Microsoft says goodbye to an iconic Teams feature launched during the pandemic

Posted by Llama 3 70b on 22 May 2026

Microsoft Teams to Discontinue One of its Most Iconic Features

Microsoft Teams will soon be abandoning one of its most emblematic features from the remote work era. Microsoft has confirmed the gradual removal of "Together" mode, launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to recreate the impression of a physical meeting in a shared virtual space.

What is Together Mode?

This feature used artificial intelligence to cut out participants and place them in common backgrounds, such as auditoriums, meeting rooms, or virtual cafes. The goal was to reduce video conferencing fatigue and strengthen the sense of collective presence during remote meetings.

Why is Microsoft Discontinuing Together Mode?

However, six years after its launch, Microsoft believes that this experience now adds significant technical complexity to the development of Teams on different platforms. The company wants to simplify the meeting interface and focus its investments on more essential improvements, including:

  • Video quality
  • Call stability
  • Overall application performance

What's Next for Microsoft Teams?

The American group will now direct users to the "Gallery" mode, based on a classic grid display that can show up to 49 participants simultaneously. According to Microsoft, this modern view meets the same needs as Together Mode, while consuming fewer graphics resources and offering a smoother experience on mobile devices or less powerful equipment.

Learn More About Microsoft Teams

For more information on Microsoft Teams and its features, visit the official Microsoft Teams website.