MC804771 - Microsoft Teams: Hiding inactive channels

Updated March 18, 2025: February 27, 2026: We have paused rollout of this item at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Note: Hiding inactive channels

Based on Admin feedback, we are updating the behavior for automated hiding of inactive channels to be opt-in (suggestions) only. With this update, Teams will offer users suggestions on channels that are inactive, and the user is prompted to review their inactive channels and hide them only if they choose. The user will also be able to view when they last visited the channel to help them decide if they would like to hide the channel. The settings are also updated to reflectsupport this opt-in workflow. Thereworkflow and there are no changes to the on-demand hiding process.

This feature is enabled till Targeted Releasefor targeted release, and we will roll out to General Availability later this year in 2025.targeting January 2026.

In the interim, we are disabling the current generally available version of the feature which requires users to opt-out as well as the settings, for all users. Please note that all users in the public or general ring will not see the setting or have any of their channels hidden automatically. We will re-introduce the updated feature later this year.

Note: Users with EDU licenses assigned will not receive this change. 

Microsoft Teams will detect and hide inactive channels users have not interacted with recently. Users can choose to have Teams run this automatically as well as initiate the hiding process on demand when needed. They can review the list of channels and choose none, some or all of the inactive channels to be hidden. Users can opt out of automated hiding anytime from Teams Settings. This message applies to Microsoft Teams for Desktop, web, and Mac. 

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 325780.

When this will happen:

The feature is in public preview.

Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out mid-July 2024 and expect to complete by late July 2024. Available now.

General Availability (Worldwide): and all clouds: We will begin rolling out mid-November 2024 (previously mid-August) and expectannounce via Message center when we are ready to complete by mid-January 2025 (previously mid-September)

General Availability (GCC): We will begin rolling out early February 2025 (previously late September) and expect to complete by mid-February 2025 (previously early October).

General Availability (GCC High): We will begin rolling out early February 2025 (previously early October) and expect to complete by mid-February 2025 (previously mid-October).

General Availability (DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-February 2025 (previously late October) and expect to complete by late February 2025 (previously late October).proceed.

How this will affect your organization:

Before this rollout: Users had to manually manage their relevant channels list by hiding inactive and irrelevant channels.

After this rollout:

Manage preferences for automated hidingsuggestions via Teams Settings

If users prefer to manage channels manually, they can opt out of the auto-hidingsuggestions process. Simply go to Teams settings, select General, and toggle off "Hide Inactive Channels."Suggestions for hiding inactive channels."  

Hide inactive channels on demand when needed

Users can manually view which channels are inactive and choose to hide some or all of them whenever you need. This can be done from Settings, under General, by clicking the "Hide Now""Get Suggestions" button. Note that this action can be performed once every 24 hours.

Automated hidingsuggestions of inactive channels

With this, Teams will hidesuggest channels that have been inactive for the user. Inactive channels are identified based on the following criteria: if the user has not been active in the channel in the last 120 days – meaning there is no new messaging in the channel that the user has read or reacted to – the channel is considered inactive. Once the inactive channels are identified, the user is notified with the coach mark message, "We're hiding"Looks like you haven’t visited some inactive channels for you.lately. Hide them to help you focus."

The user can select View changesReview and Hide to see the details.details and decide which channels they would like to hide. The user can keep thechoose not hide any channels hidden or show them again. by selecting Not Now

If a user has less than or equal to 25 shown channels, no channels will be hiddensuggested for that user. This feature is on by default and all Teams users on the affected platforms will have access to it.

What you need to do to prepare:

Admins need to be aware of this feature, but no additional action is needed. The feature will roll out starting in November 2024. Users will first see their settings enabled to manage their preferences for automated hiding; additional to the ability to manually hide inactive channels. 

Users will start to see the automated hiding of inactive channels, a few weeks after the feature has rolled out.