Microsoft has quietly dropped a major announcement that might have flown under your radar — unless you're the kind of person who lives in the Microsoft 365 admin center (in which case, we see you, hero). Starting in July 2025, Microsoft is shaking up how it pushes updates for Microsoft 365 Apps — and no, this isn't just another cosmetic change with a shiny icon.
Let’s break it down: One update channel is being retired, another is being streamlined for very specific use cases, and yet another is getting a slightly more forgiving rollback window. It’s all part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to fine-tune how updates get delivered, but for businesses — especially small and medium-sized ones — this means it's time to take a close look at your deployment settings, and maybe pour yourself a strong cup of coffee while you're at it.
This update channel is officially being sunsetted. If your organization currently uses it, consider this your cue to start migrating — fast. After July 2025, it will no longer receive updates or support.
The standard Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel isn’t going away, but the support duration is being cut nearly in half — from 14 months to just 8 months. Microsoft says this streamlined cycle is meant for unattended or kiosk-style devices (think digital signage or office check-in tablets that don’t get daily love from IT). Feature updates will now drop in January and July, each with 6 months of support.
For businesses that need more flexibility and speed, there’s good news: the Monthly Enterprise Channel now offers a 2-month rollback window, up from one. If an update introduces bugs or chaos (as they sometimes do), admins have more breathing room to hit the "undo" button.
Let’s be honest — these changes are probably more disruptive to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) than to enterprise giants with full IT departments and coffee-on-tap. Here's how SMBs are likely to feel the shift — and how they can adapt:
Previously, the 14-month Semi-Annual channel gave SMBs breathing room to test, plan, and roll out updates without too much rush. Now, with only 8 months of support, the cadence is tighter and could stretch already-thin IT resources.
Devices using the soon-to-be-retired Preview channel must be moved — and fast. For SMBs without full-time IT staff, this could mean scrambling to update group policies or manually reconfigure endpoints.
Microsoft’s July 2025 update changes aren’t earth-shattering, but they’re significant enough to deserve your attention — especially if you're a small or medium-sized business juggling limited IT bandwidth. By taking a proactive approach now, you can avoid last-minute scrambles, ensure smoother updates, and even improve your company’s security posture in the process.
And let’s face it — who wouldn’t want a more efficient update process that actually works for you, not against you?
Contact Epoch Tech Solutions today for a free consultation
We’ll help you build an update strategy that works for your business — so you can stop worrying about IT and get back to running your business.
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