tag:Kiosk" -and
    $_.Identity -ne "Tag:RestrictedAnonymousAccess" -and
    $_.Identity -ne "Tag:RestrictedAnonymousNoRecording"
  } | % {
    $_.Identity;
    set-csteamsmeetingpolicy -identity $_.Identity -Copilot EnabledWithTranscript
  }
      

Learn more: 

• Manage Microsoft 365 Copilot in Teams meetings and events | Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
• Use Copilot without recording a Teams meeting | Copilot in Teams | Copilot | Microsoft Support

Compliance considerations